In an exciting but difficult Global Champions League competition in Madrid it was Valkenswaard United who jumped to victory. "Finally," Jan Tops said to his team... as this is the team's first GCL win since Hamburg 2022.
Gilles Thomas and the 10-year-old Catoki son, Ermitage Kalone, recorded a faultless round and a round with one time fault. Along with John Whitaker and Unick du Francport (Zandor), Belgian champion Thomas jumped to victory with Valkenswaard United!
"Yesterday, we had already decided that the horses felt good, so we wouldn't let ourselves get distracted," says Thomas. "That's why we're one of the only ones who didn't change horses between the two rounds."
"Madrid is traditionally a very difficult course," adds John Whitaker. "Yes, and John almost had a time issue, I even shouted to him... in the end, I finished with just one time fault," laughs Gilles Thomas.
Madrid in Motion followed in second place. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Maikel van der Vleuten started for the team. Van der Vleuten saddled Dywis HH (Toulon) in the first round. In the second round, he started with Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique). "My horses felt really good on the course. But with each horse, I just made a stupid mistake in each round. The horses jumped fantastically, and I should be happy about that. So I have to be satisfied with second place. It was difficult, and the end of the course was particularly tricky!"
Riesenbeck International completed the top three of the GCL ranking!
Max Kühner wins individual qualifier
In the individual rankings, Max Kühner with EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue) claimed the win. The duo was over three seconds faster than Denis Lynch and Cordial (Casall). The third place went to Nicola Philippaerts and the 12-year-old BWP mare, Moya vd Bisschop (Darco).
Philippaerts and his BWP mare were followed by Armando Trapote and the 13-year-old Tornado VS (Toulon). The top five of this ranking was completed by Olivier Perreau and the 11-year-old SF mare, GL Events Dorai d'Aiguilly (Kannan). In the individual ranking, Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone secured 10th place.
Gilles Thomas and the 10-year-old Catoki son, Ermitage Kalone, recorded a faultless round and a round with one time fault. Along with John Whitaker and Unick du Francport (Zandor), Belgian champion Thomas jumped to victory with Valkenswaard United!
"Yesterday, we had already decided that the horses felt good, so we wouldn't let ourselves get distracted," says Thomas. "That's why we're one of the only ones who didn't change horses between the two rounds."
"Madrid is traditionally a very difficult course," adds John Whitaker. "Yes, and John almost had a time issue, I even shouted to him... in the end, I finished with just one time fault," laughs Gilles Thomas.
Madrid in Motion followed in second place. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Maikel van der Vleuten started for the team. Van der Vleuten saddled Dywis HH (Toulon) in the first round. In the second round, he started with Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique). "My horses felt really good on the course. But with each horse, I just made a stupid mistake in each round. The horses jumped fantastically, and I should be happy about that. So I have to be satisfied with second place. It was difficult, and the end of the course was particularly tricky!"
Riesenbeck International completed the top three of the GCL ranking!
Max Kühner wins individual qualifier
In the individual rankings, Max Kühner with EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue) claimed the win. The duo was over three seconds faster than Denis Lynch and Cordial (Casall). The third place went to Nicola Philippaerts and the 12-year-old BWP mare, Moya vd Bisschop (Darco).
Philippaerts and his BWP mare were followed by Armando Trapote and the 13-year-old Tornado VS (Toulon). The top five of this ranking was completed by Olivier Perreau and the 11-year-old SF mare, GL Events Dorai d'Aiguilly (Kannan). In the individual ranking, Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone secured 10th place.