Elite Riders and Rising Stars Share the Spotlight at Longines Global Future Champions

Harry Charles Continues Valkenswaard Masterclass in Second 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier

The Longines Global Future Champions continues to showcase the very best of international show jumping, where established stars of the sport and tomorrow's champions compete side by side at the spectacular Longines Tops International Arena. Set within one of the world's finest equestrian venues, the event combines world-class sport across every generation with exceptional hospitality, vibrant entertainment, family-friendly attractions and first-class facilities, creating an unforgettable experience both in and out of the arena.

As young riders from across the globe pursue their championship dreams in Pony, Children, Junior and Young Rider competition, the CSI4* classes continue to attract many of the world's leading names. Saturday's feature CSI4* 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier once again delivered thrilling sport of the highest calibre, with Britain's Harry Charles extending his remarkable Valkenswaard form to secure another standout victory aboard the exceptional Bandit.

Harry Charles continued his outstanding run of form at the Longines Global Future Champions, claiming victory in Saturday’s CSI4* 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier aboard the ever-consistent Bandit. Producing another polished clear round, the British rider stopped the clock in 70.51 seconds to take top honours in a class packed with world-class combinations. The result continues an exceptional streak for the pair, with Bandit now winning four of his last five starts at 1.50m level.

“I couldn’t really ask for much more,” said Charles afterwards. “We’ve had a super run at these shows in Valkenswaard and Bandit has been on incredible form. Four wins from his last five 1.50m classes says it all, really. He’s feeling great, so hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”

Fresh from winning Thursday’s opening 1.50m qualifier, Mathijs van Asten once again demonstrated the remarkable consistency of Hotspot, finishing second in 71.37 seconds. The Dutch combination has been one of the standout partnerships of the week, backing up their opening-day victory with another faultless performance to underline Hotspot’s outstanding form.

Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and the experienced Vitiki completed the podium in third after another smooth clear in 71.95 seconds, while Philipp Weishaupt guided Kilmister into fourth for Germany. German maestro Marcus Ehning added another polished clear round aboard the evergreen Stargold to finish fifth, while Bassem Mohammed and Wathnan Issem completed the top six for Qatar.

With both CSI4* 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifiers now complete, attention turns to Sunday’s Grand Prix, where the week’s standout performers will battle it out for the biggest prize of the weekend.

CSI2* Big Tour - Piergiorgio Bucci Continues Winning Streak with Big Tour Victory

Italian star Piergiorgio Bucci maintained his phenomenal form at the Longines Tops International Arena, taking top honors in the CSI2* 1.45m Big Tour speed class. The 50-year-old veteran, who has already claimed major Grand Prix titles like Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Mexico City this year proved unstoppable once again.

Riding one of his flagship horses, the 14-year-old KWPN gelding Hantano (Quasimodo Z x Numero Uno), Bucci delivered a textbook clear round, stopping the clock at an unbeatable 66.20 seconds. Second place went to seasoned Norwegian international Geir Gulliksen, who guided his BWP mare Oh La La van Overis (Otangelo x Udarco van Overis) across the line in 67.59 seconds. Home crowd favorite Lars Kersten secured third place for the Netherlands, steering Grimaldi van het Keizershof Z (Grand Slam VDL x For Pleasure) to a faultless round in 67.79 seconds.

CSI2* Medium Tour - Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi Snatches Victory in Thrilling CSI2* 1.30m

With a massive field of 52 horse-and-rider combinations, the CSI2* 1.30m immediate jump-off class delivered high-stakes drama right down to the wire at Longines Tops International Arena.

Early in the class, Qatar’s Mohammed Khalifa A Al Baker set a formidable benchmark as the fifth starter. Riding the 11-year-old stallion Emiro Delle Sementarecce (Nonstop x Quidam de Revel), he crossed the line in 31.47 seconds. His time held up through most of the field until American rider Vani Khosla entered as the 44th competitor. Aboard her seasoned 16-year-old mare Moka Delle Schiave (Stakkato x Contendro), Khosla shaved 0.40 seconds off the lead to take over first place in 31.07 seconds.

Her reign at the top was short-lived, however. Entering the arena shortly after, Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi produced a masterclass in speed. Riding the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion Valenzano (Vagabond de la Pomme x Christian), the Qatari rider carried blistering pace through the jump-off, stopping the clock at 30.41 seconds to take a well-deserved victory.

CSI2* Small Tour - Thomas McDermott Secures Maiden European Victory at Tops International Arena

Australian rider Thomas McDermott reached a memorable milestone at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, claiming victory in the CSI2* 1.20m immediate jump-off class. Riding the six-year-old Oldenburg stallion Tobaro OLD (Tobago Z x Converter), the 32-year-old - who splits his seasons between European summers and Australian winters - stopped the clock at 38.03 seconds to secure his very first international win on the European circuit.

His winning round narrowly pushed Dutch rider Ilse Vedder into second place. Vedder, fresh off a victory in yesterday’s Two-Phase class with Nicole, crossed the finish line in 38.11 seconds aboard the 11-year-old KWPN mare L.Anemone’s Lajoy (Falaise de Muze x Sam R). Top Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya completed the podium. Guiding the eight-year-old stallion Extreme 111 Z (El Barone 111 Z x Bamako de Muze) to a clean round in 39.45 seconds, he took third place.

CSIY  1.35m - Kasper De Boeck Doubles Up with Young Riders Victory at Longines Tops International Arena

Belgian talent Kasper De Boeck is enjoying an outstanding weekend in Valkenswaard. After claiming victory yesterday, he doubled up today by winning the CSIY 1.35m class featuring an immediate jump-off. Riding his trusted 13-year-old BWP gelding Nepal S (Kannan x Toulon), De Boeck transitioned seamlessly from a flawless first round straight into a blistering jump-off. His time of 40.75 seconds proved untouched at the top of the leaderboard.

