Australian rider Thomas McDermott produced a memorable international debut in Vienna on Thursday, winning the opening CSI5* 1.45m class at the spectacular Schönbrunn Palace.
Riding 12-year-old mare Shqely, McDermott stopped the clock at 67.65 seconds to take the opening victory of the Vienna stage. The performance was particularly notable as it came in his first appearance on the Global Champions Tour and his first competition with the mare.
The result marked McDermott’s first five-star victory and provided a striking introduction to one of show jumping’s biggest international stages.
Thomas McDermott Sets the Pace in Vienna
McDermott wasted little time making his presence felt in a strong international field. A clear and fast round aboard Shqely proved enough to secure the top position, with the Australian finishing more than a second ahead of the nearest challenger.
The setting added another layer to the occasion. Schönbrunn Palace provided a remarkable backdrop for the opening class as the Vienna stage brought five-star show jumping back to the Austrian capital.
The event is the 12th stage of the 2026 Global Champions Tour, with the championship entering its decisive stretch. Riders from across the world have gathered in Vienna for four days of top-level competition.
Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen came closest to McDermott, guiding Jopie Amazing JR to a clear round in 69.24 seconds to finish second. Austria’s Christoph Obernauer delighted the home crowd by taking third aboard Kleons Jana, stopping the clock at 70.30 seconds.
Dutchman Jur Vrieling finished fourth with VDL Mattias in 72.08 seconds, while Austria’s Bianca Babanitz added another home-nation placing in fifth aboard Dakato, recording a time of 72.42 seconds.
Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner completed the top six with Tailormade Fia Conthara, producing another clear round in 73.33 seconds.
For McDermott, the victory brought together several significant firsts in a single afternoon — his first appearance on the Global Champions Tour, his first competition with Shqely and his first five-star success.
The Australian’s performance gave the Vienna meeting an immediate talking point, with McDermott making a strong impression on his arrival at one of the sport’s most prominent international stages.
Competition continues in Vienna, with the world’s leading riders and horses contesting the remaining classes against the historic backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace.
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