Edited press release from Global Champions League

Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland Equestrian claimed the top honours for the first time this GCL season, winning the GCL of Valkenswaard at the Longines Tops International Arena on Saturday. Sticking to their usual team tactics, Philipp Weishaupt (GER) aboard Coby 8 (Contagio x Escudo) and Philipp Schulze Topphoff (GER) on Carla NRW (Comme Il Faut x Potsdam NRW) were the only two horse-and-rider combinations on a clean sheet over the two rounds. 

New York Empire powered by Lugano Diamonds couldn’t convert their pole position into a win but a smooth four faults from Richard Vogel (GER) on Cydello (Cascadello x Forsyth FRH) and a fast clear round from Scott Brash (GBR) on Chadora Lady (Chacco-Blue x Nintender) in round two kept them in the race to finish as the fastest on four faults in second. It was a gut-wrenching final fence down for Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) on Cornela (Cornet Obolensky x Caretino) that lost the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames the win today after a flawless clear from Sophie Hinners (GER) on Iron Dames My Prins (Zilverstar Z x Winningmood) – leaving the team third. 

Talking to GCTV, a beaming Weishaupt said: “It’s about time! Last year it was almost normal to win. This year it's been a little rare with the podiums and especially the wins, so we are extremely delighted about the result. This gives us a great boost ahead of Rome in the last chunk of the season! It worked out so many times last year to not change horses and this showed us again that this is a good tactic. I was joking to Philipp earlier in the week, I was saying, we have also Mila and Eoin McMahon here and the Olympic champion, Christian Kukuk, and they let us two farmer boys ride the 5* here for the team, isn’t that a bit risky? But we didn’t let ourselves mess up, so thank god it worked out.”

With team manager and owner Ludger Beerbaum watching on from the kiss and cry, Philipp Schulze Topphoff smiled: “We had many eyes on us but it is not a reason to be nervous, it’s a good pressure. Now it is time for us to make an impression.” 

New York Empire’s team anchor Scott Brash added: “I thought both horses jumped fantastic and I thought Richie was very unlucky. But very happy that we got the second and hope we can go one better in one of the last legs. We had a quick chat to just keep it sharp on the time without taking too many risks and it paid off.”

On the GCL ranking for 2024, Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland Equestrian brought their total to 239 points, closing the gap on long-time leaders Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames on 271 points. After a surprising last place finish in the 13th stage of the season, Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses dropped down to third on 236 points. Meanwhile, Doha Falcons cling onto fourth with 219 points with just two events of the 2024 GCL-season remaining.