16.05.2025

In a heart-stopping finish at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Valkenswaard United delivered their first victory of the year snatching the win at the 2025 GCL of Madrid presented by Marqués de Riscal from the hands of the current Championship leaders Shanghai Swans, by the narrowest of margins.

Pairing experience with rising talent, the veteran Hans-Dieter Dreher on Elysium, teamed up with the dynamic Gilles Thomas with Ermitage Kalone to secure the win in front of an electric crowd, not forgetting legendary clear from Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42 in the first round. With over four decades between them, the trio put on a masterclass in consistency and composure across both rounds.

As the sun shone over the expansive grass arena in Madrid, the fourth stage of the 2025 GCL Championship served up edge-of-your-seat action. The two-round team format, featuring the world’s best, thrilled spectators and saw the leaderboard shaken once again in what is proving to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in GCL history.

Making a habit of returning to the GCTV Studio after the GCL of Madrid, following the team’s win in 2024, Gilles Thomas explained the strategy behind today’s result: “We all came here with the same goal, bringing our best horses. It was not so easy to decide who was going to ride for the team in round 2, as Marcus [Ehning] also has his good horse here [Coolio 42], and jumped clear. In the end in round 2 he didn't ride, but he really helped us in the warm up.”

Standing on their third podium for the year so far, the Shanghai Swans are flexing their muscles, and skills, taking a formidable lead on the overall championship. With the leading team armband feeling warm on his arm, Christian Ahlmann of second place Shanghai Swans explained: “From the team point of view, very good, we saved the leading team position in the Championship, and second place today so yes, really good. My round could’ve been better - one down in the middle of the course, so I put pressure on Katherina which is not what I wanted… but she saved us and brought it home!”

A debut podium in 2025 for the St. Tropez Pirates, and a debut start for young gun Tom Wachman, left smiles across many faces this afternoon. Speaking with GCTV alongside teammate Mariano Martinez Bastida, Tom said: “Delighted, couldn’t have gone any better. It’s a class show, the ground is really good, the warm up, the atmosphere, and both courses were very well built.”

Shanghai Swans extend their lead in the Championship race with 96 points and for the first time ever Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames and Valkenswaard United are tied in second place with 83 points. It then gets super tight as Monaco Comets powered by Iron Dames 4th place finish booted them ahead of Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team to sit in fourth on 63 points and fifth in 61 points.

It was a dramatic first round of GCL Madrid with faults all over the course catching out the top teams in the country. Five faults separated the top 7 teams while huge names like home team Madrid In Motion and two time GCL Champions Riesenbeck International powered by HorseGym all fell at the first hurdle knocking themselves out of the game after collecting multiple faults.

Debuting young gun Tom Wachman, St Tropez Pirates were the first team to jump double clear in round 2. Both Tabasco de Toxandria Z and Origi van't Geyzeven for Mariano Martinez Bastida cleared the 1.60m track with ease leaving them on just 8 faults from round one.

With high expectations comes big heartbreak, and a single rail falling for Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team in round 1, Henrik von Eckermann and Abdel Said looked to build on the strong performance in round 2. With the final two rails falling for von Eckermann and Ilianna in an uncharacteristic result in round 2, hearts broke as podium hopes were dashed. A solid clear from Said and Bonne Amie saved the team with a top 6 finish.

It was an agonising elimination for Doha Falcons as two refusals from Julien Anquetin and Fulldollar de Raygade knocked them off the podium even after a flawless and fast clear round from teammate Jérôme Guery riding Careca LS Elite.

Just on two time faults from round 1, Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana were in prime position to secure their first top 3 of the season. An unlucky one fence down each for Nadja Peter Steiner riding No-Comment de Septon and Roy van Beek with Cavoiro - H OLD knocked them down the order, but still within top 5 picking up valuable Championship points.

Valkenswaard United entered the arena as the first of only two teams on a clean sheet after round 1. Hans-Dieter Dreher gave it everything with Elysium but picked up a gut wrenching four faults before Gilles Thomas with Ermitage Kalone put a foot perfect clear round on the table leaving it a nervous wait to see if it was enough…

That left the arena to Christian Ahlmann and Katharina Rhomberg, needing a clean sheet to win. Ahlmann cracked under the pressure and added four faults to the scoreboard with Mandato van de Neerheide while Rhomberg produced the solid clear on Cuma 5 but couldn’t quite match the pace of Valkenswaard United handing them top spot on the podium tonight.

With the dust settling on a dramatic fifth stage, all eyes now turn to the next stop on the calendar: the glittering French Riviera of Cannes (5 - 7 June 2025) as it promises to be another dazzling chapter in the 2025 GCL Championship.