Riders Head South to LGCT Cascais, Estoril for Championship Shake Up
LGCT Media
Photo: LGCT / Stefano Grasso
Show jumping’s superstars head south from Stockholm this week, towards the Portuguese coast for the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cascais, Estoril where there could be a real shake up in the top ten on the 2019 Championship rankings.
Pieter Devos (BEL) will be back with a vengeance for the ninth leg of the Championship race, hungry to regain the ranking lead and demolish the 12 point gap to current leader Daniel Deusser (GER) who sits this event out. Hot on his heels will be Ben Maher (GBR), who is just 28 points – less than a LGCT Grand Prix win – away, and currently sitting in 4th in the series standings.
Indeed there could be a shake up in the top ten this week, with Niels Bruynseels (BEL) and Scott Brash (GBR) both heading south to Portugal and keen to rocket their way towards the top of the overall standings.
The stunning coastal town has been on the LGCT circuit since its inception in 2006 and once again plays host to the Championship race from the 20th – 22nd June 2019. Cascais has grown into a renowned international destination for world-class sport, hosting the America’s Cup sailing, golf, tennis, surfing and motorsports. With its warm climate, visitors flock to the coast to soak up the sun and enjoy the great landscape and attractions, including the beautiful sandy bay of Praia de Tamariz.
This weekend will welcome a whole host of top names from show jumping to the sunny, balmy Portuguese coast including Christian Ahlmann (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER), Martin Fuchs (SUI), Bertram Allen (IRL), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Laura Kraut (USA), Eric van der Vleuten (NED), Gregory Wathelet (BEL), Lauren Hough (USA), Marco Kutscher (GER), Pius Schwizer (SUI), William Whitaker (GBR) and Dani G. Waldman (ISR), a former winner of this event.
Cascais became the summer destination of choice for Portuguese nobility in the 1900s – it has since become a lively international beach resort. Down the road, Estoril’s famous casino is thought to be where Ian Fleming came up with the idea for Casino Royale. In Portugal there are palaces, museums and national parks to visit and the fantastic capital city, Lisbon, is only a short distance away with its top-class hotels, restaurants and bars. The LGCT Grand Prix of Cascais is sure to be an exciting event, as riders fight for supremacy in the overall 2019 Championship Ranking.
