15 July 2012

The eighth Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of 2012 is about to get underway and the stars of show jumping have been talking about their hopes for the battle ahead as they walk the course in Estoril, Portugal.

Christian Ahlmann, who has already had a victory here in Estoril on his new horse Aragon, said he has high hopes for the Grand Prix. German rider Christian, currently 10th in the GCT ranking, said: “I have only been riding him for about four weeks but I am really surprised at how well it it going.”

Luciana Diniz was especially proud ahead of the Grand Prix in her home country. She said: “It has been a wonderful show here. The arena is really beautiful and the people that come here are wonderful and such a support.” Luciana will be riding her new horse Lady Lindenhof and will be hoping to achieve the kind of success she enjoyed this time last year on her celebrity horse Winningmood.

Kamal Bahamdan, riding for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the London Olympics, said: “I am really looking forward to the Grand Prix. It has been a great GCT season so far and you can feel the series really has a strong identity.”

Source: GCT