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The mathematics were settled in Rome, but the magnitude of the achievement deserves so much more than a calculator. Gilles Thomas clinched the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship on Sunday at the Circus Maximus, and in doing so, didn't just win a title—he rewrote the record books in ways that announce the arrival of a new era in show jumping.

The Belgian prodigy is now the youngest-ever LGCT champion at just 27 years old, shattering the previous record. More impressively, he's the first rider in the modern era of the tour to mathematically secure the championship with two complete stages still remaining on the calendar—Rabat and Riyadh won't even matter for the title race.

The coronation came with Thomas piloting the nine-year-old mare Qalista DN to a brilliant second-place finish in Sunday's Grand Prix, pushing his points total to an unassailable 275. With nearest rival Christian Kukuk faltering to 16th place after a costly rail, Thomas's lead became insurmountable, transforming the season's final legs from championship drama into a victory lap for the new king.

What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is the strategic depth behind it. Thomas revealed a mindset focused on each individual stage rather than the overarching title. "Today I was focusing on trying to win this stage, but now I am also the championship winner," he said, suggesting his success came from staying present rather than managing a points lead. He credited receiving the leader's armband early in the season as psychological fuel, noting "maybe it gave me some wings." His Paris victory aboard superstar Ermitage Kalone stood out as the season's defining moment, the win that built unstoppable momentum.

Thomas's championship run was built on strategic depth. In a sport where the grueling demands of global travel can break down even the best horses, Thomas deployed a strategic rotation of elite mounts including Ermitage Kalone, Qiara, Qalista DN, and Luna. He credited his ability to "manage them better" with having this depth of horsepower, allowing him to field a fresh, perfectly prepared partner for each critical stage. It's a modern approach to championship-level competition, one that requires not just riding skill but sophisticated logistical management and significant financial backing.

The fact that Harrie Smolders explicitly stated his decision to skip the final two events was due to not having a second Grand Prix horse to support Monaco without over-exerting him only underscores Thomas's advantage. You can't win a season-long war with one weapon, no matter how brilliant that weapon might be.

Updated LGCT Individual Standings (Top 5):

With the title decided, the battle for the remaining podium positions becomes the compelling narrative for Rabat and Riyadh. Smolders' season is done, which means Kukuk, van der Vleuten, and Schou will fight it out for second and third. The championship is over, but the season isn't.

Sunday's Grand Prix belonged to a single, perfect partnership that reached an emotional peak exactly where it all began. Harrie Smolders and Monaco claimed victory in the LGCT Grand Prix of Rome with a performance that transcended sport and became poetry.

The story Smolders revealed post-victory transformed the win into something profound. "

It's the kind of full-circle narrative that reminds us why we love this sport—the decade-long partnerships, the trust built over thousands of jumps, the way a horse and rider can become something greater than the sum of their parts.

Smolders noted the unique energy of the Circus Maximus, stating "you feel the atmosphere, Monaco feels the atmosphere… it lights him up, it gears him up." The 16-year-old gelding, competing at the venue where his professional story began, responded with a masterclass.

Uliano Vezzani's 1.60m course for the Grand Prix was technical yet fair, producing ten combinations in the jump-off—exactly the kind of number that creates sporting theatre rather than an attritional survival test. The jump-off became a battle of precision and nerve, with Austria's Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge setting the early standard with the first double-clear. France's Gregory Cottard and Cocaine du Val soon eclipsed their time to take the lead.

Then came Smolders and Monaco, the pair synonymous with speed. They delivered a breathtaking round, slicing turns with surgical precision and flowing across the course to stop the clock at a blistering 34.27 seconds. The time looked untouchable. The newly crowned champion Thomas gave chase with Qalista DN, ahead of Smolders' pace at the halfway point but losing crucial fractions in the final turn to finish just behind in 34.41 seconds. Other contenders couldn't match the standard—Bertram Allen had a small misjudgment resulting in four faults, while the home crowd gasped as Italian favorite Giulia Martinengo Marquet suffered an unlucky fall.

