Longines Masters of Paris: first rendez-vous of Show Jumping’s Indoor Grand Slam this weekend

The French capital is indeed the first of three stages in this season’s CSI5* series, which will continue in Hong Kong and New York City in 2018. And for competitors, the stakes are very high. For anyone capable of pulling off three consecutive Grand Prix victories (Paris > Hong Kong > New York) in a season — the Super Grand Slam — an ultimate prize purse of €2.25 million is up for grabs. Another possible pay-off is the Grand Slam title, a bonus of €1 million for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next (for example, Hong Kong > New York > Paris, or New York > Paris > Hong Kong).

Created by Belgian Christophe Ameeuw’s EEM and inspired by tennis’ Grand Slam series of major competitions — the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open — the opening leg of the elite equestrian circuit is taking place in France from November 30-December 3 as the culminating event of this week’s Paris Horse Show. Part two will be in Hong Kong from February 9-11, 2018 at AsiaWorld-Expo, with the series finale in New York from April 26-29, 2018 at the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. The American stage was previously held in Los Angeles.

The full 5* line-up for Paris can be seen here. Among the 38 riders and 82 horses from 13 nations competing at the elite level are World No.1 Kent Farrington of the United States with his chestnut gelding Creedance. Fellow American Laura Kraut (Confu and Curious George) is also in town, as well as Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze (Chacco Kid and Fine Lady 5). Host nation France has the biggest group of riders in the list of entries, with the names Roger Yves Bost, Pénélope Leprevost, Kevin Staut and Simon Delestre giving a taste of the talent on offer.

Lorenzo de Luca of Italy and Daniel Deusser of Germany are also among the formidable group of European riders who could end up participating in the inaugural Riders Masters Cup competition in Paris. Inspired by the Ryder Cup in golf, two teams — Europe and the United States —of five riders will face off on the course. The format will demand strategic decisions as the intercontinental competition unfolds. For those not in France this weekend, it is also possible to watch the competition live — see here for more.