The second round of the Global Champions League Super Cup Final brought excitement, top performances and disappointments, with the teams in Riyadh vying for a podium finish. With varying results across the six teams competing, the competition turned out in sublime fashion for the Stockholm Hearts, the first win for the team ever!
PODIUM
- Stockholm Hearts: 4 penalty points
- Shanghai Swans: 12 penalty points
- Riesenbeck International: 16 penalty points
As the only team to come out of the first round clear, the Stockholm Hearts were already firmly in the saddle. Nicola Philippaerts with Katanga v/h Dingeshof had one jumping fault on the triple jump, but compensated with a fast ride. Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Indiana stayed clear, putting the pressure on Julien Epaillard. Epaillard, last year's Super Grand Prix winner, set a masterful clear ride with Donatello d'Auge. With only four penalties and a sharp time, the Stockholm Hearts were the undisputed winners and made history with a first final win for the team, ever! Nicola Philippaerts got to sit on the top scaffold of the GCL Super Cup Final for a second time.
Malin: “It's hard to describe how special Indiana is, she's ‘one in a kind.’ I know her so well, she felt great in form. She makes it easy for me, despite it being anything but that today.”
Epaillard: “The pressure was solid for me, which made it hard to make a plan. If I went too fast, I could make jumping mistakes. I didn't know if I would be fast enough by going clear. I looked for the golden mean. During the Olympics Donatello (d'Auge) had some rest, then it was a little difficult to find the rhythm again until Lyon, that was the tipping point. Now he feels back in top form.”
Nicola, winning the GCL Super Cup for the second time: “Both times I was lucky to be in very good teams. You just have to steer and get over the obstacles, my team does the rest (laughs).”
With only 8 penalties from the first round, the Shangai Swans were already in a strong position. Ben Maher with Point Break and Daniel Deusser with Killer Queen VDM were again clear, keeping their team on course. Max Kühner was a bit unlucky with Elektric Blue P, with one fault giving him four penalties. The team finished with a final total of 12 penalties and a time of 217.80 seconds.
Riesenbeck International started with an excellent starting position of four penalties from the first round. Eoin McMahon with Mila again stayed clear, but Philipp Weishaupt with Coby 8 had a heavy fault in the double jump, resulting in eight penalty points. Christian Kukuk with Checker 47 could not withstand the pressure and also recorded a jumping fault. This brought the team to a final score of 16 penalty points and a time of 217.84 seconds.
With 24 penalties from the first round, the Scandinavian Vikings already had a tough task. However, Donald Whitaker jumped a phenomenal clear ride with Millfield Colette, a bright spot for the team. Sara Vingralkova struggled with Kas - Sini DC, who went too long, leading to 20 penalties. Jur Vrieling showed resilience with Helwell du Chabus, making only one mistake on the triple jump. The team closed with a total of 48 penalty points.
With 16 penalties from the first round, the Cannes Stars began their advance. Sophie Hinners, named “Leading Rider of the Championship 2024,” received eight penalty points, including faults on the double jump and the final obstacle for Iron Dames My Prins. Katrin Eckermann remained ironclad with a clear ride on Iron Dames Carla Mandia NRW. And Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann brought stability by riding Messi van't Ruytershof also clear. The team finished with 24 penalties in a fast time of 217.20 seconds.
The Prague Lions came in on rocking Highway to Hell, ready to reduce their 12 penalties from the first round. Niels Bruynseels and Origi vd Vosberg got out of focus on the GCL Oxer and received eight penalties. Thibeau Spits, still good for a clear result in the first round with Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z, was only charged with one jumping fault in this second attempt. Pieter Devos and Toupie de La Roque kept hope alive by staying clear. The team finished with a respectable total of 20 penalty points and a time of 222.40 seconds.
PODIUM
- Stockholm Hearts: 4 penalty points
- Shanghai Swans: 12 penalty points
- Riesenbeck International: 16 penalty points
As the only team to come out of the first round clear, the Stockholm Hearts were already firmly in the saddle. Nicola Philippaerts with Katanga v/h Dingeshof had one jumping fault on the triple jump, but compensated with a fast ride. Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Indiana stayed clear, putting the pressure on Julien Epaillard. Epaillard, last year's Super Grand Prix winner, set a masterful clear ride with Donatello d'Auge. With only four penalties and a sharp time, the Stockholm Hearts were the undisputed winners and made history with a first final win for the team, ever! Nicola Philippaerts got to sit on the top scaffold of the GCL Super Cup Final for a second time.
Malin: “It's hard to describe how special Indiana is, she's ‘one in a kind.’ I know her so well, she felt great in form. She makes it easy for me, despite it being anything but that today.”
Epaillard: “The pressure was solid for me, which made it hard to make a plan. If I went too fast, I could make jumping mistakes. I didn't know if I would be fast enough by going clear. I looked for the golden mean. During the Olympics Donatello (d'Auge) had some rest, then it was a little difficult to find the rhythm again until Lyon, that was the tipping point. Now he feels back in top form.”
Nicola, winning the GCL Super Cup for the second time: “Both times I was lucky to be in very good teams. You just have to steer and get over the obstacles, my team does the rest (laughs).”
With only 8 penalties from the first round, the Shangai Swans were already in a strong position. Ben Maher with Point Break and Daniel Deusser with Killer Queen VDM were again clear, keeping their team on course. Max Kühner was a bit unlucky with Elektric Blue P, with one fault giving him four penalties. The team finished with a final total of 12 penalties and a time of 217.80 seconds.
Riesenbeck International started with an excellent starting position of four penalties from the first round. Eoin McMahon with Mila again stayed clear, but Philipp Weishaupt with Coby 8 had a heavy fault in the double jump, resulting in eight penalty points. Christian Kukuk with Checker 47 could not withstand the pressure and also recorded a jumping fault. This brought the team to a final score of 16 penalty points and a time of 217.84 seconds.
With 24 penalties from the first round, the Scandinavian Vikings already had a tough task. However, Donald Whitaker jumped a phenomenal clear ride with Millfield Colette, a bright spot for the team. Sara Vingralkova struggled with Kas - Sini DC, who went too long, leading to 20 penalties. Jur Vrieling showed resilience with Helwell du Chabus, making only one mistake on the triple jump. The team closed with a total of 48 penalty points.
With 16 penalties from the first round, the Cannes Stars began their advance. Sophie Hinners, named “Leading Rider of the Championship 2024,” received eight penalty points, including faults on the double jump and the final obstacle for Iron Dames My Prins. Katrin Eckermann remained ironclad with a clear ride on Iron Dames Carla Mandia NRW. And Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann brought stability by riding Messi van't Ruytershof also clear. The team finished with 24 penalties in a fast time of 217.20 seconds.
The Prague Lions came in on rocking Highway to Hell, ready to reduce their 12 penalties from the first round. Niels Bruynseels and Origi vd Vosberg got out of focus on the GCL Oxer and received eight penalties. Thibeau Spits, still good for a clear result in the first round with Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z, was only charged with one jumping fault in this second attempt. Pieter Devos and Toupie de La Roque kept hope alive by staying clear. The team finished with a respectable total of 20 penalty points and a time of 222.40 seconds.