Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

Continuing his top form, Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) closed the Longines Global Champions Tour of London in style denying the crowd of a home win as he piloted the lightning-fast Elwikke (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Quick Star) to victory in the CSI5* 1.55m Champagne Piaff Trophy. 

Five horse-and-rider combinations out of the 32 starters cleared the first-round track set by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani and in the jump-off, only the top two delivered another clear. 

Escorted by the scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners, Van der Vleuten stood proudly in front of the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the prize giving, taking the win ahead of Great Britain’s young talent Lily Attwood with her LGCT Grand Prix of Paris silver medallist ride Cor-Leon v. Vlierbeek Z (Calvaro F.C. x Omar). Another young talent, Belgium’s Zoe Conter completed the podium with Dawa de Greenbay Z (Diarado x Schilling Et) after posting the quickest time of the day but on the expense of a pole down in the jump-off. Daniel Deusser (GER) and Jasmien vd Bisschop (Larino x Chin Chin) placed fourth, while Harry Charles (GBR) and Borsato (Contendro I x Nijinsky) finished fifth. 

As the final day in London came to a close, the tour now heads to its spiritual home in Valkenswaard at Tops International Arena. Local hero Maikel van der Vleuten will be competing and he explained: "I am looking forward to next weekend, it is a fantastic place and we are all looking forward to some great sport."