The victory was Smolders' third LGCT Grand Prix win of the 2025 season and marked an incredible 30th LGCT Grand Prix podium, a testament to his enduring excellence at the pinnacle of the sport. By confirming he won't compete in Rabat or Riyadh to preserve Monaco for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague, Smolders revealed a calculated approach—a "surgical strike" strategy of peaking the veteran gelding for specific, high-impact events rather than grinding through the full tour. After years where Monaco was "always second," this shift has yielded three victories this season.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ LGCT Grand Prix of Rome CSI5 1.60m: Full Results

Van der Vleuten's third-place finish carried extra significance beyond the podium—with both Smolders and Thomas having already qualified, the "golden ticket" to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague passed to him. "He has been my number one horse for years, I really can rely on him," van der Vleuten said of his trusted 15-year-old partner. "Now we need to make our plan to aim for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague."

If the individual championship concluded in Rome, the Global Champions League team competition was dramatically blown wide open. The Cannes Stars, powered by Iron Dames, delivered a performance of absolute perfection to claim victory and completely reset the championship leaderboard.

German riders Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames Combella and Katrin Eckermann with Chao Lee and Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS were simply untouchable. They were the only team to produce four clear rounds across two demanding days of competition—a feat of remarkable consistency. Their final score of zero penalties in a combined time of 151.17 seconds secured a commanding victory.

"It's always special to win with this team," Eckermann stated. "We trust each other completely, and the horses were in fantastic form today. This win means everything for our championship fight." The victory, which Eckermann framed as "girls power," was a major success for the Iron Dames project dedicated to supporting female talent in elite sports.

The seismic impact came in the standings. The victory propelled Cannes Stars to 277 points, drawing them exactly level with season-long leaders Valkenswaard United. Valkenswaard United had entered Rome with a 14-point cushion, but an uncharacteristically difficult weekend—with both Hans-Dieter Dreher and Gilles Thomas incurring penalties—erased their advantage entirely. They retain the formal lead only by virtue of having more event wins throughout the season, but the championship is now a dead heat heading into the final two events.

The Doha Falcons secured second place with 4 faults total, while the Paris Panthers claimed an emotional first podium of the season with 6 faults, particularly meaningful for Italian riders Guido Grimaldi and Clara Pezzoli competing on home soil.

GCL of Rome Final Results: Full GCL Results

GCL Team Standings:

The team championship will go down to the wire in Rabat and Riyadh. A comfortable lead has vanished in an instant, creating a high-tension, winner-take-all scenario for the final two events.

Rome's weekend wasn't just about Sunday. The CSI5* 1.50m jump-off class on Saturday delivered a spectacular duel won by Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf aboard Doha de Riverland. With fifteen combinations advancing to the jump-off over Vezzani's track, the field read like a who's who of show jumping—Simon Delestre, Niels Bruynseels, Edwina Tops-Alexander, and Henrik von Eckermann all in the mix for a high-stakes speed shootout.

The lead changed hands multiple times as the world's best went head-to-head. Switzerland's Martin Fuchs, fresh off a victory in Vienna, produced a blistering clear in 35.03 seconds aboard L&L Lorde that looked unbeatable.

As the final challenger, Bettendorf displayed remarkable nerve. He and Doha de Riverland attacked the course with daring precision and impossibly tight turns, flying over the final fence to stop the clock at 34.74 seconds—snatching victory by just under three-tenths of a second as the arena erupted.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5 1.50m Jump-Off Class Final Results:

The crisp autumn air of New York's Hudson Valley played host to an ambitious new chapter in North American show jumping as the inaugural CSI5* Highlands Cup made its debut from October 9-12. Set against the spectacular fall colors at Keane Stud in Amenia, the event blended world-class sport with the LGCT playbook—headline concerts from Third Eye Blind, LeAnn Rimes, and Brothers Osborne, luxury hospitality, and the debut of the Bridlemont Concours uniting fine automobiles and equestrian sport. As the fourth leg of Major League Show Jumping's season, the stakes were high.

