World’s best horses and riders in London this weekend for 5*-level show jumping

The globe-trotting CSI5* circuit, which features the best horses and riders on the planet taking on the biggest obstacles in the sport, will take place August 4-6 on the sweeping back lawns of the Sir Christopher Wren-designed site, which houses military veterans known as Chelsea Pensioners. The grounds are also host to the annual world-famous Chelsea Flower Show.

This weekend’s competition marks the return of the British capital to the elite equestrian Tour, coming shortly after the debut appearance of Berlin at the end of July. London will thus be the 12th event of the 15-event circuit, with Valkenswaard in the Netherlands up next, followed by Rome in September and Doha, Qatar in November.

As the athletes approach the home stretch of the Tour’s 2017 season, the race to claim the overall ‘Champions of Champions’ title is a close one, with Dutch rider Harrie Smolders in the lead with 252 points, followed by Italy’s Alberto Zorzi and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. Last year’s Tour was won by Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and his now-retired 17-year-old stallion Casall ASK. Scott Brash is currently the top-ranked British rider in the Tour rankings, in eighth, while Ben Maher sits in 17th.

Starting Friday, Smolders, Zorzi and Ahlmann are all set to ride in London near the heritage buildings originally commissioned by King Charles II. Also present on home soil will be a big British contingent: Brash, William Funnell, Maher, Jessica Mendoza, Laura Renwick, Alexandra Thornton, John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker. For Ireland, Bertram Allen, Darragh Kenny and Denis Lynch are confirmed to start.

The British and Irish horse-and-rider pairs will be facing most of the highest-level athletes in their sport today, including Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Tiffany Foster, Zorzi’s compatriot Lorenzo de Luca, and the United States’ Kent Farrington and Lauren Hough (American Jack Towell, who will also be in central London, is currently fourth in the LGCT rankings). See the full line-up here.

The team-based Global Champions League competition will be held concurrently with the Tour, also serving as a qualifier for the latter’s €300,000 Grand Prix of London. The Hamburg Diamonds squad is currently in the lead in the League standings, followed by Valkenswaard United and the Mexico Amigos.