Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos – (Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

World No1 Scott Brash was victorious for the second night in a row on Miami Beach on Saturday evening, as he galloped away with the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach Grand Prix title aboard Hello Sanctos. This was the two-time Longines GCT Champ’s fifth Grand Prix win in the last three seasons as he continues to dominate the Tour in spectacular fashion.

Brash is part of the Connolly’s RED MILLS team of brand ambassadors, which also includes Ireland’s Denis Lynch who finished twelfth after also making the jump-off with Ho Go van de Padenborre.

Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and his relatively new ride Palloubet D Halong put in the performance of their young partnership to take Silver, while 2014 Longines GCT of Shanghai Grand Prix winner Pieter Devos (BEL) and Candy finished with a worthy Bronze medal. From the VIP Lounge, Michael Bloomberg, Bruce Springsteen, HE Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine watched world-class sport at it’s very best.

Equestrian Formula 1

Speaking from the VIP Hospitality Lounge Mr Bloomberg said: “I think this is a wonderful thing for Miami and for the economy of Miami. This could become like the Formula 1 is to Monaco and places like that not just the people who come to watch the show, the people who support it, the people who work in the hotels where we all stay, the restaurants. It is amazing the hard work that goes into this.”

As official feed supplier to LGCT Miami, Connolly’s RED MILLS shipped over eight tonnes of their high quality feed to the spectacular location for the first Global Tour event of the season, with RED MILLS unique NFMS^TM packaging technology allowing these World-class competitors to keep their horses on a consistent diet regardless of country or climate.

Having claimed a strong victory with his new mount Hello Forever in yesterday’s 42nd American Invitational, Scott Brash went into the Grand Prix a firm favourite, but facing hot competition from a stellar line-up of world-class riders from around the globe.

The first round of the Grand Prix was a testing and technical course which caught out many an experienced combination. The tight, awkward distances, tall uprights and sharp corners demanded precision, control and power. There were no clear bogey fences, though an airy vertical on a dog-leg following the Longines combination claimed many.

Of the 50 Grand Prix starters, 12 clears proceeded to the 2nd round, including Katie Dinan (USA) and Stakorado, Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) and Royce, Denis Lynch (IRE) and Ho Go van de Padenborre, Luciana Diniz (POR) and Apollonia, Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon, Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Rosana du Park.

The top 18 riders came back to try their talents against another Uliano Vezzani course, including four on 4 faults. The U.S. had a strong showing with seven riders going through to the next round. All eyes were on Scott Brash and his 2012 Olympic mount as the combinations came back for their next test against the course.

The second round saw an early clear from Laura Kraut (USA) and Nouvelle carrying four faults from the first round. But subsequent clean rounds were few and far between until Bassem Mohammed and Palloubet D Halong notched up the first double clear. The course was twisty and with many turns, requiring immense control, with big oxers demanding scope and care.

Beezie Madden and Simon agonisingly lowered the final fence, but were swiftly followed by reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) and Nippon d’Elle who were the second double clear. It wasn’t until near the end of the first round that Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos joined Bosty and Bassem in the final showdown – the combination looked on cracking form from the very beginning.

Bassem set the standard first to go in the jump-off, clear in a time of 39.74s. Second to go, Bosty risked a tight turn back to a tall upright and picked up a refusal, leaving him in 4th place. Scott Brash knew what he had to do and executed his plan with foot-perfect precision to stop the clock in 38.57s. Last to go, Pieter Devos pushed his mare, recently returned from a long break from competition, but lowered an early fence in the tricky jump-off course leaving Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos once more unbeatable.

Scott will be back in action in Antwerp in a few weeks once again hot on the trail on the Longines GCT Championship, which if he wins once again this season, will be his 3rd in a row – a truly incredible feat.

For more details on Connolly’s RED MILLS products visit www.redmills.com

Connolly’s RED MILLS sponsored Edwina Tops Alexander prepairing for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Shanghai, photo – Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Irish duo Billy Twomey and Shane Breen, were both “overwhelmed” with the

reaction of the Chinese public, on the opening day of the Longines Global
Champions Tour of Shanghai today (Friday), as the country witnessed five
star show jumping action for the very first time.

Speaking after an official autograph signing session in the public village
area of the show, Tipperary born Breen said, “It was incredible! I have
never seen anything like it! They had to hold the public back and the
atmosphere was amazing. We were there for 25 minutes, but we could have sat
there all afternoon the crowd was so big.”

