On October 11, the second day of the 11th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters took place at the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), with all four championships claimed by young riders.
Nineteen-year-old national team rider Chen Yuchen secured the championship in the 140CM international warm-up event. The 125CM team event was dominated by three youth riders, with 13-year-old Sun Ruirui impressively winning both the 125CM and 115CM individual competitions. Having also won the 115CM challenge on October 10, Sun Ruirui made history as the first “triple crown” winner of this year’s competition.
In the 125CM team event (second round), the Holiland team delivered an outstanding performance, clinching the title with a total penalty score of 12 points and a cumulative time of 216.81 seconds. The Jinggel Jiahao Equestrian team secured second place with a total penalty of 14 points and a time of 220.84 seconds, while Ningbo Tianyi Xingjia Equestrian took home third place with a score of 16 points and a time of 224.78 seconds.
A total of 34 horse-rider pairs competed in the 140CM international warm-up, which featured a timed round format. Chen Yuchen was the 27th participant and skillfully rode “Jin An,” achieving a flawless round with a time of 67.38 seconds and earning the championship. The runner-up was Belgium’s Jos Verlooy riding “Xiao Guai,” and last year’s grand prix champion Liang Ruiji with “Lan Luna” took third with a score of 0 penalties in 69.29 seconds.
After his victory, Chen Yuchen expressed admiration for his fellow international riders, saying, “Every international rider is a role model and mentor for me. Competing alongside these world-class athletes allows me to learn invaluable lessons every day.”
This marks Chen’s fourth participation in the Beijing International Equestrian Masters, and he emphasized the special significance of this victory. “This year, my plan was to perform well at the Masters. Over the next two years, I aim to refine my skills as I prepare for the upcoming Asian Games and Olympics.”
In the 125CM championship (second round), 27 pairs competed in a format featuring a “timed round + jump-off,” where only riders with zero penalties could enter the final challenge. Young talent Sun Ruirui demonstrated her prowess, riding “Xiao BLUE” and finishing her round with a flawless score in 36.77 seconds, maintaining her lead until the end. She had just won her first championship with “Da BLUE” in the 115CM challenge (first round) on October 10, marking her second title in the Masters.
The 115CM challenge (second round) featured 45 pairs vying for victory in a two-hour championship battle, also following the “timed round + jump-off” format. In the final jump-off, Sun Ruirui and her mount “Da BLUE” delivered a stunning performance, finishing with zero penalties in 32.84 seconds to clinch her third championship of the Bird’s Nest Masters. Liu Biling riding “GULIO VAN DE KOELAAR” secured second place with a time of 35.34 seconds, while Zhang Ruoyao with “Chi Yan” took third in 35.82 seconds, both with zero penalties.
As this year’s first “triple crown” winner, Sun Ruirui remarked on the significant upgrades made to the event compared to last year. From the design of the obstacles to the overall environment, more elements of traditional Chinese culture were integrated, creating a venue that’s both modern and culturally rich. Additionally, the enhanced diversity in obstacle design provided riders with greater opportunities to showcase their skills.
