Irish riders join world-class field for Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna
Irish showjumpers Cian O’Connor, Denis Lynch, Michael Pender and Tom Wachman will be among a world-class field heading to Austria as the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship enters a decisive stage in Vienna.
The four-day five-star fixture will take place from 24 to 27 September against the spectacular backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace, with valuable championship points available as the season moves towards its conclusion.
O’Connor and Lynch bring considerable showjumping championship experience to the Austrian capital, while Pender and Wachman are part of a younger generation capable of challenging the established order. Details of the horses they will ride are expected to be confirmed through the final competition entries.
Championship points at stake in Vienna
With only a handful of stages remaining, the margins at the top of the Longines Global Champions Tour standings are becoming increasingly tight.
Abdel Said has emerged as a major force in the 2026 championship contest and will arrive in Vienna seeking another strong points haul. However, he faces competition from a rider list containing Olympic, World and LGCT champions.
Former world number one Henrik von Eckermann leads the international contingent alongside two-time LGCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander and Olympic medallist Maikel van der Vleuten.
Christian Ahlmann, Jur Vrieling, Peder Fredricson and Niels Bruynseels are also confirmed, while Philipp Weishaupt returns to the venue where he won the LGCT Grand Prix of Vienna last year.
Leading riders return after strong 2026 performances
Several riders who have already made an impression during the 2026 LGCT season will also compete in Vienna.
Katrin Eckermann, winner of the opening LGCT Grand Prix of the season in Miami Beach, returns in search of another major result. Antoine Ermann travels to Austria following his podium finish in Shanghai, while Yuri Mansur arrives after finishing on the podium at the most recent LGCT Grand Prix in Valkenswaard.
Sophie Hinners, Sanne Thijssen, Giacomo Casadei, Thibault Philippaerts, Olivier Philippaerts, Emanuele Camilli, Gudrun Patteet, Eduardo Álvarez Aznar and Kim Emmen add further strength to the international field.
Austrian riders prepare for home appearance
Austria’s Max Kühner will have the support of the home crowd when he competes in Vienna.
He will be joined by fellow Austrian riders Katharina Rhomberg, Felix Koller, Christoph Obernauer, Bianca Babanitz, Fritz Kogelnig and Wolfgang Ötschmaier.
Every rail, second and championship point could now affect the race for the 2026 title. With fewer opportunities remaining to recover from a costly result, Vienna is set to play an important role in determining which riders remain in contention during the closing stages of the season.