Valkenswaard survive Antwerp scare for GCL title

John Whitaker and Bertram Allen edge out Harrie Smolders and Jos Verlooy by 2.5 points; Paris Jets win Doha legIn a thrilling finale, Valkenswaard United duo John Whitaker and Bertram Allen edged out Antwerp Diamonds pair Harrie Smolders and Jos Verlooy to clinch the inaugural Global Champions League (GCL) title.At the Al Shaqab arena last night, the final leg of the first-ever GCL provided all the thrills and spills. In a dramatic first round of the final, one of the favourites Monaco Aces dropped out of the title race after Daniel Bluman and Apardi clocked up 12 faults despite teammate Leopold van Asten’s clear round on VDL Groep Miss Untouchable.It left Valkenswaard United and Antwerp Diamonds to battle out for the overall title in the second round and a lion’s share of the €4.5 million season bonus prize money.Even though Antwerp finished third and Valkenswaard sixth, the latter took the top honours having come into Doha with an eight-point lead. In the end, Antwerp ran Valkenswaard close by finishing with 326 points but fell agonisingly short of the champions by 2.5 points.Earlier, Valkenswaard had put up a shocking performance in the first round. Whitaker and Allen clocked up four faults each leaving the team just scraping into the second round. Antwerp had four faults in the first round from Smolders, although his compatriot Verlooy jumped clear.Whitaker, the 61-year-old, who partnered Allen, almost 40 years his junior, admitted the duo were lucky to emerge as the champions. “In a way it was disappointing to let our fans down today after having put up a really good show all through the season. We were also lucky to make the second round today, but we hung in there and are delighted with the result,” the Brit said.Allen, though, was delighted with the outcome and gave Whitaker the credit for guiding the team. “I knew I had to do something in there. I don’t know what happened in the first round but my horse wouldn’t respond. But she did very well in the second round. We’ve had a great season and very pleased with the result,” the Irishman said.Meanwhile, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Nicola Philippaerts of Paris Jets walked away with the Doha leg title. However, they could only finish sixth overall with 272 points. It was a good warm-up for Bengtsson, who is in contention for the Global Champions Tour title along with Edwina Tops-Alexander in tomorrow’s final.“It’s a great result for us in the league. We didn’t get going initially but we had a good shot in the final here in Doha. It was exciting jumping today. We tried to put more pressure on our opponents and we were lucky the way things went for us,” Bengtsson said.Hosts Doha Fursan Qatar took the 10th spot, but hung on to their overall ninth place. The pair of Hamad al-Attiyah and Ali al-Rumaihi committed 13 penalties combined, which scuppered their hopes of finishing the podium.     Only eight teams went into the second round. Bengtsson and Philippaerts performed excellently, clearing rounds without any penalty. The second place in Doha went to Cannes Stars’ Roger Yves Bost and Marco Kutscher. Overall final rankings1. Valkenswaard United 328.52. Antwerp Diamonds 3263. Monaco Aces 315.54. Rome Gladiators 299.55. Cannes Stars 2746. Paris Jets 272.57. Shanghai Swans 2618. Cascais Charms 254.59 Doha Fursan Qatar 24610. Madrid in Motion 24311. Miami Glory 24312. Vienna Eagles 241.5 RESULTSGlobal Champions League of Doha1. Paris Jets — Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Clarimo ASK) and Nicola Philippaerts (H&M Zilverstar T) Time: 153.57secs. Prize money: €60,5832. Cannes Stars — Roger-Yves Bost (Qoud’Coeur de la Loge) and Marco Kutscher (Clenur) 160.92 secs. €40,583.            3. Antwerp Diamonds — Jos Verlooy (Caracas) and Harrie Smolders (Emerald N.O.P.) 12 penalties. 152.99 secs. €26,583. Class N1: Doha 2016 Invitational 1.20/1.25m Table A: Against the Clock1. Meshari al-harbi (Saudi Arabia) BMC White Nose 71.81 seconds. Prize money: 3,300 QR        2. Mubarak Yousuf A S al-Rumaihi (Qatar) SIEC Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z 71.98 secs. 2,000 QR3. Khalid Hamad al-Attiyah (Qatar) Viking D. 73.35 secs. 1,500 QAR. Class N 2: Doha 2016 Invitational 1.35/1.40m Table A: Against the Clock1. Nasser al-Ghazali (Qatar) Quel Homme. 82.78 seconds. Prize money: 4,950 QAR2. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) S I E C Lonnie. 85.50 secs, 3,000 QAR3. Rashid Towaim al-Marri (Qatar) Beyonce. 90.61secs, 2,250 QAR.  TODAY SCHEDULE2 pm: Invitational 1.20/1.25m Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off4 pm: Invitational 1.40m Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off6pm: CSI5* 1.45m Two Phases: A + A, Both Phases Against the Clock8pm: CSI5* 1.45m Table A: Against the Clock