Valkenswaard kicks off with medal-winning riders hot from Olympics Global Champions Tour crowd numbers Crowds of over 215,000 have so far enjoyed the first eight legs of the 2012 Global Champions Tour season. The figure is heading for a quarter of a million with four more events to go, starting with the home show in Valkenswaard, which traditionally attracts tens of thousands of eager and knowledgeable fans of show jumping. Attendance figures at the last four shows at Cannes, Monte-Carlo, Estoril and Chantilly proved that enthusiasm for the sport remains high and is expected to continue to grow following worldwide attention on show jumping at the Olympic Games in London. And as the series gathers momentum towards the climax in November, the new GCT venues in Lausanne and Vienna and at the established event in Abu Dhabi are expected to produce a great turnout. Spectators are set for a stunning weekend of jumping in Valkenswaard with top calibre riders, many fresh from the Olympics, fired up for the 9th leg of the GCT season. Eurosport coverage, GCT livestreaming and broadcasting by national TV channels is boosting interest as the world’s top riders compete for big prize money in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. GCT Valkenswaard also offers the chance for amateur riders to participate and to seize their chance to shine as the show jumping stars of the future. And for those who simply want a fun day out, there will be plenty of entertainment for families around the showground throughout the event. Check out the list of leading international riders confirmed for this weekend by clicking onwww.globalchampionstour.com/events/2012/valkenswaard/riders-and-horses Exclusive: Gerco on his GCT season and Olympic silver Gerco Schröder says his Olympic Games success has left him “motivated and feeling good” as he looks ahead to the climax of the Global Champions Tour season in November. Gerco is expecting to be riding different horses at forthcoming GCT events this season when he hopes to repeat his brilliant riding form at the London Olympics. High hopes for the GCT championship The modest but hugely talented Dutchman has already been on top of the podium at the Global Champions Tour in Cannes with a fantastically fast round on London. And he was placed 7th with London in Hamburg. Gerco also rode the 13-year-old grey gelding New Orleans and finished 6th at the GCT in Valencia, Spain. Gerco, 34, said: “He has given me so many good results, he is a super horse. It is a good feeling to go to the GCT in Valkenswaard. I like the show very much, it is so well organised and a really nice ring.” Some of Gerco’s horses have changed hands but he is confident he can progress up the GCT ranking board - he is currently in 10th position behind Billy Twomey. “I hope I can get a few more good results,” he said echoing his motto to “stay motivated and keep trying”. Gerco added: “I am on the ranking which is good. This GCT season is exciting and that’s good for people to watch the sport.” Olympic reflections Gerco and his aptly named star horse London jumped a crucial clear in the team competition at the Olympic Games, but with one time penalty. It was his 3rd Olympics and in the electrifying jump off the Netherlands took the silver medal behind Team GB but ahead of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Gerco said: “For us as a team it was a great feeling. It was an incredible experience. When we went there to the Olympics we knew we had a few good horses and riders, but you never know how it will work out as many other countries were very strong. But in the end it worked. We had some really quality horses in the team.” Gerco also won individual silver on London after a knife edge jump off against Ireland’s Cian O’Connor. He took risks round the course, but managed to stay clear in a time of 49.79. Cian was left with no option, but to hit the accelerator and had the last fence down despite a fast round in 46.64. Commentators at the Games described Gerco as the “backbone” of Dutch show jumping for several years.  (Photo: Sportfot/GCT) On the future of showjumping Asked about the future of show jumping Gerco said: “Global Champions Tour thanks to Jan Tops has done a great job for our sport with prize money and TV coverage. All the other series have had to raise the level to keep up with him. The GCT events are all special with different arenas and what is also really important is that shows like Valkenswaard this weekend are really good for our owners and sponsors because the facilities are so good.” Getting personal Gerco’s hometown Tubbergen honoured him following his Olympic Games achievements currently.When not riding on the international circuit, Gerco likes to spend time with his wife Evelien and son Thomas and his wider family. Equestrianism runs in the family as his twin brothers Wim and Ben are also international riders. Gerco’s top GCT results in 2012 - 6th in Valencia with New Orleans - 7th in Hamburg with London - 1st in Cannes with London Exclusive: Kamal Bahamdan sets his sights on GCT success after Olympics bronze Olympic team bronze medallist Kamal Bahamdan has vowed to stick to his successful strategy as he aims for his best-ever season on the Global Champions Tour. