Crans-Montana (Switzerland), July 1, 2018 - The third edition of Jumping Longines Crans-Montana, whose doors high in the Swiss Alps open within a few days, can already guarantee spectators some great sport. Some really wellknown names will be on the schedule of Europe’s top high-altitude competition, 12-15 July.
At the same time as raising the competition’s level, Jumping Longines CransMontana has appreciably raised its budget (CHF 1.8 million as against 1.5 million last year). The total prize money for the CSI 4* will now be CHF 270,000 with CHF 100,000 being for the Longines Grand Prix on Sunday, 15 July. By becoming a CSI 4* event, the Haut Plateau event can henceforth count on an even more celebrated line-up of riders, and so guarantee some great competition. In fact, no fewer than eight top Swiss riders will be competing at Jumping Longines CransMontana this year. For instance, Beat Mändli – 2007 World Cup Final winner in Las Vegas; silver for Switzerland at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney; and recently second in the Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland at St. Gallen – will be including Crans-Montana in his European tour. “I’ve heard great things about Jumping Longines Crans-Montana”, he said in June, “and it sounds like an excellent programme. Besides, supporting Swiss competitions is very important for me. I’m really looking forward to going there next month.” Schaffhausen-born but based in the USA, Mändli will be among the stars representing Switzerland at the World Equestrian Games at Tryon (USA) in September.
19 nations represented
Alain Jufer – stalwart of the Longines Nations Cup team at La Baule, 5th in the GP 5* of Villach, and winner of national GPs – is expected at the event high in the Valais, back stronger than ever after his accident at the CSI of Zurich. Werner Muff (2nd in the Longines GP in Basle this winter and winner of last year’s Dublin Longines GP 5*) and Romain Duguet are another two loyal Crans-Montana riders. But it isn’t all about Switzerland. No fewer than 18 nations will be represented – nearby France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands of course – but also the United States, Brazil and Canada.
About the Jumping Longines Crans-Montana
The third edition of the Longines Crans-Montana Jumping will be held on the site of Cry d'Er from July 12 to 15, 2018. The competition will host for the first time a CSI4 *, an Amateur CSI and Youngster events for young horses. It becomes the most important mountain competition in Europe. The highlight of the event will be the Grand Prix Longines Sunday, July 15 at 14:00.