Victor Victorious! Bettendorf Secures the Ultimate Win in Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix

In an electrifying climax to the €1.25 million Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, Victor Bettendorf delivered a performance for the ages, seizing victory aboard his remarkable nine-year-old mare, Foxy de la Roque. The tension was palpable as Bettendorf, the last to go under the floodlights in Riyadh, produced a rapid awe-inspiring double-clear that left the arena breathless. 

Joining the illustrious ranks of Henrik von Eckermann, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Julien Epaillard, Ben Maher, and Daniel Deusser, the 34-year-old made history as the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.

Belgium’s Gilles Thomas, piloting the impressive Ermitage Kalone, secured a well-earned second place with a bold and fluid double-clear, setting the benchmark midway through the second round. Ireland’s Michael Duffy and Quirex completed the podium, their nearly flawless performance marred by two time faults in the first round. It was a showcase of elite talent, where the margins were razor-thin, and every moment counted.

As the crowd erupted, Victor Bettendorf’s smile said it all—this was a defining moment in his career. Reflecting on tonight’s win, an emotional Victor said: “It really doesn’t feel real. The previous winners of this class have been my heroes for my whole career and I can’t believe I have joined them as a winner. The hospitality for my first ever international trip with the horses has been amazing and to win this class at a show like this in Riyadh is just incredible. I am very emotional and it will take a while for this to sink in.”

The intense battle for supremacy added to the drama, creating an unforgettable spectacle reminiscent of the Super Bowl of show jumping. In one of the biggest podiums of his career, young talent Gilles Thomas told GCTV: “It was already an amazing achievement to just ride in this calibre class. Actually, I didn’t really expect it to win an LGCT Grand Prix this year and as soon as I won in Shanghai, I was fully focused on this class. The Playoffs is an amazing event and tonight was something special to be part of.”

He went on to add: “In the first round, the way Ermitage was jumping I felt I could take some risk. For the second round, my original plan was to ride a good clear round but he felt so good and it's not every year you can ride the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix so I thought we had to give it a go. I must thank my Valkenswaard United teammate Marcus Ehning today because during the whole class he helped me a lot. He pushed me a bit to go beyond my limits. I think with my round I put some pressure on the others. But in the end, Victor was so fast, he was unbelievable today.”

An emotional Michael Duffy: “To do this today, on a horse that has had almost 6 years in a field and to do it in a class so huge as the LGCT Super Grand Prix - a comeback couldn’t have been sweeter. It’s just a testament to the horse’s character and his heart and ability to come back. It’s really an incredible story and I’m just happy to be a part of it and enjoy it. To be honest, tonight, I don’t think I could have caught Victor, and probably wouldn't have caught Gilles either if I was clear, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. It’s still a hard pill to swallow in the first round, but ultimately I was too slow myself so there's no one to blame, only myself.”

President and founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour Jan Tops said in the press conference: “For me it's maybe the best class of the year. It's amazing to have these horses and riders, you know, the winners of the whole season from all the legs here together. They really aim their horses especially for this class. You can’t get better than the combinations, horses and riders, that are here. I think also the course builder did a great job, we saw a beautiful evening of sport. And of course Victor tonight, he did amazing and he was the well deserved winner of this special class. It's nice to get new areas around the world connected with the sport. It's fantastic that we have this kind of high level sport here in Riyadh.” 

A well-deserved tribute was given to the grooms of the LGCT Super Grand Prix podium finishers - Damien Lelievre, Sanne Melson and Tristen Gautier who were recognized with trophies during the awards ceremony alongside their impressive equine partners. The celebration culminated in a rousing lap of honour, earning thunderous applause from the captivated Riyadh crowd.

Champions were presented a beautiful Longines watch by Brand Manager Longines, Arabic Emirates, Patrick Aoun, and trophies awarded by His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Saud, Chairman of Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and President of Host Organizing Committee, the president of Longines Global Champions Tour & GCL, Jan Tops and Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Almasaed, Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth in recognition of their impressive achievement.

