Mathijs Van Asten & Hotspot Strike First at the Longines Global Future Champions

Valkenswaard, The Netherlands – July 31, 2026 – The Longines Global Future Champions Tour returns to the world-class Longines Tops International Arena this week, bringing together the next generation of international show jumping stars for an unforgettable week of competition. From ambitious young riders taking their first steps onto the global stage to established youth champions chasing prestigious victories, the event provides a unique platform for talent to develop in the same elite environment enjoyed by the sport’s biggest names.

Across three days of competition, show jumping’s brightest young athletes will compete in Pony, Children, Junior and Young Rider categories, showcasing exceptional horsemanship, determination and skill. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Longines Tops International Arena, the Longines Future Global Champions Tour offers a glimpse into the future of the sport, with many of today’s rising stars destined to become tomorrow’s championship contenders on the world’s biggest stages.

Mathijs van Asten (NED) and the experienced Hotspot delivered a lightning-fast performance to claim victory in the CSI 4* – 1.50m Against the Clock on the opening day of the Longines Global Future Champions at the Longines Tops International Arena.

First to set the benchmark among the leading contenders, the Dutch rider stopped the clock in 68.71 seconds, producing one of only a handful of combinations able to break the 70-second barrier. The result earned Van Asten the top prize and an ideal start to the weekend on home soil.

French star Simon Delestre (FRA) continued his excellent recent form aboard Golden Boy DK, finishing just 0.64 seconds behind the winner in 69.35 seconds to secure second place.

Close behind was Germany’s Marcus Ehning (GER), whose typically polished round with Coolio 42 crossed the line in 69.42 seconds, less than a tenth of a second adrift of Delestre.

The Netherlands enjoyed further success with Kevin Jochems (NED) guiding Quianna ter Wijnen into fourth on 71.36 seconds, while Brazil’s João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima (BRA) finished fifth aboard Obama de la Liniere in 71.87 seconds. Frank Schuttert (NED) ensured three Dutch riders featured in the top six, partnering Gream to sixth place in 72.46 seconds.

With fractions of a second separating the leading combinations, the class provided an exciting opening to the Longines Global Future Champions, setting the tone for an action-packed weekend of international competition at the Longines Tops International Arena.

Van Asten smiled: “I couldn’t ask for a better start to the show. Hotspot jumped fantastic today and from the first fence I felt he was with me all the way. In a class like this you have to be fast but also keep the rhythm, and everything came together today. To start the weekend with a win at home is very special, and it gives us a lot of confidence for the rest of the competition.”

Final Results – €28,200 Speed Challenge CSI 4*

1) Mathijs van Asten (NED) & Hotspot – 0 – 68.71

2) Simon Delestre (FRA) & Golden Boy DK – 0 – 69.35

3) Marcus Ehning (GER) & Coolio 42 – 0 – 69.42

Source: Press Release from the Longines Tops International Arena

Photos: © LTIA / Stefano Grasso

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