Valkenswaard (NED), August 7, 2019 – As the 2019 Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL season races towards the final furlong, a star-studded line up of the world’s top show jumpers can be revealed for the 15th leg of the series – the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard, The Netherlands.
This weekend will see knife edge battles at the spectacular Tops International Arena with motivation high to win the LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard presented by Tennor for one of the few remaining qualifying spots for the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Prague in November. Those in action this weekend and still hungry to qualify include Marcus Ehning (GER), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), Olivier Philippaerts (BEL), Simon Delestre (FRA), Eric Lamaze (CAN), Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA), Harrie Smolders (NED), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Gregory Wathelet (BEL), Alberto Zorzi (ITA), Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Eric van der Vleuten (NED) and Kent Farrington (USA).
Other big names on show this weekend include qualifiers Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Peder Fredricson (SWE), Christian Ahlmann (GER), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Julien Epaillard (FRA), Jérôme Guery (BEL), Dani G. Waldman (ISR), Niels Bruynseels (BEL), Daniel Deusser (GER) and Pieter Devos (BEL) who still leads the overall LGCT rankings.
There will be plenty of home heroes for local fans to cheer on, including last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard winner Frank Schuttert (NED), Marc Houtzager (NED), Leopold van Asten (NED), Kim Emmen (NED), Jur Vrieling (NED), Bart Bles (NED) as well as Harrie Smolders (NED), Maikel and Eric van der Vleuten (NED).
For the 14th season of the world’s premier show jumping series, the world class, state-of-the-art Tops International Arena will host the 15th leg of the circuit from 9th – 11th August. The superb facilities at the epicentre of equestrianism in Europe, were created by Founder and President Jan Tops and have raised the bar in equestrian sport to new heights.
Designed with the horse as the top priority, the show ground features an exceptional 125m by 85m sweeping sand arena, four further arenas featuring top class footing, canter tracks and lunging arenas, expansive warm up arenas, exceptional wash areas and facilities for grooms to provide top standard care and over 500 world class and beautifully designed stables available for visiting competitors. Within the impressive complex there is a shopping village, refreshments and entertainment areas – all of which are available for everyone in the family to enjoy, and tickets allowing the perfect view of the action under covered grandstands as the 2019 LGCT Championship battle gallops towards the final quarter.
