Edited press release from Global Champions League

The battle for the 2022 GCL Championship has intensified with Berlin Eagles powered by Fundis dramatically closing the gap to overall ranking leaders Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses. 

Berlin Eagles’ Ludger Beerbaum and Philipp Weishaupt powered to back-to-back victories at GCL Valkenswaard after a pivotal weekend in the Championship fight where Stockholm Hearts now only lead by two points. The super consistent pair of Mila and Coby shot round in record-breaking times to win the team maximum points. 

With no clean sheets on the board after yesterday’s drama-filled class, it all came down to time in the 12th stage of the season. It is a two-horse race to the season finish with Hearts and Eagles making it thrilling entertainment for the public. Stockholm Hearts' female firepower took light today in the expansive grass arena at Tops International arena. Smooth and fast clears from Malin Bayard-Johnsson on H&M Indiana and Lily Attwood with Cor-Leon vd Vlierbeek Z put them just 1.03s behind the time of Berlin Eagles to take second.

The celebrations couldn’t start straight away for Ludger Beerbaum as he competed in the second arena at Tops International Arena. Philipp Weishaupt did the winner's interview on his own where he explained: "We knew this week we had to put the pressure on and concentrate on the time more. Ludger gave some gas and I know Coby is a fast horse. If we want to win overall we have to bring our best horses to every stage. It is amazing to ride in this grass arena at Tops International Arena but it is not just the arena it is everything around as well, the stables, the truck parking, the warm-up - there is just so much room here it is so horse-friendly built."

Speaking for the Stockholm Hearts, Lily Attwood smiled: "We are pleased with the second but Berlin Eagles are gaining on us now. Malin and I both watched Philipp's round and he was too fast. I don’t think we could have got the win today."

Rome Gladiators’ pairing of Shane Breen and Nina Mallevaey secured bronze today helping the team jump up three places on the standings. 

The Hearts keep their overall ranking lead heading into the final three stages of the Championship, with Berlin Eagles in second and both teams looking strong ahead of the next round in Italy's capital city next week. The GCL Championship race now heads directly to Rome from 2 - 4 September and the 2022 season hits a new level.