Miami Beach’s unique backdrop for Longines Global Champions Tour

Atlantic breezes, palm trees and a turquoise ocean set the scene for this second stage of the CSI5* Tour and team-based Global Champions League after the Mexican capital’s competition at Campo Marte from March 22-25. And the unique beach venue in Florida fits alongside the other emblematic sites on the Tour, which will touch down in 16 spots around the world before a newly-added finale in Prague, Czech Republic towards the end of the year.

In the first Individual class in Miami on Thursday (with 1.45m high obstacles) Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and his bay mare Sansibar took first place in the 17-pair jump-off, ahead of the United States’ Georgina Bloomberg on Paola 233 and Canada’s Eric Lamaze with Chacco Kid. For his victory, Weishaupt, the 32nd-ranked rider in the world, won €8,250 (about £7,200 or $10,100), and picked up some good momentum for the rest of the competition, which continues today.

Among the 64 riders and 125 horses from 21 nations in the Sunshine State this week – many of whom will be back in Europe next week at the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Final in Paris, from April 11-15 – are three Brits: Brash (with Ursula and Hello Shelby), Ben Maher (Don Vito and Winning Good), and Michael Whitaker (Cassionato and Valmy de la Lande). Six riders from Ireland are also there: Bertram Allen (Gin Chin van het Lindenhof, Izzy By Picobello), Shane Breen (CSF Vendi Cruz, Ipswich van de Wolfsakker), Michael Duffy (Efs Top Contender and Jule van den Tinnenpot), Darragh Kenny (Cassini Z, Team de Coquerie), Denis Lynch (RMF Cadeau de Muze, RMF Echo) and Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z, Main Road). Brash is aiming for a third Longines Global Champion Tour series victory this year, after 2013 and 2014. The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders won the title in 2017.

This weekend, the €300,000, 1.60m Grand Prix of Miami Beach is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. local time Saturday, following the Global Champions League Final for this stage. In the first competition for the teams present for this stage of the Tour, the Monaco Aces (with riders Jérôme Guery and Julien Epaillard) are in front of the Scandinavian Vikings (Leopold van Asten and Christian Ahlmann) and Prague Lions (Anna Kellnerova and Gerco Schröder).

In addition to the equestrian sports action this weekend, visitors to the competition will also be able to check out other Miami Beach attactions, including the Art Deco Historic District and nearby national parks such as Everglades and Biscayne.