Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League New Partnership Announcement

Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and Global Champions League (GCL) have announced partnership with global investment holding company, Tennor. Tennor joins LGCT and GCL, the world’s premier show jumping circuit, with the new partnership looking set to accelerate its future expansion plans on the back of the sport’s growing popularity in recent years.

Tennor, founded by German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst, will take over the shareholding of McCourt Global.

Jan Tops, Founder and President of the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL, will continue to lead the strategic growth and development of the top-level equestrian sport circuit working closely with Tennor.

Ambitious goals have been set to reach new markets and attract new audiences to show jumping in order to capitalize on the growing global popularity of the sport. This follows a series of significant developments in recent years including the launch of the innovative, high octane GCL team series, record prize money and expansion to China, The Americas, including New York, and Scandinavia. High profile coverage on CNN International TV and CNN digital helped attract millions of new viewers across Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. This is in addition to the +30 million audience captured through broadcasting over Eurosport, CCTV5 in China and other national TV networks, which has greatly elevated the awareness of the circuit.

Jan Tops:

At the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL we have focused to be at the highest level and to ensure a strong and sustainable future for show jumping and all its stakeholders. I’d like to thank Frank McCourt, together we launched a very successful GCL. I look forward to working in partnership with Tennor to continue that development and to further expand GCL in new markets and to new audiences in the digital era.”

Lars Windhorst:

I look forward to working with Jan Tops to help build on the success of this fantastic global sports property. Jan has been the pioneering figure at the top level of show jumping for many years and I am delighted that Tennor will be part of that continuing journey and the exciting opportunities ahead.”

Frank H McCourt Jr:

Partnering with Jan over the last 6 years to build the innovative and successful GCL and to grow the geographic footprint of the Longines Global Champions Tour has been exciting. Great value has been created and I am confident that both the league and the tour are positioned for continued success. I wish Jan and Lars the best in the years to come.”

Fans will be able to watch all the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL action during 2020 on GCTV live streaming as the circuit crosses continents from The Americas to Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.