The twelve teams for the inaugural Global Champions League (GCL) season have been announced today. The sport’s top riders will line up for the unique new team-based showjumping league, which kicks off on Sunday 10th April in Miami Beach, USA.
The competitions are played out in fifteen spectacular venues worldwide. Teams will have up to five riders, including a maximum of two top 30 ranked athletes for the 1.50m/1.55m GCL team competition. At least one rider will be under 25 years of age as GCL focuses on developing the young talent of the future. Two riders will be selected to compete at each event on the circuit, which follows the calendar of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
The new multi-national squads of riders will compete for a share of the GCL €7.5 million prize money.
The teams look like this:
Miami Glory
Scott Brash
Kent Farrington
Georgina Bloomberg
Kimberly Prince
Jessica Mendoza (U25)
Antwerp Diamonds
Harrie Smolders
Audrey Coulter (U25)
Katharina Offel
Marc Houtzager
Jos Verlooy (U25)
Madrid In Motion
Alvaro de Miranda
Athina Onassis de Miranda
Marta Ortega Perez
Pedro Veniss
Gonzalo Anon Suarez (U25)
Shanghai Swans
Edwina Tops-Alexander
Ben Maher
Jessica Springsteen (U25)
Janne Friederike Meyer
Alexandra Thornton (U25)
Cannes Stars
Roger-Yves Bost
Marco Kutscher
Roosje Brouwer
Kevin Jochems (U25)
Monaco Aces
Maikel van der Vleuten
Leopold van Asten
Daniel Bluman
Schuyler Riley
Lisa Nooren (U25)
Paris Jets
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson
Gregory Wathelet
Olivier Philippaerts (U25)
Nicola Philippaerts (U25)
Titouan Schumacher (U25)
Cascais Charms
Quentin Judge
David Will
Pilar Cordon Muro
Andreas Kreuzer
Philip Houston (U25)
Valkenswaard United
Bertram Allen (U25)
John Whitaker
Eduardo Menezes
Alberto Zorzi
Emily Moffitt (U25)
Rome Gladiators
Laura Kraut
Laura Renwick
Marlon Zanotelli
Jack Hardin Towell
Emma Heise (U25)
Vienna Eagles
Lauren Hough
Rodrigo Pessoa
Paris Sellon (U25)
Danielle Goldstein
Emanuel Andrade (U25)
Doha Fursan Qatar
Sheikh Ali Al Thani
Bassem Hassan Mohammed
Ali Al Rumaihi
Faleh Alajami
Hamad Al Attiyah (U25)
Jan Tops, Co-Founder of Global Champions League and Founder and President of Longines Global Champions Tour, said: “This is a key strategic step forward in the evolution of our sport. It will transform the experience for millions of fans around the world as they identify with the ups and downs of their favourite riders and horses."
“We will see some extraordinary battles opening up as the teams go through the GCL season and tactics and selection decisions become ever critical. We are pleased to continue in a pioneering spirit to safeguard the future of show jumping in the modern era and to always ensure top sport and the welfare of the horse.”
Frank H. McCourt, Jr. Co-Founder Global Champions League and Chairman and CEO of McCourt Global, said: “Against the backdrop of the world’s most exciting destinations, this innovative competition will take show jumping to unprecedented heights as it draws new fans, new athletes, and new sponsors from across the globe. Thanks to its unique format, the Global Champions League will provide riders with more opportunities to compete at the highest levels against the very best in the sport.
“It creates an unparalleled environment for the development of young riders and promising horses as they train and compete alongside the greatest names in show jumping. I have no doubt the Global Champions League will be the spark that ignites show jumping’s global growth and long-term success.”
Watch the GCL trailer:
For more info, visit: www.globalchampionsleague.com