IRISH riders Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor and Denis Lynch were all in the prizes last week at the historic Longines Global Champions Tour of Cairo, where the world’s leading show jumping riders competed in front of the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative, the historic Cairo debut brought together elite international sport, cultural exchange and Egyptian heritage in a celebration unlike anything previously seen on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Belgium’s Pieter Devos claimed victory in the €1 million LGCT Grand Prix and compatriot Abdel Saïd was officially crowned the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion with one stage still remaining.

In a thrilling 12-horse jump-off, Devos delivered a sensational performance aboard Casual DV Z to claim the inaugural LGCT Grand Prix of Cairo title, stopping the clock in an unbeatable 45.85 seconds and taking home an impressive €330,000 in prize money. Fellow Belgian Olivier Philippaerts came agonisingly close to victory aboard Hipster SV, producing a double clear in 46.31 seconds to secure second place. Britain’s Ben Maher completed the podium aboard Point Break, delivering another exceptional double clear in 46.57 seconds.

For Devos, it was a special victory with a home-bred horse. “It is just a very special story with this horse, we bred her ourselves with our family. We did the whole journey with Casual from foal right through now to 5* Grand Prix winner, and fantastic that you can make that bond with the horse and bring her to the top level of the world - it really is special that you can make it happen and what she has given me back is just unbelievable,” the winner said.

While the Irish had no luck in the feature class, earlier on Saturday, Bertram Allen finished third in the 1.45m speed class aboard the Aloga Stables-owned Huricane de Champloue with a clear in 65.88 seconds. Victory went to Germany’s Maximilian Weishaupt and Cosmo von Imhoff.

On Friday, Cian O’Connor and Denis Lynch both made the top five in the day’s feature 1.55m jump-off class, the former finishing best in fourth with Kentucky TN, owned Karlswood Partners.

Only five combinations went clear first time and Lynch finished in fifth place - still €13,600 in prize money - as Mr Newman had a rail down.

Co Meath’s O’Connor was just 0.15 seconds shy of Daniel Deusser in third when Kentucky again was blemish-free over the jumps to collect €17,000, while victory went to Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf, with Encore Toi du Linon.

Equine welfare initiative announced

A five-year initiative aimed at improving the welfare of working horses and other animals in the Pyramids area and wider Giza region has been announced by the Egyptian Equestrian Federation (EEF), Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and their partners.

“The programme brings together the EEF, LGCT, the General Organization for Veterinary Services (GOVS), the Egyptian government, Orascom Pyramids and international equine welfare charity Brooke, with independent oversight to support its implementation.

Building on existing measures brought in by the EEF and its partners, including registration, microchipping, vaccinations and veterinary examinations, the programme will focus on sustained improvements in animal health, care and working conditions.

It will initially focus on approximately 700 horses, with a second phase intended to extend support to approximately 2,000. A detailed roadmap is being developed, with priorities including: improving access to feed, water, veterinary treatment and essential medication; delivering education and training for horse owners and those responsible for the daily care of working animals; establishing ongoing welfare monitoring and clear expectations for responsible horse ownership; developing a dedicated funding mechanism to support long-term improvements, with contributions from participating organisations and opportunities for riders, owners, sponsors and members of the public to contribute.