June 30, 2024 #News
In an emotionally charged LGCT GP in Stockholm, Olivier Philippaerts took his first stage win on the Longines Global Champions Tour.
The most anticipated race of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm (SWE) took place this afternoon. The Grand Prix in height 1.60 mt with jump-off presented by Sour he offered a lavish Prize pool of €500,000.00. On the course designed by the Italian Course Designer Uliano Vezzani, 35 pairs from all over the world competed, but only 10 of them managed to access the barrage with 4 clear doubles.
Until now, Olivier Philippaerts he had collected four second places and two thirds, never managing to climb to the top step of the podium. Surrounded by several supporters, the Belgian today also won his golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix which will be held in Riyadh this November. Philippaerts chose the 12-year-old gelding for the occasion H&M Miro (BWP, Semilly Diamond x Kannan GFE), finishing with a double clean in the fastest time of 45”.76.
Keeping the Swedish dream alive, Wilma Hellström with its wonderful Cicci Bjn (2011, SWB, Ci Ci Senjor ASK x Tornesch) took second place in front of his home crowd in his first LGCT Grand Prix with a faultless finish in 46.16 seconds. The podium was completed by Belgian Jérôme Guery e What a Man Hus (2006, Holstein, Quidam de Revel x Candillo) authors of two laps without penalties in a time of 46″.93.
A passionate audience once again filled the stands of Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium, as show jumping fans and enthusiasts of the sport traveled from near and far to cheer on the best riders in the business. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of”. Olivier Philippaertsclearly emotional, had to compose himself before speaking to GCTV after achieving his lifelong goal, and said: “I tried many, many times – sometimes I came second place thinking that one day I could win, and to do it here in Stockholm, in front of all these people, and my sponsor H&M who continuously supports us, is something special.”.
With a major change in the overall standings of the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour, Max Kuhner He flew into the lead with 171 points and yet another impressive performance in an LGCT Grand Prix. Andreas Schou rose to second place with 165 points, while the leader of the various stages Eduardo Alvarez Aznar dropped to third place with 162. The 2024 championship now heads full steam towards Monaco, where Port Hercule will once again host the tenth stage from 4 to 6 July.
© LGCT Press Release – translated by L. Ruffino; photo: Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Miro winners of the LGCT Grand Prix in Stockholm (SWE) © LGCT
