In an emotionally-charged LGCT Grand Prix, Olivier Philippaerts aboard H&M Miro clinched his first ever stage victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Stockholm presented by Agria.
A long career of riding on the tour so far, Olivier has collected an impressive four seconds and two thirds, always failing to take the top step on the podium. With an army of supporters around him, an emotional celebration sent waves around the stadium as he also clinched his Golden Ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix taking place in Riyadh this November.
Keeping the Swedish dream alive, Wilma Hellström aboard her one-eyed-wonder, Cicci Bjn took second place in front of a home crowd in her first ever LGCT Grand Prix and 5* Grand Prix podium. The podium was rounded out by an on form and ultra consistent Jérôme Guery and Quel Homme de Hus.
A passionate crowd filled the bleechers yet again at Stockholm Olympic Stadium, as show jumping fans and sporting aficionados travelled from near and far to cheer on the best in the business, and that they did.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of”. A clearly emotional Olivier Philippaerts had to collect himself before speaking with GCTV after achieving a life long goal, he said, “I’ve been trying many, many times – a few times in second place I have been thinking hopefully one day I can pull it off, and to do it here in Stockholm, in front of all this crowd, in front of all the people from H&M that support us all the time, its something I’ve dreamed of.”
As the third person in the Philippaerts family dynasty to secure an elusive LGCT Grand Prix win, he went on to add, “the key which is the most important for all of us is to work together – the people that work at home and at the show we really work together to achieve these things, so today we are going to really enjoy it.”
With a top tip from fellow Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli of ‘shorten your reins before the start and don’t hold back’, Wilma Helstrom certainly put on a show for the home crowd riding into second place. Speaking with GCTV, she said “To do this with a home crowd, it really is an amazing feeling. It was pressure enough, but it was a fantastic day today. I’m delighted.”
Returning from injury just this year, Jérôme Guery’s eighteen year old Quel Homme de Hus has come back in the form of his life. Speaking of his long-time equine partner, Guery told GCTV, “It’s amazing to have him back and like I say, when you have a horse like this, everything looks easy. He gives me the easy life and I am so, so happy to have him back and to have him jumping like this.”
With a major shakeup to the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Standings, Max Kühner flys into the lead with 171 points with yet another impressive LGCT Grand Prix performance to his name. Andreas Schou moves up to second place on 165 points, and multi-stage leader Eduardo Alvarez Aznar drops to a close third with 162 points.
A testing course built by Uliano Vezzani asked plenty of questions, including the infamous aurora borealis plank wall which lived up to its name, catching many combinations out.
Single rails fell for the likes of the on form Julien Anquetin and Farah Tame, former LGCT Champion Ben Maher aboard Point Break, Eduardo Pereira De Menezes with H5 Elvaro and Daniel Deusser aboard Otello de Guldenboom. In what would have been a fairytale day for Geraldine Straumann, a heartbreaking 2 time penalties left her and her dream mount Long John Silver 3 out of what would have been their first LGCT Grand Prix jump off.
A false start with the first rail falling for none other than Peder Fredricson and Skylander VS had hearts breaking around the packed Stockholm Olympic Stadium, meaning it wouldn’t be a repeat of his 2019 victory on home turf. Also falling short today was Henrik von Eckermann aboard King Edward, who were looking for a repeat win… it wasn’t to be, but with two fellow Swedish riders clear and into the jump off, the pressure was on to deliver the home crowd something to cheer about.
With plenty of names to watch against the clock, today’s jump off was never going to be anything short of thrilling.
Quietly confident Mark McAuley aboard Grs Lady Amaro entered the ring with an aura of determination. An unfortunate single rail left the duo off the podium, but a competitive time left them to finish in 5th.
All eyes shifted to championship contender and winner of the LGCT Grand Prix of St. Tropez, Max Kühner aboard Elektric Blue P. An uncharacteristic 12 penalties had Max shaking his head and questioning where it went wrong.
The first Swedish rider to enter the jump off had the crowd cheering and stamping their feet, but it wasn’t to be for Emma Emanuelsson and Canbella Blue PS who collected a single rail. The female firepower continued with fourth to go Nicola Pohl and Catz de Sulpice who threw down the gauntlet but collected eight faults on their way.
Clear rounds then came in quick succession with Jérôme Guery aboard Quel Homme de Hus next into the ring. A classy clear had the duo fly to the top of the leaderboard. Recent winners of the LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Messi van ‘t Ruytershof were next into the ring, who challenged the clock but ultimately fell short and into fourth place overall.
Enter: Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Miro. The crowd fell silent, and the question was on everyone’s lips – could it finally be his turn to take the top step on the podium? A slick and quick round looked to see dreams coming true. Three more to go.
Gregory Wathelet and the impressive Bond Jamesbond de Hay fell at the final hurdle with two early rails putting them out of the running.
Sweden’s final hope of a home winner then entered to an eruption of cheers and the atmosphere reached a whole new level. Wilma Hellström with Cicci Bjn put it all on the line, and it paid off – ultimately securing Wilma her first ever LGCT Grand Prix podium.
The pressure was on for last to go, Andreas Schou and Billy Matador – the chance to take over the 2024 LGCT Championship was in his hands. With the quickest round in the jump off, an unfortunate rail left the duo out of a well deserved win, but blasted Schou right into second place in the standings.
In what was an emotional class at a historic venue, cheers rung out and tears fell for the tenth ever Belgian rider to take a stage win on the Longines Global Champions Tour.
The 2024 championship now heads full speed ahead into Monaco, where Port Hercule will again play host to the ultra glamorous 10th stage on tour for the year from 4-6 July.
FULL RESULTS here.
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