Thomas McDermott wins on his LGCT debut aboard Shqely at Schönbrunn Palace, edging Sanne Thijssen in Vienna’s opening CSI5* 1.45m class.
Australian Thomas McDermott arrived at Schönbrunn Palace for his first Longines Global Champions Tour appearance. He leaves Vienna with his maiden five-star victory and a remarkable result from his first show with Shqely.
There are gentler ways to introduce yourself to a new competition partner than winning a five-star class in front of one of Europe’s most famous palaces. Thomas McDermott and Shqely, however, appear to have dispensed with the settling-in period altogether.
The Australian rider made an extraordinary introduction to the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna, winning the opening CSI5* 1.45m presented by PINK&ORANGE in 67.65 seconds. His clear round aboard the 12-year-old mare proved beyond the reach of a field containing some of international show jumping’s leading riders.
It was McDermott’s first LGCT appearance, his first show with Shqely and, most significantly, his first five-star victory. Given that Vienna marks the final stop on his European tour before returning to Australia, the timing was rather convenient.
A new partnership makes an immediate impression
The first competition with an unfamiliar partner can be an exercise in discovering how well everything works when it matters. McDermott’s introduction to Shqely at five-star level could scarcely have produced a more convincing result.
Against established international opposition, the Australian combined a faultless jumping performance with the fastest time of the class. The result also provided a particularly memorable milestone in his career.
McDermott was understandably delighted.
“It’s the most unbelievable location here in Vienna, it’s my first Longines Global Champions Tour, and actually my first ever 5* win – so it is a complete dream come true. This is the end of my euro tour, I’ll head back to Australia after this show and I couldn’t think of anywhere better to have it.”
There is something particularly satisfying about a sporting breakthrough arriving when an overseas campaign is drawing to a close. For McDermott, the result means that his European trip concludes with a victory at the highest level of international competition, achieved with a horse he had never previously shown.
Thijssen leads the chase as Austria celebrates a podium
McDermott’s winning time gave the chasing riders a demanding target, although the Netherlands’ Sanne Thijssen ensured the Australian had little room for complacency.
Riding Jopie Amazing JR, Thijssen completed her clear round in 69.24 seconds, finishing just 1.59 seconds behind McDermott.
Austria’s Christoph Obernauer gave the home crowd something to celebrate, guiding Kleons Jana into third place with another clear round in 70.30 seconds.
Dutch rider Jur Vrieling followed in fourth aboard VDL Mattias, while Bianca Babanitz secured a second top-five finish for Austria with Dakato. Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner completed the leading six riding Tailormade Fia Conthara.
Every combination in the top six finished without jumping faults, leaving the clock to separate them.
CSI5* 1.45m presented by PINK&ORANGE
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Schönbrunn provides a memorable European farewell
The historic Schönbrunn Palace provides the setting for the 12th stage of the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour, with four days of five-star competition bringing leading riders and horses to the Austrian capital.
With the championship entering its decisive final stages, the Vienna meeting carries considerable significance for those competing across the tour.
For McDermott, however, the opening class has already delivered an individual career milestone.
Winning on a first LGCT appearance would have been memorable enough. Achieving it with a mare competing alongside him at a show for the first time makes the result considerably more unusual.
The Australian will head home after Vienna with his maiden five-star victory secured and a new competitive partnership that has made an impressive first impression.
For a European farewell, Schönbrunn has set the bar rather high.
