Jane Richard-Philips Wins CSI3* Longines Beijing Masters Grand Prix

Ph. Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters

Switzerland’s Jane Richard Philips proved unbeatable, jumping the fastest double clear to claim victory in the CSI3* Longines Grand Prix at the Equestrian Beijing Masters Sunday, September 4th.

Staged in the heart of Olympic Park in Beijing, the Chinese national stadium’s legendary “Bird’s Nest” hosted the sixth edition of the Longines Beijing Masters.

“I feel terrific,” said a delighted Richard Philips. “What an achievement winning here in this fantastic stadium.”

Ten out of a field of thirty-three riders qualified for the jump-off including six Chinese riders, Great Britain’s show-jumping legend, John Whitaker, and current World No. 1, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann.

Richard Philips aboard,  Leonidas(Lenardo X Silvio I), crossed the timers at 42.70 seconds asserting herself against Beijing Masters creator and last year’s feature class winner, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum.

Making the Swiss rider’s win all the more impressive was the fact that due to Chinese quarantine regulations, international riders must compete on borrowed mounts. Richard Philips rode the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, Leonidas [co-owned by German national football player Thomas Müller] who incidentally was the class winner with Ludger Beerbaum in the irons in 2015.

“A super horse, we were a perfect team,” stated Richard-Philips.

Beerbaum later finished in 2nd riding the 10-year-old KWPN gelding B Men (Oklund X Fedor) in 43.06 seconds with China’s  Meimei Zhu with the 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion Carmello (Corrado I  X Landgraf I) finished the course in 43.51 seconds in 3rd.

Ten international riders alongside the best Chinese riders have been competing against each other in individual and team competition since Friday. The 150 Chinese riders who entered the ring over the course of the three-day show in Peking, gives confidence to Beijing Masters of the growth of show jumping in China.

In addition to the sports program, workshops are offered to competitors which include classes at the national level, training sessions and partner course walks to facilitate the exchange and engagement of Chinese riders with some of the best international riders in the world.

View full results of the CSI3* Longines Beijing Masters Grand Prix here.