His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Al Shaqab, crowned the winners of the Grand Prix held this evening at the Longines Outdoor Arena in Al Shaqab. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the opening round of the Longines World Tour Championship for Show Jumping Champions and the Champions League World 2023 — an elite equestrian event organized by Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, over three spectacular days that featured the participation of the world’s finest riders.
German rider Philipp Weishaupt clinched first place in the Grand Prix round, held at a height of 160 cm with a distinction round, delivering an outstanding performance aboard his horse Just Be Gentle and clocking in at 34.37 seconds. Fellow German Christian Kukuk secured second place, while France’s Simon Delestre completed the podium in third.
Mr. Badr Mohammed Al-Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation, praised the resounding success of the championship, emphasizing the strength of the competition and the high level of organization throughout the three days. He extended his thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event a triumph, noting that the final day stood out in every respect — from audience attendance and organizational finesse to the sheer intensity of the contests. He emphasized that Al Shaqab continues to set a global benchmark for equestrian tournaments.
Mr. Jan Tops, President and Founder of the Longines World Tour for Show Jumping Champions, highlighted the evolution and refinement of the tournament with each passing year, pointing to the remarkable execution of the opening round by Al Shaqab. He remarked that this year’s championship featured an exceptional lineup of the world’s top riders, elevating the excitement — particularly during the Grand Prix — and credited the long-standing relationship between Longines International, Al Shaqab, and the Qatar Equestrian Federation, which has hosted the event since 2008.
Omar Al-Mannai, Tournament Director, expressed his satisfaction with the championship’s success, describing it as three days of world-class competition and robust public engagement. He extended his congratulations to the Grand Prix winners and praised all competitors across various rounds. He acknowledged the difficulty in predicting a champion in the Longines World Tour due to the participation of the top 12 riders in the Distinction Tour, who delivered an exceptional show. Speaking on the performance of Qatari rider Rashid Towaim Al-Marri, Al-Mannai remarked that the tournament posed both a challenge and an opportunity for him, and that his performance was commendable. He expressed optimism for even greater achievements from the rider in future competitions.
Philipp Weishaupt, who captured the Grand Prix title, voiced his delight at the victory, applauding the quality of competition and the outstanding performance of all participants. He noted that Al Shaqab consistently produces top results, recalling that he finished as runner-up in the previous season and was now honored to win the title. He also praised the exceptional level of organization and the state-of-the-art facilities provided by Al Shaqab, which he said create ideal conditions for riders to excel in the sport.