The sporting credibility came from Gregory Bodo. Fresh from designing the 2024 Paris Olympic tracks, the French mastermind built a 1.60m Grand Prix course that proved his philosophy: technical sophistication through subtle questions rather than sheer size. His track at Highlands Cup demanded a forward gallop while constantly testing adjustability—the kind of flowing but relentless challenge that separates the truly elite partnerships.

The field responded: 14 nations represented, including world number one Kent Farrington, 2025 European Champion Richard Vogel, four-time Olympic medalist Beezie Madden, and two-time Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward. Bodo's course yielded a dozen clear rounds from 35 starters, setting up a jump-off worthy of the venue's debut.

Saturday's $340,000 Highlands Cup Grand Prix CSI5* belonged to Germany's Rene Dittmer, who captured his first-ever MLSJ Grand Prix win in his debut season with the league. Riding the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Corsica X, Dittmer navigated Bodo's demanding 1.60m course with precision to advance to the jump-off.

The final round came down to the slimmest of margins. Belgian veteran Gregory Wathelet, riding for the DIHP Roadrunners, set a blistering pace aboard Ace of Hearts with a clear round in 42.16 seconds that seemed destined for victory. Dittmer and Corsica X found just enough speed, crossing the finish in 42.01 seconds—a mere 0.15 seconds faster—to snatch the win.

What made Dittmer's victory particularly compelling was his candid acknowledgment of the team dynamic. "I only watched the first one in the jump-off and then made my own plan," he explained. "My teammates from Helios, Richard Vogel and Michael Duffy, were watching for me and told me what to do. I tried to do that as best I could, and it worked in the end." His individual triumph was guided by his teammates' eyes and expertise—perhaps the most compelling evidence to date of MLSJ's collaborative advantage.

"She doesn't waste any time at the jump," Dittmer said of Corsica X, his partner of three years. "I'm super happy to be given the opportunity by her owner, Mark Miness. Today was a great day in our story."

Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam rounded out an all-European podium, piloting James Kann Cruz to a double-clear effort in 42.82 seconds for third.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highlands Cup Grand Prix CSI5 1.60m Final Results: Full Results

Friday's $262,500 ClipMyHorse.tv 5* Team Competition delivered the kind of dramatic upset that makes MLSJ's format so compelling. The Archers—ranked a distant seventh entering the week—rose to claim gold in a performance that showcased strategic management and clutch execution.

The team of Americans Alex Matz and Callie Schott alongside Belgian Nicola Philippaerts, guided by veteran manager John Madden, executed a near-perfect game plan. After placing second in the first round, Schott aboard Ironix and Philippaerts on H&M Que Sera secured a spot in the gold medal jump-off against the formidable Trelawny Trailblazers, one of the league's leading teams.

The final format isolates a single rider from each team for a head-to-head showdown—pure pressure, winner-take-all. The Trailblazers selected Natalie Dean aboard Oasis van de Bucxtale. Madden made a calculated decision to trust the nine-year partnership of Alex Matz and 17-year-old Cashew CR, choosing experience and reliability over a potentially younger, faster combination. "My horse is naturally very, very fast, so I felt confident that if I rode my round he would be tough to beat," Matz stated. "He jumped well in the first round, so I thought: 'be fast but not reckless'."

Matz went first, piloting Cashew CR to a swift, clear round in 42.00 seconds flat—laying down a formidable challenge. Dean and Oasis van de Bucxtale chased the time but couldn't match the standard. An unfortunate rail sealed The Archers' gold medal and relegated the Trailblazers to silver. The battle for bronze required its own jump-off between Leg 1 winners Helios and standings leaders Maccabi United, with Maccabi United prevailing to secure another crucial podium finish.

