© HORSIC photography
Vienna, September 25, 2026 – In the CSI5* competition over 1.60 meters, Austria’s show jumping riders made a strong showing on Friday in Schönbrunn. Bianca Babanitz rode I Will Be Famous to fourth place and narrowly missed out on the podium. Katharina Rhomberg finished eighth and Christoph Obernauer tenth. Efe Siyahi with Cantate (Turkey) won ahead of Eduardo Pereira De Menezes (Brazil) and Zascha Nygaard (Denmark). The competition also served as a qualifying event for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna on Sunday.
1.60 meters, an international strong field and qualification for the grand Prix on Sunday: In the first event of Friday at this altitude, the Austrian team made another strong statement. Bianca Babanitz remained in the lead with I Will Be Famous and finished fourth. With Katharina Rhomberg in eighth place and Christoph Obernauer in tenth place, three Austrian riders made it into the top ten.
At the top, Efe Siyahi prevailed with Cantate. Second place went to Eduardo Pereira De Menezes, and third place to Zascha Nygaard.
Especially above 1.60 meters, the requirements rise significantly: Rhythm, sense of distance and the correct line must all be in perfect harmony throughout the entire course; even minor errors can immediately cost several places. The fact that three Austrian pairs all raced in the top ten in such a competition underscores the strong home performance in Schönbrunn.
For Sunday, the competition took on extra significance: The event, which was awarded 80,000 euros, was also a qualification for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna, which forms the sporting highlight of the tournament weekend on Sunday evening.
The weekend brings the next decisions
On Saturday, further jumping competitions of the highest international tournament category as well as the U25 series – the MEHR LEBEN CSIU25 powered by Finanzfuchsgruppe – are scheduled. Additionally, in the dressage at the Grand Prix Freestyle powered by Palm Beach Motor Yachts, the second decision of the weekend will be made.
On Sunday, the CSI2* Grand Prix and the U25 Grand Prix will follow, before the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna forms the sporting highlight of the tournament weekend. There, the individual victory in Vienna and important points for the overall ranking of the tour will be decided over a course with obstacles up to 1.60 meters.
An overview of the upcoming tournament days
Saturday, September 26: CSI2*-competitions over 1.20 and 1.40 meters, U25 jumping over 1.40 meters, as well as CSI5*-competitions over 1.45 and 1.50 meters. In addition, there are Working Equitation, dressage show jumping and the foal auction with twelve warm-blooded foals, as well as the charity pony Kaiser Franz Joseph in support of the Lichtblickhof children's hospice.
Sunday, September 27: CSI2*-competition over 1.30 meters, CSI2* Grand Prix over 1.45 meters, U25 Grand Prix over 1.45 meters, and a CSI5*-jumping over 1.45 meters. The sporting highlight of the evening is the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix over 1.60 meters with the show jumping competition. In addition, there will be Working Equitation and junior talent in the course.
Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schönbrunn Palace
September 24-27, 2026
www.lgct-vienna.com
For enquiries, please contact:
Julia Kent +43 664 246 90 55 | julia@komma4.at
Image index
Strong Austrian performance over 1.60 meters at the LGCT Vienna in Schloss Schönbrunn: Bianca Babanitz finished in fourth place, Katharina Rhomberg came in eighth, and Christoph Obernauer in tenth. Three Austrians thus made it into the top ten in the Grand Prix qualification for the 80,000-euro Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna.
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© HORSIC photography
© HORSIC photography