Topiary at Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London Jumping Competition at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London 2015 at Syon Park in London, UK on 25 July 2015
If you missed this year's Global Champions Tour of London, we've rounded up a taste of the action — from grand prix tension to elaborate topiary and lobster lunches
1. Showjumping can be an excessively tense — and cruel — sport…
We may be more accustomed to muddy gateways and burger vans, but there’s a whole other world out there of
4. Home crowds make all the difference…
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Laura Renwick took the final class of the London Longines Global Champions Tour, the CSI5* Massimo Dutti Trophy, with the nine-year-old gelding Bintang II. “It’s lovely to be jumping at home, it’s lovely to be at a GCT event and then to win is just the icing on the cake,” said Laura after the class.
4. …and you can always rely on British fans to turn up whatever the weather
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Come rain or shine, true fans will have their Union Flags at the ready.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
5. Grown-ups are not adverse to a fairground ride
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Longine Carousel seemed to attract plenty of (adult) attention.
6. This year’s venue had the wow factor…
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Having moved from last year’s Horse Guards location in central London, the new Syon Park venue situated next to the River Thames and Kew Gardens provided a stunning backdrop. It was just a shame there weren’t more spectators to enjoy it…
7. …and there were extensive facilities to keep the riders happy too
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Competitors enjoyed ample space to warm-up their horses.
8. VIPs are treated very, very well on the Global Champions Tour
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Lobster was on the menu for the VIPs’ lunch — topped off with front row seats to catch the top-class action.
10. And finally… showjumping-shaped hedges really do exist…
Topiary at Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London Jumping Competition at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London 2015 at Syon Park in London, UK on 25 July 2015
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Topiary at its best at Syon Park.
11. …as do balloons
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
One Longines ballon escapes during the grand prix.
Read the full report from the GCT of London in the 30 July issue of Horse & Hound magazine
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.
