After a lengthy five-year hiatus, the renowned Longines Global Champions Tour returns to Shanghai for the fourth leg of the 2024 circuit. With a brand-new venue, nighttime competitions and notable riders from the world of elite equestrianism competing for the Grand Prix, the tournament was a popular destination during the recent Labor Day holiday. CHINA DAILY
After a lengthy five-year hiatus, the renowned Longines Global Champions Tour galloped back into Shanghai for the fourth leg of its 2024 circuit, marking a significant return to China and its many equestrian enthusiasts.
From May 3 to 5, a brand-new venue witnessed a staggering turnout of over 22,000 spectators. Attendees were entranced by the symbiotic relationship between rider and horse, the rhythmic beating of hooves and the subtle murmurs of instruction given to their steeds by the riders.
The three-day elite show jumping competition, held at the Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre, boasted the presence of esteemed figures, including Olympic and world champions.
In the pinnacle event of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Shanghai, 25-year-old Belgian rider Gilles Thomas clinched victory aboard Luna van het Dennehof.
"It's my first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win, that's something I'll always remember. I have never been to Shanghai before, but I must say, this is one of the best global shows of the whole year," Thomas said.
Sunday's competition unfolded dramatically as Thomas, the first to ride, completed the course flawlessly, setting a high bar for his rivals. Subsequent riders struggled, hitting the poles and registering errors, failing to close the gap with the Belgian.
Reflecting on his victory, Thomas remarked that, initially, he wasn't optimistic about his starting position, as it left little time to prepare. "However, it was my lucky day," he concluded.
With this win, Thomas has also secured his first-ever Golden Ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Riyadh, set to take place in November.
"It is great to qualify so early in the year so I can plan my season around it. It is a class everyone wants to be in, so I couldn't be happier," he said.
Enthusiastic welcome
The brand-new Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre, located at the Expo Park in the Pudong New Area is China's first permanent professional equestrian venue.
As well as a nearly 5,000-seat, Olympic-spec main arena, the venue also includes amenities such as a live broadcasting center, a horse clinic alongside permanent stables, the International Horse Art Center and an International Equestrian Academy.
As he mentioned, this is Thomas' first time in Shanghai, and he was genuinely taken aback by the city and the impressive new venue.
"It's not a long time that China has been a host country, but it is growing really fast," he said.
"The stadium is amazing, I think it's one of the best in the world. All the riders that came from Europe or America, they all say it's just something they've never seen before," he said. "I think I will come back again next year."
He has also been impressed by the warmth of the audience, who provided an enthusiastic welcome to the competitors throughout the event.
"The stadium is big, but we could hear that the audience cheered every rider. When we had runs that were not so good, they still cheered for us."
However, when Chinese riders took to the arena, the volume went up a few more notches. Four Chinese riders competed, including Olympic rider Zhang Xingjia, world championship rider Wang Yunjing, and Zheng Wenjie, all of whom entered on a wild card and had prior experience in the competition.
24-year-old Pang Qinyu made his debut at the Shanghai event. He and his mount, Caprisco, placed 21st in the CSI5 international jumping competition in two phases, on May 3.
Pang was born in 2000 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. When the Global Champions Tour made its debut in Shanghai a decade ago, Pang began his journey with horse riding. He has since achieved many successes in national equestrian competitions. In 2021, he was selected for the national U21 obstacle team of the youth equestrian squad.
"I've been to venues in many countries, and I'm happy to compete at China's new permanent equestrian venue," Pang said.
Pang views the Shanghai event as the beginning of a new chapter in his career. "My aim is to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics and become one of Asia's top riders by 2028," he said.
In May and June, Pang plans to join competitions in Madrid, Spain, and Cannes and Paris in France. He said he also aims to earn points for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix on Sunday marked a decade since the event's Shanghai debut. CHINA DAILY
A decade of effort
The LGCT Grand Prix on Sunday marked 10 years since it began bringing international show jumping to China.
Jan Tops, founder and president of Longines Global Champions Tour, is glad that the tour is making its return to China, and has seen the nation's passion for show jumping continue to accelerate since the first groundbreaking LGCT event in 2014.
His wife, Edwina Tops-Alexander, riding Fellow Castlefield, took second place in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai.
"She did very well, I remember that, ten years ago, she was also the runner-up in the Grand Prix," he said.
"We are thrilled to present the very best of show jumping in such an incredible new venue as the Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre. The state-of-the-art venue offers exceptional facilities for horses, riders, fans, sponsors and guests," he said.
Tops is impressed by the new permanent facility, noting that he thinks it's not only horse friendly, but also quite convenient for the public.
Shanghai's new venue has positioned the city as China's sole destination for premier international equestrian events. This signals a significant milestone in the evolution of equestrian sports within China.
The three-day competition also bore witness to the popularity of equestrianism in China. Enthusiastic Chinese fans filled the stands, adorned in their most elegant attire, turning the event into a prominent social affair.
During the night sessions of the first two days, as the sun dipped below Shanghai's iconic skyline, the excitement soared, as the arena played host to a mesmerizing light show, captivating both spectators and competitors.
Paving the way
Tops has noticed that the audience is already very knowledgeable about equestrian sports, and many young people from across the country came to Shanghai to attend the event.
"Our Shanghai event has always attracted a passionate crowd that enjoys the high level of competition and the associated lifestyle experience. The whole development of the last 10 years is very much continuing, and we are happy to be part of this evolution," he said.
The event organizers have always prioritized growth. They've crafted a complete and immersive viewing experience, including equestrian cultural displays, brand exchanges for horse equipment, artistic installations, and interactive parent-child activities, focused on promoting the bond between people and horses.
During the pre-tournament Sino-European horse industry exchange seminar, Lu Wei, secretary-general of the Shanghai Equestrian Association, remarked that the ten years since the inception of the competition in China have been the most rapid for the country's equestrian development.
"Initially, many didn't grasp the distinctions between speed racing and equestrian sports. But now, equestrianism fulfills various emotional and recreational needs, beyond just competition, thanks to the efforts and impact of these events," Lu explained.
Cheng Keqiang, director of the Shanghai Equestrian Sports Management Center, sees equestrianism as a sport that instills compassion and carries substantial economic potential.
"We hope this new equestrian venue will pave the way for Shanghai's equestrian development. By hosting this event, we aim to boost the sport's growth and event system formation, making Shanghai an even more prominent global sports city," Cheng stated.
liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn
