Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

The world's best horse and rider combinations will take centre stage in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands this weekend 4 - 6 June with the potential for Peder Fredricson to extend his Championship lead.

After taking over as ranking leader last weekend in Ramatuelle / Saint-Tropez, Fredricson with 96 points, is 20 points clear of his closest rival Bart Bles. However, with Bles not competing in the Championship this weekend, the Swede has a golden opportunity to extend his lead at the top.

Hungry to secure a LGCT Grand Prix win this season, Harrie Smolders will be looking for a home advantage at the first Dutch leg of the Championship but he will have tough competition with the likes of Christian Ahlmann, Maikel van der Vleuten and Eric Lamaze who are also in great form at the moment. 

The blockbuster weekend of top-level show jumping in Valkenswaard will see the first Longines Global Champions Tour event test out the spectacular brand new grass arena at the prestigious facility which is one of the foremost equestrian destinations in the world.

For the 2021 season of the world's premier show jumping series, the state-of-the-art Tops International Arena will host two rounds, first this weekend and again in August. Designed with the horse as the top priority, the show ground features an exceptional 125m by 85m stunning grass arena, four further arenas featuring top class footing, canter tracks and lunging arenas, expansive warm up arenas, exceptional wash areas and facilities for grooms to provide top standard care and over 500 world class and beautifully designed stables available for visiting competitors.

There will be a whole host of illustrious names in action this weekend including the likes of Niels Bruynseels, Shane Breen, Pieter Devos, Daniel Deusser, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Alberto Zorzi, Ben Maher, Olivier Philippaerts, Ludger Beerbaum, Darragh Kenny, Laura Kraut, Jérôme Guéry and Frank Schuttert to name a few.

With many of the biggest names in the sport in action this weekend, all eyes will be on who will be the next qualifier for a coveted spot in the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, the ultimate showdown in show jumping which will take place at the GC Prague Playoffs this November.