Valkenswaard United roared to victory in Riyadh to claim the GCL title for a historic third time. Photo © LGCT.
Press release from Global Champions League, edited by World of Showjumping
In a heart-stopping Global Champions League (GCL) finale under the blazing lights of Riyadh (KSA), Valkenswaard United roared to victory to claim the GCL title for a historic third time. After months of relentless rivalries, the powerhouse squad delivered when it mattered most - becoming 2025 overall season champions that was determined by just 0.27 of a second to the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, claiming their share of the €8.5 million prize.
With Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) producing ice-cool rounds aboard Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan) and Vestmalle des Cotis (Baloubet du Rouet x Landor S), the blue-and-gold squad roared to victory, denying the surging Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames a fairytale finish. Valkenswaard United took the title with 326 points, just 11 clear of Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames – in Riyadh represented by Sophie Hinners (GER) on Iron Dames Singclair (Singular LS La Silla x Cardento) and Iron Dames Combella (Conrnet du Lys x indoctro) with Katrin Eckermann (GER) on Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS (Diarado’s Boy x Chacco-Blue) and Chao Lee (Comme Il Faut x Chacco-Blue). Shanghai Swans’ Daniel Deusser (GER) on Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino) and Gangster v/h Noddevelt (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Careful) with Max Kühner (AUT) on EIC Cooley Jump The Q (Pacino x Obos Quality) and EIC Julius Caesar (Couleur Rubin x Cancara) rounded out the overall top three after a season of relentless consistency on 272 points, picking the last points by finishing fourth in Riyadh.
"We are so pleased that we can win today as well as the overall,” Gilles Thomas – here celebrating with Hans-Dieter Dreher – said. Photo © LGCT.
Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym led by Christian Kukuk (GER) with Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut x Come On) and Chageorge (Chacco-Blue x Sanvaro), and Emanuele Camilli (ITA) aboard Chacco’s Girlstar (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) and Chacareno PS (Chacco-Blue x Calvaro F.C.) clinched fourth place in the overall standings by a single point - and, crucially, the last fast-track ticket to the GCL Super Cup Semi-Final – after finishing third in Riyadh.
The grooms behind top three teams were honoured for their dedication and precision throughout the season as Stefan Stan, Sanne Melsen, Kelsey Jandura, Valentine Hssein, Marine Renauder and Mariella Offner were awarded trophys.
Wearing a double winners sash, Gilles Thomas commented on the consistency of Valkenswaard United. "We got quite early in the season the armbands from the leading team, it’s been tight all season with the ladies in the Cannes Stars, and today again it was quite tight, but we are so pleased that we can win today as well as the overall,” he said.
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