Shane Breen and Billy Twomey are both sponsored by Irish company Connolly’s
RED MILLS, who are the Official Feed Supplier for the LGCT in Shanghai and
Cork’s Twomey was in sparkly form on the opening day of the show, grabbing
a cool €54,000 for his runner up finish in the 1m.50 jump off class with
the Irish Sport Horse stallion Ardcolum Duke. The competition was won by
rising star twenty-year-old Contant van Paesschen (BEL) in spectacular
style with his relatively new ride Citizenguard Cadjanine Z.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s feature class, the Longines Global Champions
Tour of Shanghai, Twomey, who also finished seventh in Friday’s 1m45 two
phase competition with Diaghilev commented,

“It’s a wonderful experience for me to be here in Shanghai. My horse is in
good shape and fingers crossed it goes well. The event looks really
fantastic and there is over $1 million for the Grand Prix, so with this
kind of prize money you will get some really strong competition. A lot of
the good riders in the world are here. The best are here competing for the
best prize money and it will be exciting for everyone to watch. I imagine
it is going to be packed for the Grand Prix.”

Meanwhile at a packed press conference, with almost 100 photographers,
camera crews and journalists, Connolly’s RED MILLS sponsored Edwina
Tops-Alexander (AUS) who currently heads the LGCT standings, was said to be
“very impressed” with the debut Longines Global Champions Tour event in
Shanghai. The dynamic Chinese city joins a prestigious list of great city
destinations on the Tour circuit in Europe and the Middle East including
Paris, London, Chantilly, Monaco and Doha.

Journalists crowded round the champion show jumpers eager to quiz them
about the arrival of the Tour in China. Edwina, whose entire stable of
horses are fed exclusively on Connolly’s RED MILLS horse feed said:

“As a rider I am really impressed by the organisation here. We all know
how much work goes into these shows and we are very happy with things here.
For a first time event it is very impressive.”

Jan Tops, President of the Tour, explained the three-year project with the
Chinese authorities and the European Commission to enable international
competition horses to be flown to China and compete on the mainland.

“This was not even possible for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, so the
horses had to compete in Hong Kong. But we worked hard with the authorities
and we had incredible support and we are proud to be here. Today we open a
new chapter in the history of our sport. A truly historic milestone for
equestrian sport in China.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai, will be shown
live on Eurosport TV from 10am Irish time.

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A beautiful jumping horse statue created by Mr. Xu Weina and Mr. Lu Jiawei, has been unveiled at the official launch of the landmark Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai event, to be held from the 6-8 June

An incredible and beautiful jumping horse statue has been unveiled at the

official launch of the landmark Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai
event, to be held from the 6-8 June. This imposing artwork, created by Mr.
Xu Weina and Mr. Lu Jiawei, will be displayed in the buzzing Hongkong Plaza
- the most popular shopping street in central Shanghai – before being moved
to the show venue for the duration of this historic event.

“Equestrian sport has been popular in Europe and the United States for over
one hundred years,” said Mr. Li Yuyi, Director of the Shanghai
Administration of Sports. “The five-star Longines Global Champions Tour
series is the highest level show jumping event throughout the FEI events.
It has been hosted successively by London, Cannes, Lausanne, Vienna, Monaco
and other famous cities. This June, Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour
series is to be held at a landmark of Shanghai – China Art Palace. It will
be the most influential and most appreciable equestrian event of the
highest level ever held in China.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai Grand Prix is one of the
richest of the year, with a prize pot of USD$1.1million.

Irish owned company, Connolly’s RED MILLS have been announced as the
“Official Horse Feed Supplier” for the Shanghai leg of the Longines Global
Champions Tour and the list of elite riders travelling to Shanghai includes
three from Ireland, Billy Twomey and Shane Breen, who are both part of the
Team RED MILLS Show Jumping squad, will make the trip to China along with
seventeen year old super-star Bertram Allen from Co Wexford.

Edwina Tops-Alexander will be among the favouites to lift the top prize in
Shanghai and the Australian is also part of the “Team RED MILLS Show
Jumping Squad”. All Edwina’s horses are fed exclusively on Connolly’s RED
MILLS horse feeds and follow strict diet plans to suit their individual
needs formulated by Connolly’s RED MILLS nutritionists at their
headquarters in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.

You can watch the action from this key round of the LGCT 2014 series live
on GCT TV, Eurosport, Equidia Life and ClassHorseTV.

For more details on the Longines Global Champions Tour visit
www.globalchampionstour.com

For more details on Connolly’s RED MILLS see www.redmills.com

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