MLSJ Team Competition Podium: Full Team Competition Results

🥇 The Archers - Alex Matz (USA), Callie Schott (USA), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL)

🥈 Trelawny Trailblazers - Natalie Dean (USA), Lillie Keenan (USA), Charlotte Jacobs (USA)

🥉 Maccabi United - Daniel Bluman (ISR), Ilan Bluman (COL), Gabriel de Matos (BRA)

The Highlands Cup proved pivotal in reshaping the MLSJ season. The new Season 5 scoring format—where individual Qualifier and Grand Prix points now count toward team totals—was keenly felt. Wireman's qualifier win added eight points for the Rainmakers, while Dittmer's Grand Prix triumph boosted Helios.

At the top, the duel between Maccabi United and Trelawny Trailblazers continues. Despite The Archers' gold medal, Maccabi United's bronze was enough to maintain their six-point lead. The Archers' victory will propel them from seventh place into championship contention, while Helios solidified third place with their team bronze and Dittmer's Grand Prix win.

MLSJ Team Standings (After Leg 4):

On the individual front, Dittmer's Grand Prix win catapults him into third place at 34 points, while Wireman's qualifier victory pushes her into the top five at 30 points. Kent Farrington maintains a slim one-point lead over Daniel Bluman, but with rising stars now challenging the established order, the second half of the season promises fireworks.

MLSJ Individual Standings (After Leg 4):

The CSI5* San Miguel de Allende delivered an emotional home victory that captured everything compelling about show jumping's growth in Mexico. Federico Fernandez, the 56-year-old Mexican veteran with four Olympic Games and seven World Championships on his resume, piloted his trusted 14-year-old stallion Romeo to victory in the $340,000 GNP Seguros Grand Prix on Saturday.

Swiss course designer Gérard Lachat built a formidable 1.60m test that proved exceptionally challenging—only two combinations from 21 starters managed clear rounds. Three Mexican riders secured spots in the top five by being fastest with one rail down: Alejandro Mills third, Luis Alejandro Plascencia fourth, and Jose Antonio Chedraui Prom fifth. The severity of Lachat's design meant that a single rail was enough for a podium position.

The jump-off became a two-horse duel between Fernandez and Latvia's Kristaps Neretnieks aboard Valour. Fernandez delivered a masterful clear in 48.91 seconds, laying down a formidable gauntlet. When Neretnieks had a rail at the first fence, he made the professional decision to retire rather than push his 15-year-old gelding for second place—prioritizing the horse's welfare over prize money. The Otomí Club Hípico erupted in celebration of a popular home win.

The victory carried particular resonance for Fernandez, who survived a tragic 1987 plane crash that killed 50 people and left him hospitalized for six months with severe burns. He emerged with what he calls an "obligation to be happy," and horses played a "very, very important part" in his recovery. His amateur status—balancing competition with family and business—offers an alternative to the increasingly professionalized sport, proving the pinnacle remains attainable through dedication and love for the horse.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ GNP Seguros Grand Prix Final Results: Full Results

The Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham delivered one of the year's most inspiring storylines. Irish rider Trevor Breen piloted nine-year-old Kannoon Blue to victory in the CSI3* 1.55m Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix, an achievement made extraordinary by its timing—just 17 months after Breen sustained severe fractures in his lower neck and back from a fall at Hamburg. The only double-clear performance in the eight-horse jump-off stopped the clock at 39.10 seconds to secure the win worth €18,744. "I couldn't have dreamt of this while recovering in the hospital," Breen said of his home-bred grey gelding. The final standings showcased British show jumping royalty, with three Whitakers in the top six: Robert third, John fifth, William sixth.

French riders delivered commanding performances on home soil at the CSI3* Hubside Jumping Autumn Tour in Gassin. Francois Xavier Boudant piloted Gloria des Besnards to victory in the €56,800 Grand Prix, edging compatriot Nicolas Layec aboard Fee de Caryan in a tight jump-off—42.28 seconds to 42.92 seconds. Six combinations posted second clears in the 57-horse field, with the podium rounded out by Israel's Robin Muhr on Foud'Joie de Stel. Pénélope Leprevost secured sixth place to complete a strong French showing at the prestigious Riviera venue.