Second place went to Australian rider Jack Barker, who guided the 11-year-old mare Oaks Cryptic (s. Contendro I) to a smooth clear round in 41.55 seconds. Belgium’s Helena Beyers secured third place with an impressive performance aboard her young prospect, the six-year-old BWP gelding Urban Legend HWS (Dida di Darco Z x Vigo d'Arsouilles), stopping the clock at 43.57 seconds.

CSIY  1.35m - Sara Maria Hank Guerreiro Dominates Young Riders Class with One-Two Finish

Mexican rider Sara Maria Hank Guerreiro delivered a masterclass performance in the CSIY 1.45m speed class, claiming both first and second place at the Longines Tops International Arena. Hank Guerreiro, who trains out of her family’s H5 Stables and is the daughter of Mexican Olympian Carlos Hank Guerreiro, set the early pace as the very first competitor in the arena. Riding the grey mare H5 Carlotta 276 (Cornet Obolensky), she laid down a fast clear round in 74.63 seconds.

In the end, her toughest competition proved to be herself. Entering the ring as the penultimate starter aboard her 13-year-old BWP gelding H5 Nashville (Diamant de Semilly x Darco), she shaved nearly a full second off her own benchmark time, stopping the clock at 73.89 seconds to secure the win. Third place went to Kuwait’s Hussain Alkharafi aboard the 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion GK C’Est Un Reve (Comme Il Faut 5 x Larimar). Building on his runner-up finish yesterday, Alkharafi crossed the line in 74.80 seconds to complete the podium.

CSIJ 1.20m - Giulia Pronk Claims Victory in Opening Class at Tops International Arena

The first competition in the stunning grass arena of the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard delivered exciting sport right out of the gate. In the CSIJ 1.20m class, the juniors competed with an immediate jump-off - meaning clear rounds skipped the wait and went straight into their jump-off phase.

It was Dutch rider Giulia Pronk who outpaced the field. Riding her seven-year-old grey mare Oh My Girl WS (KWPN, Casago x Indoctro), she carried her momentum straight from the first round into a flawless jump-off, stopping the clock at 39.53 seconds to secure the win.

Second place also went to the Netherlands, with Marie Schalken taking the runner-up spot aboard the seven-year-old KWPN mare Oddity Allegro (I’m Special de Muze x Numero Uno) in 40.01 seconds. Germany’s Marlene Richter completed the podium, guiding her 14-year-old mare Into My Heart (KWPN, Inshallah de Muze x Silvio) into third place with a time of 40.30 seconds.

CSIJ 1.35m - Jordan Scherbakov Blazes to Victory in CSIJ 1.35m Speed Class

A field of 23 young talents took to the arena in the CSIJ 1.35m speed class at Longines Tops International Arena, delivering high-paced action from start to finish. In the end, it was Switzerland’s Jordan Scherbakov who proved unbeatable. Entering the ring as one of the final starters, Scherbakov delivered a masterclass in speed riding. Aboard the KWPN gelding Luka-Cara (Akarad Hero Z x Casco), he executed a flawless and razor-sharp round, stopping the clock at a blistering 65.08 seconds to take the win.

His late effort relegated long-time leader Victoria Morcombe to second place. The American rider had posted a fast time of 66.33 seconds early in the class with her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare Caprivi 23 (Carridam x Embassy I). Third place was claimed by Saudi Arabia’s Mashhoor Alothaim, who guided the 11-year-old gelding Cinsello Blue PS (Cinsey x Chacco-Blue) across the line in 68.59 seconds.

CSICH 1.20m - Unstoppable Pedro Mansur Blazes to Victory Again in CSICh 1.20m

European Children’s Champion Pedro Mansur proved simply untouchable once again at the Longines Tops International Arena. Following his victory yesterday, the young talent dominated today’s CSICh 1.20m speed class in extraordinary fashion.

Riding his seasoned 16-year-old Selle Français gelding Away Semilly (Diamant de Semilly x Watzmann), Mansur rocketed through the course. Flying across the finish line clear in an astonishing 58.06 seconds, he left the rest of the field more than seven seconds behind.

Belgium’s Noé Vochten put on an impressive display of her own by claiming both second and third place. The 14-year-old rider from Wuustwezel guided the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding Best Call Z (Bamako de Muze x For Pleasure) into second place with a time of 65.79 seconds. She then doubled up on the podium aboard her BWP gelding Skyfall (Cantero van ter Hulst Z x Nabab de Reve), securing third place in 68.22 seconds.

CSIP - Tough Competition and Thrilling Sport in the Pony Classes at Tops International Arena

The pony classes at the Longines Tops International Arena presented a tough challenge today, pushing horse-and-rider combinations to their limits. In the 1.10m class, no clear rounds were recorded. Sixteen-year-old Belgian rider Romi Draycott, claimed the top spot as the fastest rider on four faults. Aboard her AES pony Kantje’s Nyandro (Kanshebber x Kantje’s Ronaldo), a single unlucky rail didn't stop her from setting the winning time of 70.49 seconds.

Germany’s Marlene Richter captured victory in the 1.15m class. Mastering the jump-off, she guided her pony Caseo (Country x Karlos) across the finish line in a blistering, faultless 36.94 seconds to secure first place. In the 1.25m speed class, clear rounds again proved elusive. Among the five competitors finishing on four penalties, Switzerland's Jordan Scherbakov posted the fastest time. Riding his BWP pony Parco van ’t Hollandhof (Berktzicht Jekilja x Berktzicht Sharon), he stopped the clock at 64.05 seconds to seal the victory.