Longines and Global Champions Tour build on history with new partnership deal

The two partners intend to build on their deep existing relationship and continue raising the profile of Show Jumping around the world. Among the innovations they have envisioned for 2018 is a ‘Super Grand Prix’ at the newest Tour stop, next December in Prague. 

With its prestigious reputation, beautiful settings and substantial prize money, the elite Show Jumping series created in 2006 by Jan Tops today attracts the best riders on the planet. Tops’ compatriot, World No.5 Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands, won the Tour title in 2017 after an impressively consistent season at most of the 15 competitions across the globe.

And since Longines first got involved with the Tour in 2013, the number of host cities has continued to expand: this year, the series touched down in Mexico City, Miami Beach, Shanghai, Madrid, Hamburg, Cannes, Monaco, Paris, Cascais, Estoril (Portugal), Chantilly (France), Berlin, London, Valkenswaard (The Netherlands), Rome and Doha, Qatar. The newly-added stage in Prague will unfold in parallel with the team-based Global Champions League’s inaugural play-offs, also to be held in the 1,000-year-old Czech capital. And there, the Tour’s Super Grand Prix will take place on Saturday December 15, with the winning riders of all the LGCT Grand Prix in 2018 eligible to compete for additional prize money. 

The new agreement will see Longines “renew and extend” its position as Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the circuit, and carries on the company’s long history in equestrian sports. That history dates back to 1878, when it produced a timepiece engraved with a jockey and his mount. Jan Tops, Founder and President of Longines Global Champions Tour, expressed his pleasure at having such a relationship with the brand, which has been based in the Swiss town of Saint-Imier since 1832: “I am delighted to announce this new extended partnership with Longines, which is another landmark for our series, and I want to thank Longines for their vision, passion and incredible commitment to Show Jumping and equestrian sport.”

“We are really proud of the strong partnership we have established with the Longines Global Champions Tour over the years, which has contributed to make Longines a major player in the field of Show Jumping,” added Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines Vice President and Head of International Marketing. “Today, it is a great pleasure to further illustrate our passion for equestrian sports and we look forward to this new common adventure. This new step in our cooperation with the LGCT can only demonstrate how successful our collaboration has been.”