10.10.2025

Two teams. Two stages left. One title up for grabs. The race to the crown continues in Rabat…

In a thriller at the iconic Circus Maximus, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames shone brightest under the Roman sun, delivering the only four flawless rounds to claim victory in the GCL of Rome and draw level on points with championship leaders Valkenswaard United. With just two stages left in the 2025 season, the title fight could not be tighter - both teams now sit on 277 points, but Valkenswaard retain the lead thanks to a greater number of wins this year.

The crowd inside the ancient amphitheatre-inspired arena witnessed world-class sport and pure adrenaline as top teams battled for vital championship points against the spectacular backdrop of the Eternal City. It was the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames duo of Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames Combella and Katrin Eckermann aboard Chao Lee & Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS who were simply untouchable across both rounds. The pair produced immaculate clear rounds, combining precision and power to secure a commanding win on 0 faults and an overall time of 151.17 seconds.

Eckermann praised the team’s cohesion: “It’s always special to win with this team - we trust each other completely, and the horses were in fantastic form today. Rome is one of the most beautiful shows on the circuit, and this win means everything for our championship fight.”

Teammate Hinners added: “It is going to be a very exciting last two shows of the year! We are proud to be ontop of the podium today. It makes us so happy to see these championship points and now we need to fight until the end!”

It was a high-intensity showdown from start to finish. Doha Falcons played a great strategy not making a horse or rider change between rounds and impressed with consistency from Sheikh Ali Al Khalid Al Thani and Com’on Stanley alongside Bassem Mohammed with Rocket Man, securing second place on a total of 4 faults after two gritty rounds.

Sheikh Ali smiled to GCTV: “I am really happy with my team and my horse who jumped amazing today. This results is really amazing and to help the team rise a bit in the rankings so we are so happy.”

While teammate Bassem explained: “We always try to stick to our plan and jump clear rounds in these team competitions. I am really happy to have my old team member back in the game and I couldn’t be more happy to have this result today standing beside him.”

The Paris Panthers completed the podium with a combined total of 6 faults, led by Guido Grimaldi aboard Gentleman and Clara Pezzoli with Fantasia de Beaufour & Hadewyn van't Ravennest to secure their first ever podium of the season.

An emotional Clara Pezzoli said:”It is just incredible. I think today there was magic in the air!”

A proud Grimaldi spoke: “It was a magic atmosphere here in Rome. It is our home town so you can imagine how happy we are today and for the first time to have two Italians on the podium in such a difficult tour and difficult level today we are so proud. We never give up. It was tricky at the beginning but we never gave up and have made success here at the end of the year.”

The 2025 GCL Championship race has reached fever pitch. With Valkenswaard United and Cannes Stars now locked on equal points (277 each), every rail and every second will count heading into the final two stages in Rabat and Riyadh. Valkenswaard retain the lead formally as they have a higher number of wins this year. Hot on their heels, the Shanghai Swans remain firmly in contention on 246 points, with the ever-consistent Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team close behind on 241 after another strong showing in Rome. Meanwhile, Riesenbeck International powered by HorseGym sit in fifth on 230 points, still within striking distance as the final two stages promise fierce competition and high drama in the race for championship glory.

Round 1 Recap: Fine Margins in the Eternal City

Uliano Vezzani’s first-round track proved deceptively difficult. With eight teams on a clean sheet and five more sitting just one rail behind on four faults, it was still anyone’s game heading into round two. Among those chasing the leaders, the home team Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana produced a determined performance, with Nadja Peter Steiner and her striking grey mare Mila jumping clear, while Yali Kass on Panamarenko Optimus added just 8 faults to leave the team on 8 overall. The Monaco Comets powered by Iron Dames endured a challenging start, as Edwina Tops-Alexander and Caetlin vd Heffinck Z delivered a smooth clear, but teammate Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli on Kendrick 4 had an unlucky 12 faults to put them on 12 overall.

Meanwhile, the Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team had an unusual result from some of the biggest names in the sport, with Simon Delestre on Dexter Fontenis Z and Henrik von Eckermann on Steely Dan both rolling rails to finish on 16 penalties - proving just how fine the margins were in the Italian capital as the stage was set for a thrilling round two.

Round 2: World-Class Sport from Start to Finish

The drama continued in round 2 as huge names were having fences all over the 1.60m course. Elimination for the Mexico Amigos dropped them right to the bottom while last years winners here in Rome Madrid In Motion, New York Empire and Rome Gladiators were also out of the equation early on.

The Paris Panthers entered the ring determined to secure a strong finish after a touch and go season so far and sitting bottom of the overall championship table, with Guido Grimaldi producing a bold round aboard Gentleman. He played the strategy well for just 2 faults having seen fences falling in previous teams. You talent Clara Pezzoli kept her cool on Fantasia de Beaufour with just one down for the team to finish on just 6 faults overall. Now it was a waiting game to see how high they could climb…

Wearing the red championship leading armband Valkenswaard United were the picture of consistency this season but today wasn’t to be. Hans Dieter Dreher and Vestmalle des Cotis had an unlucky two down, while Gilles Thomas also knocked a fence on Qalista DN dropping them out of the game for today.

The Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym team of Christian Kukuk (Chacco Rouge) and Maximilian Weishaupt (Zuccero HV) produced classy rounds but 12 faults between them meant it wasn’t the Championship points haul they were looking for in Rome.

For the Doha Falcons, it was a display of heart and horsepower - Bassem Mohammed’s Rocket Man and Sheikh Ali Al Khalid Al Thani’s Com’on Stanley combined for a near-perfect total of just 4 faults the best finishing score so far with just three teams to go.

Last to go, Shanghai Swans had the ultimate line up with Christian Ahlmann (Untouched LB) and Max Kühner (Elektric Blue P). They fought hard and it was another clear on the board for Ahlmann but the pressure got to Kuhner and 8 faults meant they slipped off the podium and handed the win to Cannes Stars.

With the championship now balanced on a knife’s edge, all eyes turn to Rabat, Morocco, next weekend for stage 15 of the 2025 GCL season. Under the North African sun, the world’s best riders will once again go head-to-head from 17 - 19 October as the battle for the 2025 GCL Championship intensifies.

 FULL RESULTS