Philipp Weishaupt & Callao L Race to Victory in Valkenswaard

By Jumper News on 2026-09-07

Valkenswaard, The Netherlands – September 04, 2026 – Philipp Weishaupt (GER) delivered a masterclass in speed at the Longines Tops International Arena, teaming up with the nine-year-old grey Westphalian gelding Callao L to win the €80,000 GCL First Individual Speed Challenge CSI 5* at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard CSI 5* & CSI 2*. The German combination produced a faultless round over Uliano Vezzani’s (ITA) demanding 1.60-meter track, stopping the clock in 67.00 seconds to claim the top prize. The Valkenswaard fixture is one of the highlights of the LGCT calendar, with the 2026 Tour returning to the Netherlands as part of its landmark 20th anniversary season.

**Philipp Weishaupt** (GER) & **Callao L**

Riding with the precision and efficiency required in a class where every fraction of a second matters, Weishaupt and Callao L found the perfect balance between pace and control. The grey gelding, by Congress 4 x Asca Z, showed impressive scope and agility throughout the course, allowing his rider to attack the track while keeping all the rails intact. Their winning margin was significant in a competition decided purely on speed: the pair crossed the finish line more than three seconds ahead of the runners-up.

**Mark McAuley** (IRL) & **L’Arc En Ciel Z**

Ireland’s Mark McAuley (IRL) produced the closest challenge with L’Arc En Ciel Z, also jumping clear but finishing in 70.16 seconds. McAuley’s performance secured a well-deserved second place, as the Irish rider and his mount maintained a strong rhythm around Vezzani’s 1.60-meter course. With no penalties on the scoreboard, the combination put themselves firmly into contention, but ultimately could not match Weishaupt’s blistering pace.

The podium was completed by Dutch rider Arne van Heel (NED), who delighted the home crowd with another clear performance aboard Keaton HV. Their time of 70.71 seconds was just over half a second slower than McAuley’s, earning the Netherlands a place among the top three in front of the Valkenswaard audience. The result highlighted the depth of international talent assembled for the CSI 5* competition and the fine margins separating the leading combinations.

For Weishaupt, however, the day belonged emphatically to Callao L. The nine-year-old gelding rose to the occasion on one of the biggest stages in show jumping, delivering the only winning formula that mattered in this speed test: zero faults and the fastest time. As the Longines Global Champions Tour continues its 2026 campaign, Weishaupt’s victory in Valkenswaard adds another standout result to a season already featuring some of the sport’s most competitive arenas and combinations.