Luxembourg’s Bettendorf and Egypt’s El Dahan Claim Victory in Two CSI5* Classes at LGCT Cairo
Mdmar – Cairo – LGCT
Just seven hundredths of a second separated the top two as Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf and Encore Toi du Linon claimed victory in the CSI5* 1.55m Jump-Off Class presented by AMEA Power at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cairo founded by Qatar’s Years Of Culture.
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Against the extraordinary backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, the world’s leading riders delivered a thrilling evening of five-star show jumping, with a fiercely contested jump-off bringing the CSI5* 1.55m Jump-Off Class presented by AMEA Power to a dramatic conclusion.
Egyptian show jumping star Sameh El Dahan delivered a memorable victory on home soil, claiming first place in the CSI5* 1.45m Two-Phase competition at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cairo, held against the breathtaking backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
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Competing on Friday, 23 October 2026, El Dahan guided his 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, WKD Aimez Moi, to an impressive victory in the €30,000 LORD Prize, producing a flawless performance across both phases of the competition.
The Egyptian rider completed the decisive second phase in 27.44 seconds, securing the top position ahead of France’s Antoine Ermann, who finished second aboard Delirium Zoentendaele Z in 28.22 seconds, also without penalties.
Victor smiled stood in front of the Pyramids and said: “My horse was absolutely amazing tonight. I love riding fast, I think everyone knows that about me, but today I decided to be a little more careful at the beginning of the jump-off. I thought that was where mistakes could happen, so I took my time and then really took the risks at the double and to the last fence.
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“We travel all around the world with our horses and get to compete in some incredible places, but this is something else. To be here, riding in front of the Pyramids, is really a dream. It’s a very special place, and to win here tonight makes it even more incredible.”
Five combinations emerged from the first round with a clean sheet, setting the stage for a high-speed showdown where every fraction of a second would count.
Ireland’s Denis Lynch was first to return to the arena aboard Mr. Newman. Tasked with setting the opening benchmark, Lynch pushed forward but an unfortunate four faults left the door open for those still to come, crossing the finish line in 40.72 seconds.
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Next into the arena was Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf aboard the 12-year-old mare Encore Toi du Linon. Producing a masterclass in precision and pace, Bettendorf delivered a blistering clear round in 38.37 seconds, immediately throwing down the gauntlet to the remaining three challengers.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser was next to take on the clock with Pepita van T Meulenhof BR. The experienced German rider delivered another faultless performance, stopping the clock in 38.78 seconds. It was an impressive effort, but not quite enough to dislodge Bettendorf from the top of the leaderboard.
With two combinations remaining, the pressure continued to build. Belgium’s Thibeau Spits entered the arena aboard King van Essene, determined to challenge the leading time. In a spectacular display of speed and accuracy, the pair raced across the finish line clear in 38.44 seconds, falling agonisingly short of the lead by just seven hundredths of a second.
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The final challenge rested with Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN. Last to go, O’Connor knew exactly what was required to claim victory. The pair attacked the course, delivering a clear round in 38.93 seconds. It was enough to secure fourth place, but Bettendorf’s remarkable time remained unbeaten.
As the final combination crossed the finish line, Victor Bettendorf and Encore Toi du Linon were confirmed as the winners, claiming the €42,500 top prize. Thibeau Spits and King van Essene secured second place, with Daniel Deusser and Pepita van T Meulenhof BR completing the podium.
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With four double-clear performances and just 0.56 seconds separating the top four, the class delivered an exceptional display of world-class horsemanship, speed and precision beneath the Pyramids of Giza.
All eyes now turn to tomorrow’s €1 million Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo founded by Qatar’s Years Of Culture, where the world’s best will return to the arena at 15:30 local time for one of the most anticipated showdowns of the 2026 season.
Fans around the world can follow every moment live on GCTV, available through the newly refreshed Global Champions app, bringing the action from the Pyramids of Giza straight to their screens.
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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.
