The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rome will start at the new time of 09:15 tomorrow following cancellation today due to thunderstorms.

To safeguard the welfare of horses and riders, Longines Global Champions Tour organisers in consultation with FEI Officials decided to postpone the Grand Prix following thunder and lightning storms in Rome today.

Marco Danese, Sporting Director of the LGCT said: “Welfare of the horses and riders is, and always has been, the top priority of the Longines Global Champions Tour, which is why the decision to postpone the Grand Prix until Sunday was made today. The continued threat of lightning and heavy thunder meant that conditions would be too dangerous to continue, and therefore the joint decision was made in agreement with organisers and participants. 

The event remains free to the public to attend, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for another spectacular Grand Prix tomorrow morning.” 

Sunday morning’s CSI5* 1.50m / 1.55m class, originally planned for 11:45, will now be cancelled. Riders due to compete in that class will now also be allowed to participate in tomorrow’s Grand Prix. The €91,000 prize purse will be added to the €300,000 on offer in the Grand Prix.

Eurosport will broadcast the Grand Prix of Rome tomorrow starting at 12.45pm CET. 

The order of competition tomorrow will be as follows: 

08:00 - CSI2* PremiuMares 1.30m Accumulator

09:15 - Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rome

13:15 - CSI2* PremiuMares Final against the clock

15:30 - Global Champions League of Rome

Source: Press release from LGCT // Picture © Stefano Grasso/LGCT