FEI Provisional Suspension: Top Irish rider Darragh Kenny was provisionally suspended by the FEI effective October 13 following a positive test for a Class S6 Stimulant during the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship in La Coruña, Spain, in July. Kenny issued a statement confirming the test result, explaining that the substance was part of a prescribed medication he has been taking under medical supervision for ADHD. "I never intended to gain any competitive advantage. My sole aim was to responsibly address a medical condition under professional guidance," Kenny stated. The case is under review by the International Testing Agency on behalf of the FEI, with immediate implications for Irish team selections for major upcoming events.

LA28 Course Designer Announced: Esteemed Irish course designer Alan Wade has been appointed to design the jumping tracks for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, placing one of the world's most respected course builders at the helm of the sport's pinnacle event.

FEI Tack Meeting: The FEI hosted a pivotal stakeholder meeting on October 14 at its headquarters to discuss the future of tack and equipment requirements in jumping. The conclusions could lead to significant rule changes affecting all competition levels.

Notable Transactions: American rider Kyle King sold successful mount SIG Chiari, while top mare Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre was sold to Saudi Arabian interests, representing significant shifts in top-level horsepower.

Next week delivers one of the busiest stretches of the entire season—three simultaneous CSI5* events across three continents. This unprecedented convergence creates fascinating strategic choices for the world's top riders and effectively guarantees that victory is genuinely up for grabs at each venue.

🇳🇴 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5-W Oslo (Norway, October 16-19)
The Agria Oslo Horse Show launches the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League season. The shift to indoor competition will reward powerful, agile horses, with riders chasing early qualifying points for the World Cup Final. Sunday's main event offers €250,000 in the 1.60m Longines FEI Jumping World Cup of Oslo.

🇲🇦 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ LGCT Rabat (Morocco, October 16-19)
The penultimate LGCT stop carries massive stakes. While Thomas has wrapped the individual title, a "Golden Ticket" to the Super Grand Prix in Prague remains available for the Grand Prix winner (if not already qualified). The team championship couldn't be tighter—Valkenswaard United and Cannes Stars tied at 277 points. The field features Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk, Scott Brash, Peder Fredricson, and defending Rabat champion Eduardo Alvarez Aznar. Sunday's €634,000 Grand Prix is one of the tour's richest.

🇺🇸 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ MLSJ Tryon (North Carolina, USA, October 14-19)
Major League Show Jumping continues at the world-class Tryon International Equestrian Center, with the league's unique team format taking center stage. Maccabi United's six-point lead over the Trailblazers sets up a crucial showdown, while The Archers and Helios look to build on their Highlands Cup momentum. Saturday's $340,000 Grand Prix highlights the individual competition.

Other Notable Events:
🇫🇷 ⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Gassin - St Tropez* (France, October 15-19)
🇩🇰 ⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Herning* (Denmark, October 15-19)
🇲🇽 ⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 San Miguel de Allende* (Mexico, October 15-19)
🇪🇸 ⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Vejer de la Frontera* (Spain, October 16-19)

This week gets an 8.6/10 for delivering on every promise of elite sport across multiple continents. Three CSI5* events with world-class fields, Olympic-level course designers, and dramatic storylines created a week that showcased the sport at its absolute best. Thomas making history by wrapping up the LGCT championship earlier than anyone ever has demonstrated season-long excellence we rarely see, while Smolders' emotional Grand Prix win in the city where he first met Monaco nine years ago reminded us why partnerships matter more than podiums. The inaugural Highlands Cup proved North America can stage world-class events that blend sport with culture, Dittmer's breakthrough validated MLSJ's team concept, and Fernandez's home victory in Mexico celebrated both personal resilience and a nation's equestrian rise.

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