Press release from LGCT, edited by World of Showjumping

The CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riesenbeck delivered a spectacular afternoon of world-class sport, with victory decided by a breathtaking final round that had the crowd on the edge of their seats until the very last fence.

In a dramatic finale, Victor Bettendorf (LUX) and Gibbs Un Prince (Number One d’Iso un Prince x Panama Tame) produced a sensational last-to-go performance to snatch victory from the grasp of the home nation. Despite delighting the German fans for much of the jump-off aboard Pepita van’T Meulenhof BR (El Torreo de Muze x Carthago), Daniel Deusser (GER) had to settle for second, while Christian Kukuk (GER) completed the podium with Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut x Come On), ensuring Germany still had plenty to celebrate on home soil.

As the ninth stage of the 2026 LGCT-season, Riesenbeck once again showcased exactly why it has become one of the standout stops on the Tour. Against the backdrop of Ludger Beerbaum's world-renowned equestrian centre, thousands of passionate spectators created an electric atmosphere as five elite horse-and-rider combinations returned for a thrilling jump-off.

Victor Bettendorf admitted he surprised even himself by taking the risk in the jump-off, explaining: "I knew the horse is a superstar, but honestly I didn't think he was quite ready yet for a fast jump-off. After the first round I had such a good feeling that I thought, 'Let's give it a go.' The worst case was still a podium, so I had nothing to lose."

Full of praise for the host venue, Bettendorf reflected on what made the week so special: "This venue is incredible. It's so horse-focused, the atmosphere is fantastic and the crowd has been amazing all week. The organisers have done a brilliant job. It's been a pleasure to compete here and I really hope I'll be back next year."

With victory also securing his place at the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Riyadh, Bettendorf said his immediate focus was on enjoying the moment before looking ahead. "It's fantastic to have already secured my place at the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Riyadh,” he said. “I won it in 2024, so of course it's a special event for me. Right now I'm just going to enjoy today's victory, then we'll make a plan for the rest of the season and make sure we have a horse ready for Riyadh."

Despite narrowly missing out on victory, second placed Daniel Deusser was delighted with both his performance and that of his mare. "Of course, when you're in the jump-off you always want to win, but Victor was simply faster today,” he said. “I'm incredibly happy with my horse - she was fantastic here all weekend and came into this class in great form after last week as well. I was first to go in the jump-off, and I honestly felt I'd produced a nearly perfect round. Sometimes that's the challenge of going early; the riders behind know exactly what they have to beat and can take a little more risk. That's our sport!"

Reflecting on an emotional homecoming, third placed Christian Kukuk said: "Of course I would have loved to be standing in the middle today, but honestly I'm incredibly happy with third place. More than anything, I'm proud of Checker. The way he jumped yesterday, today and again in that jump-off was outstanding, especially after the pressure coming into this week. I think we answered a lot of questions in the ring. Coming back to Riesenbeck for the first time since it was no longer my home has been very emotional. As soon as I arrived it still felt like home, seeing Ludger, the whole team and so many familiar faces again. It's been a special weekend, and Checker gave us every reason to celebrate tonight."