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rider has just returned from his 5th Olympic Games and is fired up for success at the GCT in Valkenswaard this weekend. Success in the show ring and online Kamal is currently 5th in the GCT ranking. His progress is being watched by growing numbers of fans on the GCT website and Twitter. This morning Kamal has been warming up his key horses ahead of tomorrow’s GCT in Valkenswaard and said: “I have been really pleased to see how many people are following me online and on TV. That is the thing about GCT, the media coverage means you get the whole nation following and that also brings more spectators and coverage of the sport all over the world. A lot of people who follow online are not necessarily horse people, they just love following a rider from their home country. When Abdelkebir Ouaddar from Morocco did so well in Monaco, he had a massive following in his country.” Kamal’s GCT season Kamal, 42, took a year off from his work in international finance to focus completely on his riding and, now the Olympics are over, he will channel all his energy into the remaining events of the GCT season. “I took a sabbatical from business for a year and as well as horse power and time, the mental focus made a big difference. I isolated myself from emails and other distractions. I wake up every morning and I don’t do anything different, the same routine every day, whether it is tacking up, riding, fitness. I am going to keep on the same track, stick to my strategy and not change anything. It has been an exciting season and the ranking is definitely exciting. I have three horses and they have all contributed. The horses are all in good shape. I will do what I have been doing all year, riding each round and each jump one at a time. Not thinking about results, just focusing on the present. The great thing about GCT is that it i s hard to get into some leagues because you have to be in a team and they don’t get the media coverage GCT gets. It is a platform to expand the sport and get more nations into the sport. Riding in all the GCT shows at the top level gives me the data to work with when I am training. These are top courses, very demanding and each one is different, so you come home with data and work on it.  (Photo: Sportfot/GCT) Noblesse des Tess’ star quality Kamal has only been riding Tess since December, but the combination was an instant hit winning team gold in the Pan Arab Games and individual silver. The 11-year-old bay mare by Cumano and Irak E had previously been ridden by Edwina Tops-Alexander as Kamal explains: “I have been coming to train at Stal Tops with Jan Tops for about seven years. Tess came about through Jan and as Edwina had been riding her she was able to talk to me about the mare and the type of horse she was and we all knew it would be a good match. When I first rode Tess it was love at first sight. A quick match. She is extremely talented. With the help of Jan and his team, Kamal has been focused on developing for Tess a “stronger foundation and stronger back”. Olympic team bronze and individual 4th Kamal - who won team bronze on Tess and just missed out on a medal coming 4th in the individual event - said the equestrian facilities London Olympics were the highest standards he has personally experienced at any Games. “The stadium was beautiful and in my experience the infrastructure, stabling, warm up areas and the main ring were top standard. The crowd were really educated about the sport and very supportive of everyone. The volunteers were phenomenal, the icing on the cake.” My goal was to go to the Olympics and end up in the top third and I achieved that. I must congratulate my team. They all went out there and fought for every round. It was amazing team spirit. It has brought us all even closer together. Ramzy I have known my whole life. Saudi Equestrian Fund has made a huge difference in terms of funding the horses and in terms of it being a professional business-like organisation, although it is non-profit. Mental and physical fitness and preparation As well as keeping Tess, Cezanne and Delphi in great shape, Kamal said: “Of course, riding at this level keeps you fit, but I also go running and do general fitness in the gym. Running also helps you to be able to control your breathing during intense sport. For me the key is about taking each jump at a time, doing your homework, doing your training and living in the moment. In the individual competition at the Olympics, my attitude was that my mare has been amazing throughout the season and I was excited and curious to see what more she could do over these massive jumps. Not results, not pressure, not tension. Hundreds of horses warm up ahead of GCT Valkenswaard This evening Valkenswaard, home of the Global Champions Tour, is truly a horse destination as the cream of show jumping horses warm up ahead of this weekend’s competitions. Over 400 horses have arrived in the Netherlands from across Europe and the world for the ninth leg of the 2012 GCT season. Gleaming super trucks are lined up in a vast parking area near the stables and warm up ring. Judges, course designer and team, technical crew and officials are all in place. The mandatory vet check took place today to ensure horses are all in good shape ahead of tomorrow morning’s first CSI 5* class as the GCT weekend gets underway. As well as the big 5* competitions and the all-important VDL Groep Grand Prix on Saturday, there are special invitational classes for the budding riding talent of the future. And on Sunday, the traditional Derby takes place in the immaculate grass arena as part of the International Concours Valkenswaard and is always a big crowd puller. The Derby of Valkenswaard is unique with its hill feature between two stone walls, a big water ditch approximately 4m long and the Derby Bank which stands at 1.50m. |
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