In a season finale destined for the history books, Gilles Thomas was crowned the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion, marking a defining moment in his young but already remarkable career. With skill, composure, and consistency across the season, Thomas rose above a field of legends to claim his first-ever Championship title – a triumph that cements his status among the sport’s elite.
The tension reached boiling point under the Riyadh lights as the podium fight went down to the wire. Two-time LGCT Champion Harrie Smolders, ever the strategist, delivered yet another world-class performance to secure second overall, while Denmark’s Andreas Schou showed trademark precision and power with his ever-consistent Napoli vh Nederassenthof to claim third place on the Championship podium.
It was a night of celebration, emotion, and pure sporting drama – a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable 2025 season of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
The prize-giving ceremony in Riyadh provided a fittingly grand finale to an extraordinary season. His Highness Prince Fahad Bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Mousaad Al Saud, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, led the presentation, joined by His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, alongside Jan Tops and Nabil Mougharbel, Brand Manager for Longines Saudi Arabia, who presented the Longines watch to the winner.
The celebrations extended beyond the riders, with recognition for the dedication and hard work of the grooms who power every success. Sanne Melsen, Morgane Tresh, and Francisco Caba Guil,proudly joined their riders on the podium to receive trophies honouring their exceptional commitment throughout the 2025 season – a tribute to the teamwork and passion that define the Longines Global Champions Tour.
An emotional Gilles Thomas smiled: “Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. To become the youngest LGCT Champion ever is something I could only dream of. This season has been full of incredible moments, and to stand here at the end of it all with this title is unbelievable. It’s a reward for so much hard work from my whole team, my horses, and everyone who supports me.”
He went on to add, “The Longines Global Champions Tour is such a unique circuit – every event feels special, every arena is different, and the level of competition is unbelievable. To compete alongside riders I grew up watching is a privilege, and to now be among them as Champion is something I’ll never forget. This Tour pushes all of us to be our absolute best.”
Championship runner-up Harrie Smolders said: “It’s been an incredible season and I’m really proud of the consistency we’ve shown. Gilles rode an exceptional season and deserves every bit of his victory. For me, finishing second in a Championship of this quality is something to be proud of.”
He added, “The LGCT Super Grand Prix is always one of the highlights of the year – the best of the best in one class. I’m looking forward to it. My horses are in great shape, and after such a strong season, I go to Prague with a lot of motivation. The goal is simple: to finish the year on a high.”
A beaming Andreas Schou who was the third king of consistency in the 2025 season said “So many are behind results like this – one thing is the two minutes I have in the ring but it is the hours the whole team put in so of course it is so nice to give this back to them.”
He added, “When we start the year, the only thing we talk about is the Longines Global Champions Tour, we love this tour and you compete against the absolute best in the world, so of course being on the podium and showing the whole country at home, and our sport in Denmark that it is possible even though we are not a big nation in this sport really means a lot!”
President and Founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour Jan Tops summed up the season perfectly: “2025 has been a truly exceptional season. We’ve seen extraordinary performances, new stars emerge, and an incredible level of consistency across the Tour. Every destination has brought something unique – from Doha to Shanghai, Monaco to Rome, and now Riyadh – it’s been a showcase of the very best our sport has to offer. The riders, horses, and teams have pushed the limits once again, and that’s exactly what this sport is about: evolution, excellence, and emotion.”
He continued: “We are extremely grateful to all our partners who make this Tour possible – especially Longines, whose commitment and passion have been fundamental to the growth of our sport. A huge thank you also to the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and the local Riyadh Organising Committee for their outstanding support and hospitality this week at the Finals. It takes incredible teamwork behind the scenes to create events of this calibre, and together, we continue to raise the standards of show jumping worldwide.”
With a combined prize purse exceeding €1.4 million, the Longines Global Champions Tour Championship and LGCT Grand Prix of Riyadh drew the sport’s finest horse-and-rider combinations from around the world. Against a backdrop of roaring crowds and electric energy, the world’s elite delivered a masterclass in precision, power, and performance – a spectacular showcase of top-level show jumping that brought the 2025 season to a thrilling close.
2025 Longines Global Champions Tour – Final Championship Standings
1. Gilles Thomas – 287 pts
2. Harrie Smolders – 246 pts
3. Andreas Schou – 221 pts
4. Denis Lynch – 219 pts
5. Christian Kukuk – 209 pts
6. Simon Delestre – 204 pts
Results here.
LGCT Grand Prix of Riyadh – Stage 16
As the curtain fell on the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship, all eyes turned to the LGCT Grand Prix of Riyadh, staged beneath the iconic skyline of the King Abdullah Financial District. The fusion of sport and modernity created a breathtaking spectacle – a venue that perfectly embodied the Tour’s spirit: elegance, innovation, and excellence at every turn.
With Gilles Thomas already crowned Champion following his dominant performances all season, the remaining steps on the overall podium were still wide open. Under the floodlit Saudi skies, the final class of the season unfolded with heart-stopping tension and world-class sport.
The course, designed with trademark precision, challenged riders to balance scope with speed – and the jump-off that followed was nothing short of electric.
Cheers, whistles, and whoops echoed through the grandstands as Jana Wargers and Dorette OLD produced a phenomenal double-clear performance to seize victory, stopping the clock in 41.71 seconds. Close behind, Denis Lynch and Cordial delivered a superb round to claim second, while Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone added a third-place finish to an already unforgettable weekend.
A thrilled Jana Wargers said: “I have no words, my horse she was unbelievable today and I was so proud to win this Grand Prix.”
As for the final Golden Ticket of the LGCT Championship season? Jana added, “Everyone that rides the Global Tour is aiming for that, and that I could get it here on the last stage before Prague is just wow!”
From a sporting perspective, it was a night that tested every ounce of precision. Rails fell for some of the biggest names – including heartbreak at the final fence for Emanuele Camilli and Chacco’s Girlstar, and for Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Ventago, whose round had the home crowd on the edge of their seats.
Highlights of the jump-off included dazzling performances from Simon Delestre and Golden Boy DK, who flew to a lightning-fast clear just weeks after surgery, and Kim Emmen and Imagine N.O.P., whose polished performance reinforced her rising star status. Harrie Smolders and Bingo du Parc once again showed trademark composure, while Andreas Schou and Napoli vh Nederassenthof fought valiantly to the very end, a single rail denying them a podium.
As the 2025 season draws to a close, attention now turns to the GC Prague Playoffs, where the winners of each LGCT Grand Prix stage will face off in the €1.25 million Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix. Precision, pressure, and glory await – the stage is set for one final clash of champions.
Results here.
https://www.gcglobalchampions.com/gct/competition/4024/results
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