The 2018 Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach

Edwina Tops-Alexander riding her mare California, at Longines Global Champions Tour Miami Beach

The Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) returned to the sunny sands of Miami Beach, April 5-7, for the second leg of the 2018 edition, where Swiss watch brand Longines reprised its role as the Title Partner and the Official Timekeeper. This weekend of competitive show jumping was presented at one of the most dynamic venues in equestrian sport, facing the Atlantic Ocean on the beachfront behind Miami’s iconic Setai Hotel.

*Photos courtesy of Longines

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach kicked off on Thursday, April 5th with international horses and riders vying for points and top honors. On Saturday April 7th, the world’s best individual riders battled for the biggest prize of the weekend in the Longines Global Champions Grand Prix of Miami Beach, with Edwina Tops-Alexander and her mare California emerging victorious, marking her second win at Miami Beach following her first in 2016. Tops-Alexander was followed in second place by Bassem Mohammed of Qatar, and Darragh Kenny and Cassini Z of Ireland in third place. Following their impressive victory, Longines US Brand President Pascal Savoy presented Tops-Alexander with an elegant Longines watch to mark the occasion. Edwina Tops-Alexander now stands a greater chance of advancing to the LGCT Super Grand Prix to be held in Prague next December.

Some of our highlights included watching celebrity riders Jessica Springsteen, Jennifer Gates, and Olivier Philippearts. Not only are these riders world-class equestrians, but exceptionally styled in coordinating showjumping attire.

” The Longines Global Champions Tour in Miami Beach is one of my favorite equestrian events. Not only do you have the best of the best world-class riders on the beach, but they are literally jumping about 30 feet from the ocean – right alongside the rail! It makes for the best photography, no doubt!”- States Ashley Cagle of EquestrianStylist.com.

Jessica Springsteen concentrating before her class at LGCT Miami Beach

The horses enjoyed the schooling ring attention from the fans… Cameras and cell phones were snapping away at the equestrian celebrities near and far.

Olivier Philippaerts dressed in H&M looked quite dapper on the sands at the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Watching the horses jump from the sidelines in your swim attire is unbeatable!

Vendor Row at Longines Global Champions Tour Miami Beach

Crystal clear waters on Miami beach for Longines Global Champions Tour

“The Longines Global Champions Tour Miami Beach is a great way to end the season from Wellington. It’s awesome to let the horses and riders celebrate the end of winter by heading to the beach. Longines and the Global Champions team really know how to put on an exquisite event from start to finish. If you’re considering visiting Miami Beach, be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s event. Don’t miss out on this unique experience!”- Ashley Cagle from Equestrian Stylist.

Check out our full gallery of images below from Equestrian Stylist.

Beautiful skies and seas at LGCT Miami Beach

Schooling at Longines Global Champions Tour

Kristen Vanderveen Schooling at Longines Global Champions Tour Miami Beach

Maaji backpack in equestrian style and pink yeti tumbler

Wide view of the arena at Longines Global Champions Tour Miami Beach

Tucci Boots at Longines Global Champions Tour

About the Longines Global Champions Tour: Created back in 2006 by the former Dutch Olympic champion Jan Tops, the Longines Global Champions Tour features seventeen outdoor legs and playoffs held in twelve countries. With record purses, this series invites the best riders to compete in the exceptional setting of the most beautiful cities around the globe, such as Mexico City, Miami Beach, Shanghai, Madrid, Chantilly, Paris, London, Berlin, or Rome. This competition, of which Longines became the Title Partner and Official Timekeeper in 2013, is an unmissable event in today’s equestrian calendar.

The Official Watch of the 2018 Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach is the new Conquest V.H.P. “Very High Precision” model, which represents a new achievement in the field of quartz, combining great precision, high technicality, and a sporty look, marked by the brand’s unique elegance. This timepiece houses an exclusive movement, renowned for its high degree of precision for an analog watch (± 5 seconds/year) and its ability to reset its hands after an impact or exposure to a magnetic field, using the GPD (gear position detection) system. These attractive features are likely responsible for its exceptional movement status, to which a very long battery life and a perpetual calendar must be added.

About Longines: Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 140 countries.

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