Last week, the GCL Super Cup took place at the 02 Arena in Prague. The best four GCL teams from the 2025-season’s overall standings had pre-qualified for Friday’s GCL Super Cup Semi-Final, while 12 teams – those placed 5th to 16th during the season – had to battle it out during Thursday’s Quarter Final, from which the eight best teams would move on to the Semi-Final. The six top teams in the Semi-Final then qualified for Sunday’s GCL Super Cup Final worth €6,5 million Euro.
Thursday’s GCL Super Cup Quarter Final was a 1.60m Table A, one round against the clock – with €1,350,000.00 in prize money – with three horse-and-rider combinations per team. The teams started in reverse order of their placing on the GCL 2025 overall standings. With no drop-score, the classification was established according to the total penalties of the three riders per team, as well as their aggregate times.
Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana – represented by Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on Esteban de Hus (Cornet Obolensky x Baloubet du Rouet), Yuri Mansur (BRA) with Elano de Laubry Z (Echo van’T Spieveld x Prince Royal) and Peder Fredricson (SWE) aboard SV Vroom de La Pomme Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Untouchable) – took the top honours in the Quarter Final after keeping their score on zero in a combined time of 205.49 seconds.
And in the end, the Rome Gladiators finished off the week in Prague as they started it! But, before we get there we look back at the Quarter Final and Semi-Final of the GCL Super Cup.
All photos © Jenny A Photo for World of Showjumping. No screenshots or reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.
GCL Super Cup Quarter Final
Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana arrive at the O2 Arena.
The home team Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team at the presentation ahead of the competition.
The presentation is quite a show!
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Monaco Comets
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Madrid in Motion
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Cannes Stars
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Prague Playoffs
A legend in Prague; John Whitaker for Valkenswaard United.
Ready for the GC Playoffs!
The backdrop at the O2 Arena.
With three clear rounds, first from Emanuele Gaudiano and Esteban de Hus...
... then from Yuri Mansur and Elano de Laubry Z...
...as well as Peder Fredricson and SV Vroom de La Pomme Z, the Rome Gladiators finished on top of the standings in the Quarter Final.
Prague Lions also finished on a score of zero, to take second. Here, Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z, who had Fernando Martinez Somer on High Five and Thibeau Spits aboard Impress-K van’T Kattenheye Z as team-mates.
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Fernando Martinez Sommer, High Five
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Thibeau Spits, Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z
Much of the Quarter Final ended up being about these two... A controversial decision by the ground jury left Istanbul Warrios powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team out of Friday’s Semi-Final, following an elimination of their rider Simon Delestre – who had jumped a clear round with the 13-year-old gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper. The elimination was a consequence of the chinstrap on Delestre’s helmet coming unfastened during the last two lines of the course. With Delestre eliminated, Istanbul Warrios had to add 32 penalty points to their score – putting them on 40 in total and side-lined from the Semi-Final. However, Delestre came back strong to finish second in the LGCT Super Grand Prix with Cayman.
GCL Super Cup Semi-Final
Riesenbeck International powered by HorseGym took the win in Friday's GCL Super Cup Semi-Final. Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut x Come On) opened with four faults in 67.27, followed by a brilliant clear round from Maximilian Weishaupt on Zuccero HV (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caretino) in 67.21 seconds. Philipp Weishaupt, closing the team’s campaign on Oreo D.R (Kannan x Balougran), added four faults in 67.30 seconds. Their combined eight faults secured first place in the Semi-Final.
Maximilian Weishaupt and Zuccero HV entering the ring at the O2 Arena for Riesenbeck International...
...to deliver the team's only clear round.
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Philipp Weishaupt, Oreo D.R.
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Philipp Weishaupt, Oreo D.R.
The clears in the Semi-Final were few and far in between. Here Marlon Modolo Zanotelli celebrates jumping one of the four clears aboard Katoulon for the Basel Cosmopolitans.
Andreas Schou thanks Marlon Modolo Zanotelli for the clear round for their team.
Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Karonia.L finished on four faults to help the Basel Cosmopolitans to second place in the Quarter Final.
Crowd favourite Ermitage Kalone.
Gregory Cottard is a refreshing sight on the international showjumping circuit, with his minimalistic approach to equipment.
Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z jumped one of the four clears in the class, helping Prague Lions qualify for the Final.
A few riders also parted ways with their horses, one of them was world no. two Ben Maher.
The home team Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team qualified for the Final, alongside Riesenbeck International powered by HorseGym, Basel Cosmopolitans, New York Empire powered by Lugano, Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana and Valkenswaard United.
Then