With veteran Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix riders such as Christian Kukuk, Pieter Devos and Max Kühner, it would take to stand on the top podium position. Round one was tightly fought, with four clear rounds and fourteen of fifteen riders finishing on two rails or less, meaning it was all to play for in round two. 

As what some would call being in the unfortunate position of pathfinder in round one, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman aboard the legendary Messi van’t Ruytershof entered as they meant to go on. A stylish, tight and impressive clear round filled the rest of the field with confidence proving the track jumpable. Also joining her with a clean sheet were none other Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone, Victor Bettendorf aboard Foxy de la Roque, and none other than 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion, Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P. 

Michael Duffy aboard Quirex collected an agonising two time penalties, seven combinations added a single rail, including crowd favourites Eduardo Alvarez Aznar with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, Lorenzo de Luca Denver de Talma and young guns Thibeau Spits and Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z leaving them in prime position to contend the podium in round two, and that they did. 

Heading into round two with 10 penalties carried through, Ines Joly on Ambassador Z paved the way for the 14 to follow. With just two rails falling, the duo threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the LGCT Super Grand Prix field. 

In an unexpected turn of events, Christian Kukuk aboard Just be Gentle, carrying eight penalties from round one, headed through the starting flags determined and with success in mind. Using his experience, Kukuk rode an impressive jump-off style round, but with an unfortunate rail falling, the same as Joly, the duo finished on a combined total of 12 penalties. 

After a rocky start in round 1, Nicola Philippaerts on Katanga v/h Dingeshof had clearly gained composure in the break between rounds, posted a classy clear, and ultimately finished round 2 on their score of 8 penalties. 

28-year-old Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen on Equine America Harwich VDL fell victim to the first fence, and with one more rail falling in the Longines treble combination, added just eight penalties in their debut Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, sliding into third place behind Philippaerts and Kukuk. 

Next to go, young guns 23-year-old Thibeau Spits and 9-year-old Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z delivered a spectacular clear round in the style they are known for, claiming top spot as fifth to go in round 2. Olivier Philippaerts on H&M Miro, the second combination which fell victim to the first fence, ultimately added 12 penalties to finish on a score of 16. 

Next to go, crowd favourites Eduardo Alvarez Aznar on Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot meant business as they entered through the impressive LED sliding doors, with the crowd behind them, the duo came home with a beautiful clear round. 

Abdel Saïd on Bonne Amie were the next combination to have the first fence down. After regaining their composure, the duo finished strong adding just the four faults to finish on 8 penalties cumulatively. Fellow Belgian duo, Pieter Devos aboard 9 year old home bread Casual DV Z, also added just a single rail to their round one score of four penalties, but a strong time saw them slide into fifth place, however with the combinations to follow, they ultimately finished in 11th position.

Lorenzo de Luca put the pedal to the metal on Denver de Talma risking it all with nothing to loose after one down in round one. It paid off and he flew into the lead for now cutting 5 seconds off the time to beat. 

With two time faults from the first round Michael Duffy played an interesting strategy opting for a steady clear round with Quirex forcing the pressure on the rest of the field who then couldn’t have a fence down. 

The first double clear of the day came from the one and only Gilles Thomas with Ermitage Kalone. The pair looked quick leaving out strides where possible to cross the line in 70.28 seconds - but had he done enough to claim top spot? Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann then fell to the pressure with Messi van 't Ruytershof knocking the first fence down putting them straight out of contention.

Heartbreak struck for the 2024 LGCT Champions Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P, as the lightest of touches cost them dearly at the penultimate fence, denying him the double as he sat as the fastest on four faults in 65.48 seconds. 

There were cheers as Victor Bettendorf and Foxy de la Roque entered the arena and the tension was palpable as they started on course. With everyone on the edge of their seats as they wait with baited breath to see who will emerge victorious. Leaving nothing behind he risked it all to stop the clock clear in 66.98 seconds as the whole stadium erupted when they realised he had taken the win. Victor Bettendorf has claimed the 2024 LGCT Super Grand Prix title to cement his status among the giants of the sport. 

As day three of the GC Riyadh Playoffs wraps up, anticipation now turns to the grand finale—the GCL Super Cup Final, promising a spectacular conclusion to this thrilling weekend of sport and entertainment.