All smiles for Rolf and Edwina before they go into combat

Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Edwina Tops-Alexander are all smiles before Saturday's big showdown in the Global Champions Tour Final of 2012.

They are the only two riders who can win the GCT series Championship this year and will go into close combat tomorrow evening. The pair showed they are good friends as they posed in the jumping arena in Abu Dhabi that will be the stage for the championship decider.

The extraordinary climax to the GCT series has set up a dramatic fight to the finish for the two riders, in one of the only sports where men and women compete on an equal level.

After 11 legs around the world they are both equal on 196 points - but Edwina has an advantage due to her 40-point win in Doha, Qatar, in the opening event.

Edwina, 38, (AUS) will be riding her champion chestnut gelding Cevo Itot du Château, the hugely talented 15.55 hands horse that has helped her win last year’s GCT Championship and put her in contention for the crown for a second time.

Rolf, 50, (SWE) will be competing on his 13-year-old bay stallion Casall La Silla, the high calibre horse that has taken him to 2nd place on three GCT podiums so far this season alone.

Speaking during the early classes in Abu Dhabi yesterday, both riders said their horses feel fresh and ready for the Final. You can watch the Global Champions Tour Gucci Grand Prix on Eurosport on Channel 511 on Foxtel or via the GCT live

streaming service on www.globalchampionstour.com

23 November 2012

Edwina to defend her GCT title in much anticipated Abu Dhabi finale

The fight for the 2012 Global Champions Tour series crown will go down to the wire and Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander is one of two riders in the running to take home the world's most prestigious show jumping title.

As well as being the defending champion, Edwina has been the series leader from the outset after winning the first round of the 2012 season in Doha, Qatar. Other notable results from her season include podium places at Cannes (3rd) and Lausanne (3rd).

Together with the pint sized Cevo Itot Du Chateau she’s maintained her grip on the title and was the outright series leader up until the penultimate round in Vienna (AUT) last month.

A series of strong performances in the second half of the season from Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson sees the Australian rider enter the final round on equal points with the Olympic silver medallist from Beijing.

“My horse is always giving maximum and he rarely makes a mistake,” Edwina said.

“As long as I'm in form, things shouldn't go wrong. But we are not machines and Itot always gives his best, so I hope we are both ready,” she added.

Abu Dhabi will play host to the 12th and final round of the seventh season of the Global Champions Tour and with two in form riders challenging for the title, this weekend’s competition is sure to produce a climatic finale.

Australian audiences can watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Eurosport on Channel 511 on Foxtel at 8:30am AEDST with repeats to follow throughout the week. Visit http://tv.au.eurosport.com/ Online streaming of the event will also be available athttp://www.globalchampionstour.com/tv-schedule/ and search equestrian for times.

20 November 2012

Jumping's most prestigious competition to come down to the wire

The stakes could not be higher as two of the world's top riders go head to head in the final event of the 2012 Global Champions Tour, in an epic climax to show jumping's most coveted championship.

Abu Dhabi will this week play host to the 12th and last leg of this year’s GCT with world No1 female rider and current GCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) battling against Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE).

The unique end to the 2012 season means only Edwina and Rolf have enough points to win show jumping’s richest and most prestigious prize. Both are on equal points - 196 - at the top of the GCT ranking. Their podium positions during the season will be crucial to take into account after the GCT Gucci Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Going into the final Edwina has an advantage as she won the first event in Doha and has held the lead throughout the season.

Rolf has achieved podium success several times during the season, but does not have a 40-point win under his belt. This could make the critical difference between championship glory and 2nd place after the Grand Prix on Saturday evening. Both Rolf and Edwina have promised to give it their “best shot” as they prepare for battle.

Rolf, 50, will be riding his champion 13-year-old dark bay stallion Casall La Silla.

Edwina, 38, will be riding her champion chestnut gelding Cevo Itot du Chateau.

As well as the drama of the gladiatorial battle between Edwina and Rolf, there will be a feverish competition among the world’s top riders to win a place in the top 18 and a share of almost €1m in championship prize money. The thrilling showdown at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort will see the eyes of the equestrian world focused on the Global Champions Tour Gucci Grand Prix.

The high calibre event has attracted around two thirds of the world’s leading show jumping riders including Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists.

The 2012 season has attracted over 250,000 spectators already and has already been watched by millions of viewers on the world’s leading sports channel Eurosport.

Fans of show jumping have witnessed knife edge jump offs as the stars of the sport have battled over extremely challenging courses in spectacular destinations from Monaco to Chantilly and in new venues like Vienna, Lausanne and Wiesbaden.

Since the Global Champions Tour was launched in 2006 it has grown from six events to 12 and has revolutionised standards in show jumping. The Tour is seen as the benchmark for excellence in the sport, delivering world class competition in stunning locations for the highest prize money in show jumping.

Eurosport, which broadcasts to 130 million homes in 59 countries, will broadcast the Global Champions Tour Gucci Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi the 24th of November at 22:15. All classes during GCT Abu Dhabi can be seen on the live stream at www.globalchampionstour.com/gct-live