Global Champions Tour London

Showjumping

Longines Global Champions Tour London

🏇 Chelsea is the place to be this week to witness a galaxy of stars from the world of showjumping take part in the Longines Global Champions Tour London.

NEWSFLASH: GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR LONDON 2023 IS A WRAP! 

🎟️ INTERESTED IN TICKETS FOR 2024? ⤵️

Email us at tickets@sportonspec.co.uk with ‘Equestrian alerts’ in the subject box and we’ll tip you off as soon as next year’s Global Champions Tour London tickets go on sale, as well as keep you in the loop about other great equestrian events!

CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica Springsteen of the USA, riding Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, who won gold at the 2023 Grand Prix of London in a time of 43.01 seconds.  It was a first 5* Grand Prix win for the duo – watch their winning ride below!  The silver medal went to Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium and H&M Miro, in 43.90 seconds.  Dutch rider Harrie Smolders completed with podium places riding Moncao N.O.P.  Stay tuned for our preview of the 2024 event.

2023 PREVIEW

Four days of thrilling top-level equestrian sport await as the world’s premier showjumping series returns to the capital.  It takes place in the South Grounds of Royal Hospitality Chelsea from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 August.  Featuring the breathtaking backdrop of the heritage buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the The Longines Global Champions Tour London could not ask for a more stunning venue.

In 2022 Pieter Devos, riding Mom’s Toupie de la Rogue, finished top of the podium in the Grand Prix of London after a memorable jump-off featuring six of the world’s best horse and rider combinations.  That followed a 2021 showdown in which Swedish sensation Peder Fredricson claimed his second LGCT win of the season beating veteran British star John Whitaker by just 0.14s to claim the London title. 

This year another stellar array of stars from the world of showjumping are set to compete.  Great Britain’s Ben Maher, who won individual showjumping gold on Explosion W after a dramatic jump-off at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, is expected to try and retain the title he won in 2013 and 2019.  Likewise GB teammate Scott Brash will look to repeat his successes of 2017 and 2018, when Brash came out on top against Maher in two titanic duels.  Should he prevail it will be a 4th Global Champions Tour London win for Brash, his first coming in 2014.

Not to be outdone young British stars Lily Attwood, Harry Charles, Jodie Hall McAteer and Jack Whitaker all impressed with serious displays of talent on the GCL in 2022 and will be itching to prove themselves in front of the home crowd in 2023. 

Add to that an international field that could include numerous medallists from Tokyo – including Peder Fredricson (who claimed individual showjumping silver), Laura Kraut, Henrik von Eckermann, Pieter Devos and Gregory Wathelet – and a superb display of showjumping is in store.

A highlight on the social as well as equestrian calendar, the London event on the Longines Global Champions Tour (see below for an introduction and the daily London schedule) calendar is the eleventh leg of the 2023 tour.  It comes at a key stage of the season as the rankings battle intensifies ahead of the Global Champions Play-Offs which take place in Prague in November. 

The London event has seen five British winners in the six times it has been held, with Maher and Brash typically vying for top spot.  In 2023 the competition will be as fierce as ever – stay tuned for the full rider list here as soon as it’s confirmed. 

A fantastic family day out is guaranteed in the iconic surroundings of Royal Hospital Chelsea.  Alongside the showjumping there is a lively shopping village with kids’ activities, a variety of refreshments and food outlets to suit every taste.  Visitors also benefit from unique access to the warm up arena to see the elite horse and rider combinations preparing for competition.

Don’t miss this chance to see the greatest horses and riders in the world up close and in action at the home of the Chelsea Pensioners!

🎟️ Tickets for Global Champions Tour London are currently off-sale.  

🗝️ Gates open daily at 7.45am tbc. 

⏱️🏇 Competitions start (timings subject to change) 8am on Friday, 8.30am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.  

Photo: Global Champions League

About the Longines Global Champions Tour

The Longines Global Champions Tour is the individual Championship, with the world’s best battling for the LGCT Grand Prix win.  This offers the biggest prize money of the weekend along with valuable Championship ranking points.  The winner qualifies for Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix.  This will see the winners of each Grand Prix throughout the season return for a final locking of horns, to see who will come out on top after another electric season on Tour.

Each Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL event can be separated into two categories – CSI 5* and CSI 2* classes.  The CSI 5* is the top level competition featuring the top-ranked riders in the world.  They jump over fences up to 1.60m, the highest in the sport.  The CSI 2* classes are slightly smaller in height.  These offer opportunities for many local athletes as well as international rising stars.

The GCL is the team competition, where riders unite like never before to compete for points in the overall Championship. All roads lead to the GC Prague Playoffs, which will see 16 teams compete in the GCL Super Cup.  So every point counts over the course of the Championship calendar.

⏱️ Example schedule for Global Champions Tour London, based on 2022, below.   

Friday 
08:30 CSI 2* Two phases 1.15m
09:50 CSI 2* Two phases 1.25/1.30m
11:35 CSI 2* Two phases 1.40m
14:30 CSI 5* Two phases 1.45m
17:30 CSI 5* GCL of London Round 1 – 1.50/1.55m

Saturday 
08:30 CSI 2* Against-the-clock 1.30m
10:15 CSI 2* Against-the-clock 1.15m
11:35 CSI 2* Against-the-clock 1.40m
14:30 CSI 5* GCL of London Round 2 – 1.55/1.60m
17:50 CSI 5* Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London – 1.60m

Sunday 
08:00 CSI 2* Against-the-clock with jump-off 1.15m
09:45 CSI 2* Against-the-clock with jump-off 1.30m
12:40 CSI 2* Grand Prix 1.45m
15:00 CSI 5* Against-the-clock 1.45m
16:30 CSI 5* Against-the-clock with jump-off 1.50m

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