Longines Global Champions Tour: London and Berlin added to 2017 schedule

The world’s richest showjumping competition is spreading its reach in 2017, with two of Europe’s most powerful capitals joining the schedule.

Berlin and London have been added to the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League calendar, which will take in 15 cities, 12 countries and three continents across eight months.

From April’s opener in Mexico to the November finale in Qatar, 30 of the world’s best showjumpers will do battle at stunning locations all over the globe.

Germany’s capital will make its debut as a host city on July 28-30, while the following week London – which first hosted the GCT in 2013 – returns to the calendar at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, best known for staging the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.

Miami, USA —

The Longines Global Champions Tour -- an elite, eight-month long showjumping competition -- is now in its 12th year. The competition visits locations all over the world, including the beaches of Miami (pictured).

Miami, USA —

Spectators look on from the water's edge.

Hamburg, Germany —

Last year's champion Rolf-Goran Bengtsson takes on a water jump in the 2012 edition.

Rome, Italy —

The Tour visited Rome in September 2016 where Netherlands' Harrie Smolders was victorious.

Paris, France —

Bertram Allen of Ireland won the Paris leg of the GCT on Romanov in 2015.

London, UK —

London will return as a host city when the Tour visits the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

London, UK —

In 2013, the GCT was held in the shadow of London's Olympic Park.

Madrid, Spain —

The Global Champions League was launched in 2016, the Tour's team equivalent. Here, the Rome Gladiators jump their way to victory in Madrid.

Monaco, France —

Scott Brash of Miami Glory rides Hello Forever in the Global Champions League.

Longines Global Champions Tour: The world's best showjumpers

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The addition of Berlin follows the success last year of the Hamburg leg of the tour, which attracted 90,000 fans.

Most of the events take place in Europe, but the first month will take competitors from 2,000 meters above sea level in Mexico City (April 6-9) to Miami Beach (April 13-15) and Shanghai (April 28-30).

Rome, Paris and Madrid are also on the schedule, along with Cannes, Monaco, Chantilly and Estoril.

READ: London returns to host LGCT

READ: Rolf-Goran Bengtsson crowned 2016 LGCT champion

READ: Valkenswaard United wins Global Champions League title

READ: Horse-riding farm gives special-needs kids a leg up

What is the GCT?

The brainchild of Dutch Olympic gold medalist Jan Tops, it was founded in 2006 and has garnered a reputation as the world’s most prestigious showjumping event.

It is certainly the most lucrative – the 2016 competition boasted a $19 million prize pot.

Last year a sister event was launched – the Global Champions League, where teams of four riders from different nations compete against each other.

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Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson won last year’s Global Champions Tour, narrowly edging out Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander.

Valkenswaard United was crowned the first winner of the Global Champions League.