Harrie Smolders on Returning to Valkenswaard as NOS Brings LGCT Action to Dutch Audiences

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Dutch show jumping fans will be able to follow the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard on NOS, bringing the world’s best riders and horses to a major national audience during a landmark year for Global Champions.

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The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard will be broadcast live on NOS/NPO/NOS.nl on Sunday 6 September from 13.30. The announcement comes as the Longines Global Champions Tour prepares to return to its spiritual home at Longines Tops International Arena from 4–6 September. With Global Champions celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, the return to Valkenswaard represents a fitting meeting of the series’ past, present and future.

For Dutch star Harrie Smolders, the event carries particular significance. He returns to the venue where he and the remarkable Monaco claimed an emotional home victory in the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard. Twelve months after finishing second in the same class, Smolders and Monaco returned with purpose. They delivered the only double clear of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix to secure victory in front of a sold-out and jubilant Dutch crowd.

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“The atmosphere and the reaction from the crowd are what I remember most,” Smolders reflected. “We had finished second there the year before, so to come back and win made it even more meaningful. Monaco jumped an incredible double clear and once again showed what an exceptional horse he is. Winning any five-star Grand Prix is special, but to do it in Valkenswaard, in front of the Dutch crowd and with a horse like Monaco, made it a day I will always remember.”

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The victory added another chapter to the extraordinary career of Monaco, whose longevity, consistency and ability to perform on the sport’s biggest stages have made him a firm favourite with fans around the world.

“Monaco is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” Smolders said. “His consistency at the highest level has been remarkable, but what makes him particularly special is his character and intelligence. He understands the sport and always knows when it is important. We have built a partnership over many years, and that experience and trust make a huge difference in the biggest classes. I am incredibly grateful to him, his owners and the whole team behind us.”

Returning to the Heart of Global Champions

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Founded by Olympic gold medallist Jan Tops in 2006, the Longines Global Champions Tour was created to bring the very best of show jumping to exceptional destinations around the world. Twenty years later, the Tour spans continents and connects new audiences with elite equestrian sport, while Valkenswaard remains at the heart of its story.

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“Valkenswaard is always a very special event for me,” Smolders explained. “It is one of the most important venues in our sport and, as a Dutch rider, you really feel the support from the home crowd.The facilities are outstanding, and everything is designed around allowing the horses and riders to perform at their best. There is always a different feeling when you compete at home, and I’m really looking forward to returning.”

Smolders has witnessed first-hand the growth and development of the series, both as a leading international rider and a former Longines Global Champions Tour Champion.

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“The Tour has played a very important role in the development of our sport,” he said. “It has taken show jumping to some incredible locations, created new opportunities for riders and owners, and introduced the sport to audiences around the world.

“The standard has continued to rise, both in terms of the competition and the presentation of the sport. You see the best riders and horses competing against each other throughout the season, and that consistency makes the Championship very difficult to win. Valkenswaard is at the heart of that history, so it is fitting to return there during the 20th-anniversary year.”

Bringing Show Jumping to a Wider Dutch Audience

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The NOS broadcast will make the action available to a broad national audience, giving established equestrian followers and those discovering show jumping for the first time the opportunity to experience one of the season’s most important competitions.

For Smolders, the announcement is a significant and positive step for the visibility of the sport in the Netherlands.

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“We are fortunate to have a strong equestrian tradition and many knowledgeable supporters, but national coverage gives us the opportunity to reach an even wider audience,” he said. “Our sport has everything people want to see – top athletes, incredible horses, speed, precision and real emotion. When it is presented on a major platform such as NOS, more people can discover that and understand how exciting it is.”

While equestrian sport has a loyal and established following in the Netherlands, free-to-access national coverage can also introduce the competition to viewers who may not yet understand its technical elements.

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“Accessibility is very important,” Smolders added. “The easier it is for people to watch and follow the sport, the more opportunity we have to create new fans. You do not need to be an expert to appreciate the partnership between horse and rider or the excitement of a jump-off. If somebody watches for the first time through NOS and then wants to learn more, follow the riders or attend an event, that is a very positive step for our sport.”

Dutch Support and Championship Pressure

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Home support can bring additional expectations, but Smolders believes the energy from the Dutch crowd is ultimately a source of motivation.

“There is always some extra pressure because you want to perform well at home, but I see it mainly as additional motivation,” he explained. “The Dutch crowd understands the sport and gives us tremendous support. When you enter the arena and hear that reaction, it gives you extra energy. Last year, the crowd really lifted us, and those are the moments you want to experience as a rider.”

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This year’s event arrives at a crucial point in the 2026 Championship race. The world’s leading combinations will travel to Valkenswaard seeking valuable points, while the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix will once again provide a formidable test of precision, scope and speed.

“Winning the Grand Prix in Valkenswaard is never easy,” Smolders said. “The arena allows the course designer to create a big and technical test, and you need a horse in excellent form to be competitive. The Championship is moving into an important stage, so the leading riders will arrive wanting to secure valuable points. With some of the best combinations in the world coming together, I am sure it will be an exciting weekend.”

For those able to attend, Longines Tops International Arena offers the opportunity to experience the horses and riders at close quarters. For fans watching from home, the NOS broadcast will bring the atmosphere and sporting drama of Valkenswaard to screens across the Netherlands.

“I would encourage everyone to follow the event, either by joining us in Valkenswaard or watching through NOS,” Smolders concluded. “Experiencing the horses and the atmosphere at Longines Tops International Arena is very special, but having the competition available to a wider Dutch audience is also fantastic.

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“I hope we can deliver some great sport, make the home supporters proud and perhaps inspire some new fans along the way.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard takes place from 4–6 September 2026 at Longines Tops International Arena. Across three days, spectators will experience CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI5* competition, Friday’s high-stakes GCL team showdown and the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard.

Tickets are on sale now. Join us in Valkenswaard or follow the action on NOS as the world’s best return to the home of show jumping.

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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.