With the palace glowing in the evening light, the atmosphere was electric, the history of the venue blending seamlessly with the modern thrill of elite show jumping. Riders and horses settled quickly into the grandeur of the setting, delivering a night of high drama that will live long in memory.

In the end, it was the Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team who rose to the top, storming to victory with precision and nerve when it mattered most. It marked their fifth podium of the 2025 season and their second win, the same formidable pairing of Fernando Martinez Sommer and Pieter Devos that also carried them to second in Doha earlier this year. They have been consistent across the circuit, with another podium in Paris with a different team, and Vienna once again underlined their strength in depth.

Pieter Devos couldn’t hide his thrill at the climb in the championship standings, he said, “We are very proud of the horses, they jumped fantastic today and we needed to perform today to get in the top four of the ranking for the GC Playoffs which is so important for us. We all know after the first round nothing is done yet. It is always difficult to ride four clear rounds the pressure was on with this tricky course. We have a really good atmosphere in the team, we feel a lot of support from the fans especially with the home event GC Prague Playoffs just around the corner so it is all on now.”

Teammate Fernando Martinez Sommer went on to add, “This venue is unbelievable to show at. It has been an emotional couple weeks for me with the birth of my new baby daughter so this is just even more special.”

Close behind, Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym produced a flawless second round to secure an impressive second place, showcasing their fighting spirit and closing the gap in the overall standings. The ever consistent and with the most discerning fighting spirit, Christian Kukuk said, “That sounds good, third podium in a row, a long time ago this used to happen. We worked very hard for this, and I have the feeling we have this way of going now… everyone else has to be careful now!”

Championship leaders Valkenswaard United showed their mettle yet again, riding with experience and composure to claim third and vital points in the title race. With Marcus Ehning and Hans-Dieter Dreher forming their trusted combination, it was not only the same line-up that delivered them a decisive win earlier in the season, but also their fifth podium this season, underlining their consistency at this critical stage of the Championship. Marcus Ehning smiled: “It is fantastic to get another podium to help us continue to lead the championship race. Tonight was a brilliant team effort in a stunning location so now we just keep pushing for the Championship title.”

The Championship race itself loomed large over every round. Valkenswaard United still lead on 261 points, but their rivals are closing fast. The Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames sit second with 247, while the Prague Lions’ surge in Vienna carried them to third on 230, now narrowly ahead of the Shanghai Swans on 227. Riesenbeck International remain in striking distance too, their podium finish pulling them up to 215 points. With the midfield so densely packed, every rail and every second is carrying weight as the season builds toward its climax at the GC Prague Playoffs.