Dream Debut for Australia’s Thomas McDermott as Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Gets Underway at Schönbrunn Palace
Mdmar – Vienna
Australian rider Thomas McDermott made an unforgettable Longines Global Champions Tour debut today, claiming victory in the opening CSI5* 1.45m presented by PINK&ORANGE at the spectacular Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Competing at his first-ever LGCT event, McDermott delivered a winning performance aboard 12-year-old mare Shqely, stopping the clock in 67.65 seconds to secure the opening victory of the Vienna stage. Remarkably, it was also his first show with the mare, making the result all the more impressive.
McDermott smiled: “It’s the most unbelievable location here in Vienna, it’s my first Longines Global Champions Tour, and actually my first ever 5* win – so it is a complete dream come true. This is the end of my euro tour, I’ll head back to Australia after this show and I couldn’t think of anywhere better to have it.”
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Against a field featuring some of the world’s leading show jumping talent, the Australian wasted no time making his mark on the international stage. Producing a clear round and setting the fastest time, McDermott secured a dream start to his LGCT campaign in one of the sport’s most extraordinary settings.
The historic Schönbrunn Palace provided a breathtaking backdrop as five-star competition returned to the Austrian capital for the 12th stage of the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour. With the Championship entering its decisive final stages, Vienna welcomes the world’s elite riders for four days of top-level sport.
The Netherlands’ Sanne Thijssen came closest to challenging McDermott’s winning time, guiding Jopie Amazing JR to a clear round in 69.24 seconds to take second place. Austria’s Christoph Obernauer delighted the home crowd, securing third aboard Kleons Jana in 70.30 seconds.
Dutch rider Jur Vrieling followed in fourth with VDL Mattias, while Austria’s Bianca Babanitz added another home-nation placing, finishing fifth aboard Dakato. Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner completed the top six with Tailormade Fia Conthara.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
For McDermott, the opening class marked a remarkable introduction to the Longines Global Champions Tour: a first appearance, a new partnership and a five-star victory against world-class opposition, all in the unforgettable surroundings of Schönbrunn Palace.
CSI5* 1.45m presented by PINK&ORANGE – Top Six
- 1 Thomas McDermott Shqely 0 67.65s
- 2 Sanne Thijssen Jopie Amazing JR 0 69.24s
- 3 Christoph Obernauer Kleons Jana 0 70.30s
- 4 Jur Vrieling VDL Mattias 0 72.08s
- 5 Bianca Babanitz Dakato 0 72.42s
- 6 Nadja Peter Steiner Tailormade Fia Conthara 0 73.33s
The action continues in Vienna as the world’s best riders and horses take centre stage at Schönbrunn Palace. Follow all the action live on GCTV.
“Mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
