Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

Gilles Thomas (BEL) and the exceptional Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan) delivered a performance of pure brilliance to win the CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris 2025 presented by Ville de Paris.

With the Eiffel Tower rising majestically over the Champ de Mars-arena, the sold-out crowd witnessed a flawless ride from the Belgian stars, who stopped the clock in a lightning-fast 42.92s in the jump-off. The victory as last to go not only secured a golden ticket to the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague, but reaffirmed Thomas' place as a true force in the LGCT overall ranking, extending his lead.

Joining Thomas on the podium were two world-class athletes with stellar performances of their own. Lillie Keenan (USA) and her long-time partner Fasther (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Farmer) delivered a clinical double clear in 44.59s, showing incredible control and maturity under pressure while Denis Lynch (IRL) rounded off the top three with Mr Boombastic (Vigo Cece x Sable Rose), piloting the 11-year-old gelding to a steady double clear in 52.70s, ensuring another strong result in his 2025 LGCT-campaign.

A long awaited, career defining win that clearly means so much to so many, Gilles Thomas shared: “It’s a special moment, before I went in, I knew that there was one quick combination to beat, so I had to decide if I went in to win or for the podium and stay clear, but Niels Bruynseels convinced me it was beatable… so I went for it.” 

"As the last starter in the jump-off and you know straight away that you have the win is an incredible feeling," he added. "The atmosphere here is insane and to be able to jump infront of this iconic location is just amazing, thank you to the French crowd for coming today. I can't think of more special place under the Eiffel Tower to win my first five-star Grand Prix with Ermitage.”

On securing his Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix qualification, Thomas said: “I was very close in Shanghai and also last week in St. Tropez aswell. I didn't really think about it but i knew my main goal was to win this Grand Prix and the rest comes, but the ticket comes for Prague and that’s a nice extra plus.“

An emotional Lillie Keenan, speaking of her equine partner Fasther, told GCTV: “I didn't know if I would ever make it back here with him again, he suffered a couple of injuries along the way, he's a real fighter and honestly he feels better than ever. To be beaten by arguably the best horse in the world is a pretty great day.”

Third placed Denis Lynch was considerate of his cornerstone to competing in the individual classes of the Longines Global Champions Tour when he acknowledged the part played by team owner of New York Empire, Georgina Bloomberg, saying: “I’m here for New York Empire, so I ride with my focus on them, and what comes after them is a bonus.”