London and Berlin join 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Circuit

The addition of the British and German capital cities continues the strategic expansion of the world’s premier showjumping series and heralds what promises to be another exciting season of top showjumping in some of the world’s greatest destinations.

After two narrow runners-up finishes in previous years, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson finally celebrated becoming LGCT Champion of Champions at the 2016 final in Qatar. The ever-consistent and popular Swede will be keen to hold onto his title and will be the man to beat as the sport’s top athletes and their horses will once again compete for championship honours and the highest prize money in showjumping, with a total of 15 rounds of events scheduled in stunning venues across the globe from April to November.

The curtain will go up on the 2017 season in Mexico City from 6 to 9 April, before the action heads heading directly to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the stunning venue on Miami Beach (13 to 15 April).

The action then moves to China and Shanghai from 28 to 30 April, where growing numbers of Chinese fans are attracted to thrilling equestrian sport and the elegant lifestyle of the event.

The LGCT Championship series then travels to Europe with the first stop being the Spanish capital Madrid from 18 to 21 May followed by the hugely popular event in Hamburg, Germany from 24 to 28 May.

June sees the LGCT series travel to France and the glamorous Mediterranean destination of Cannes from 8 to 10 June before heading along the Riviera to Monaco from 23 to 25 June. 2017 sees the LGCT – Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping return to the iconic Champ de Mars with the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower in the French capital city of Paris from 30 June to 2 July.

Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera is the first destination in July across 6 to 8 July, followed by the visit to the grounds of the fairytale Chateau in Chantilly from 13 to 16 July.

Berlin makes its debut on the circuit from 28 to 30 July adding another dynamic capital city and a chance for new fans to experience top-level showjumping in a city centre venue, before London re-joins the calendar from 3 to 6 August with a prestigious new venue to look forward to in the heart of the British capital at the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The stunning Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands will bring world class showjumping to the heart of Europe from 10 to 13 August, and with the season approaching its climax the Italian capital city of Rome will host the penultimate leg of action at the Stadio dei Marmi from 21 to 24 September.

The 2017 LGCT Championship is then brought to a close with the grand finale at the magnificent Al Shaqab Equestrian Facility in Qatar’s capital city Doha from 9 to 11 November. The superb state-of-the-art structure with its vast floodlit arena will once again be the venue for the special final stage and the crowning of the champions of both the Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League.

Longines Global Champions Tour 2017

6-9 April Mexico City, Mexico
13-15 April Miami Beach, USA
28-30 April Shanghai, China
18-21 May Madrid, Spain
24-28 May Hamburg, Germany
8-10 June Cannes, France
23-25 June Monaco, France
30 June-2 July Paris, France
6-8 July Estoril, Portugal
13-16 July Chantilly, France
28-30 July Berlin, Germany
3-6 August London, Great Britain
10-13 August Valkenswaard, The Netherlands
21-24 September Rome, Italy
9-11 November Doha, Qatar