Edited press release from Riesenbeck International

Thibeau Spits (BEL) took his very first stage win in the Longines Global Champions Tour when topping Sunday's CSI5* 1.60m LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck – riding the only 9-year-old Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van't Kattenheye Z x Vagabond de La Pomme). This was also Spits' first ever CSI5* Grand Prix win.

Marcus Ehning (GER) and Coolio (Casalito x Quidam de Relevl) lived up to German expectations and finished second in front of their home crowd. The podium was completed by Abdel Saïd (BEL) on Bonne Amie (A Big Boy x Landfriese), who has been very consistent this season. Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair (Singular LS La Silla x Cardento) took fourth place, followed by Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) in fifth riding H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan).

Today's Grand Prix was a hard-fought competition between some of the best athletes and horses in the world. 38 pairs had qualified for the second LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck, including three riders in the Top 10 on the world ranking as well as the German Olympic nominees Richard Vogel, Christian Kukuk, Philipp Weishaupt and Jana Wargers. A knowledgeable Münster audience gathered at the jumping arena to see the stars of the scene in action. The course set by Christian Wiegand and his team was fair, but peppered with a few challenges, so that there were many surprises in the first round and only four riders were able to secure a place in the jump-off.

Abdel Saïd and his 11-year-old mare Bonne Amie opened the jump-off, but despite having the fastest time they had to accept four faults. The first German rider, crowd favorite Marcus Ehning, had the fans hoping and stamping their feet, especially when he put in a clear round with the Holstein gelding Coolio. Then the second Belgian, Thibeau Spits, rode into the arena. Aboard his long-time partner, the 9-year-old black stallion Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z, the 23-year-old young talent managed to beat the time of experienced champion Ehning by 1.64 seconds. Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair also challenged for the fastest time, but were ultimately beaten and finished in fourth place with one pole down.

“I never thought starting the season that it would be like this. I was already really happy with the way it was going, but to now have a win in my first real season on the LGCT tour is unbelievable. On the big arena I was able to use my horse's stride a bit. Then I saw Marcus and I knew I could win it in the strides," Spits said about his victory.

Spits' victory catapulted him to seventh place in the current LGCT overall standings and made for a very emotional victory celebration on the Riesenbeck podium, as his family was also present to celebrate with him. The Riesenbeck International equine paradise once again demonstrated top-class sport with excitement, emotion and Münsterland charm.