Back-to-back GCL Doha wins for Cannes Stars at Al Shaqab

The Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames continue their success story. After the victory in Doha last year and the triumph in the big Global Champions League final in Rabat, the Cannes Stars with riders Sophie Hinners and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann have continued their winning streak in 2025.
In the season-opening GCL of Doha 1.55m class at the Longines Arena of Al Shaqab on Thursday, German riders Hinners (astride bay gelding Iron Dames my Prins) and Meyer-Zimmermann (on chestnut mare Iron Dames High Level) combined superbly to log a combined best time of 157.50secs as Cannes Stars secured their first trophy of the season with only one time penalty over two rounds.
Prague Lions finished in second place with Belgium’s Fernando Martinez Sommer riding chestnut mare Toupie de la Roque and Peter Devos astride grey gelding Primo DV combining for a total of 153.76secs. Monaco Comets took the third podium place with a score of 154.09secs being guided by their star riders Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, who rode bay gelding Fellow Castlefield, Jeanne Sadran on bay stud Dexter De Kreglenn, and Greece’s Ioli Mytilineou on bay gelding L’artiste de Toxandra, combining for a cumulative score of 154.09secs.
The best in the individual ranking on the night was Jana Wargers with her Nations Cup mare Dorette OLD as the pair registered a fastest clear round of 70.96 seconds.
The winners were crowned by Bader al-Darwish, Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Championship and President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Mohammed Jaber al-Khayarin, Event Director, and Jan Tops, President of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Meanwhile, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, crowned the winners of the CSI1* 1.1m class.
The event, which had 63 starts, saw Qatar’s Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani take the top honours on the second day of the Global Champions Tour.
Abdulaziz excelled astride grey mare Gabbana M. Abdulaziz to clock a flawless and fastest best time of 55.64 seconds. Finishing in second place in 60.84secs was Saudi Arabia’s Nasser Albagami, who rode bay gelding Newyork Grandia Z. Albagami’s compatriot Fahad Aljuaid, riding chestnut mare Dushi, was third clocking 61.39secs.

Qatar’s al-Mahmoud wins CSI3* 1.40m class
Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf al-Mahmoud topped the CSI3* Against the clock (1.40m) class, beating a field of 63 international riders. Al-Mahmoud excelled with bay gelding Qataro van het Texelhof as the duo completed a flawless best routine in 53.54secs. Italian Roberto Previtali, who rode chestnut stud Castlefield Rouge, had to be content with the runners-up spot after finishing in 56.22secs while Emanuele Gaudiano settled for third place with chestnut gelding Chalou (56.84secs).

Delestre tops CSI3* 1.50m
The CSI3* Against the clock (1.50m) class was clinched by Frenchman Simon Delestre, who combined with bay gelding Moeboetoe v/d Roshoeve to clock the best 65.53secs. Italian Roberto Previtali on chestnut stud Qashquai SB finished second (67.32secs), and Antoine Ermann of France third astride bay gelding Delirium Zoetendaele Z (70.06secs).
Khalifa bin Jassim al-Juham al-Kuwari, Chairman of the General Tax Authority, honoured the winners.
Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Alhady continued his fine run at the venue as he won the CSI1* Against the clock (1.25m) class with a best time of 58.66secs astride bay gelding Capoen. Finishing a close second was Qatar’s Hamad Nasser al-Qadi on his trusted mount Happy Tina, a bay mare, in 58.94secs, while Saudi Arabia’s Bader Alfard was third with grey mare HW Cosette in 61.98secs. The winners were crowned by Abdulrahman al-Kaabi, member of the tournament’s Organising Committee.

Thijssen wins GCL 1.55m class
The individual GCL - Against the clock (1.55m) class was bagged by Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen, who showjumped with bay stud Con Quidam RB with a best time of 67.48secs. Norwegian Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen on chestnut gelding Equine America Harwich VDL was second (71.71secs), and Austrian Gerfried Puck riding bay gelding Equitron Ornaat V third (71.79secs).

Al-Khulaifi tops Future Riders’ class
The Future Riders’ Optimum Time (80cm) class was won by Abdulla Ahmed al-Khulaifi, who astride Manni, finished with the best ideal time of 55.83 seconds. He was followed by Jassim Saoud al-Darwish on Cascade Sammy in 55.02 seconds, while the third place was taken by Abdulaziz Abdullah Alabri, riding Anyway II, with an ideal time of 57.1 seconds. The winners were honoured with their prizes were by Omar al-Buainain, the tournament’s Deputy Director.