Edited press release from Global Champions League

In what was a condensed, tense and impressive GCL in Miami Beach, it was Madrid in Motion’s Maikel van der Vleuten on Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines) and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar on Bentley de Sury (Sunday de Riverland x Calvaro) who moved it in Miami, securing the win by a collective 1.67 seconds ahead of second place getters Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team.

Eduardo Alvarez Aznar explained: "We were fighting for it, and after our result we were quiet at the beginning (of the class), so we didn't expect to get the podium position, and for sure not the top one. It’s a fantastic setting and the crowd, and everything around here it’s unbelievable, it's a pleasure to jump here, and it looks unbelievable after the three, four days we have had, to have this sport with this weather and this crowd, it’s fantastic."

The last time Madrid In Motion had a win was back in 2019 so teammate Maikel van der Vleuten added: "Can’t be more proud of our team, it's a fantastic start to the season. With regards to the championship it is a long season ahead, one thing I know is that we have some good riders with good horses in our team, so we will have some good shows, but also some shows where the luck is not on our side but we try to keep this line forward."

Sixteen GCL teams faced a number of technical and tactical lines in the Uliano Vezzani built track as show jumping again took to the shores of the world-famous Miami Beach. After a week of challenges brought on by uncharacteristic storms in Miami, the format saw a last minute change resulting in just one round.

Pathfinders Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem faced a challenging task of being the first team to go, leaving the arena with 24 faults between two riders – Abdel Said and Omer Karaevli. As second team to go, Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team had Pieter Devos and MoMs Toupie de La Roque (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) proving the track to be jumpable with zero faults as one of only six horse-and-rider combinations to do so. With teammate Anna Kellnerova and Catch Me If You Can Old (Catoki x Acordplus) collecting an unlucky eight faults, Prague Lions were still fast enough to take second place overall.

The league leaders and GCL 2022 winners, Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland took to the arena to defend their title. Represented by Christian Kukuk aboard the ultra-consistent Mumbai, (Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve) and U25 rider Philipp Schulze Topphoff and Clemens de La Lande (Comme Il Faut x For Pleasure), the defending champions brought home an uncharacteristic 24 faults, leaving them way out of the placings and the door open to the other 15 teams to take top position in Miami Beach.

Rome Gladiators powered by CLIPMYHORSE.TV put on some serious female firepower with Beth Underhill on NIkka vd Bisschop (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) and Nina Mallevay on Cartier SR (Canturenter x San Patrignano Cassini) at the helm for the second leg of the GCL for 2023. Both riders collecting four faults but with neat and tidy rounds meant they secured third place for the second year running.