GCL Teams Announced For 2019 Championship Race
Photo: The 2019 GCL Teams
The GCL teams on the starting grid for the 2019 season are announced today with top riders switching teams and new stars joining the fight for the coveted Championship.
After a busy off-season period of transfers some of the biggest names in show jumping are changing teams. And all GCL squads will this year field a roster of six riders – one more rider than last season – allowing more flexibility for tactical inter-changes making the most of team horse and rider power.
High profile movements include:
—> Prague Lions’ star striker Peder Fredricson has been signed by Shanghai Swans
–> Harrie Smolders has transferred to Jennifer Gates’ Paris Panthers team
–> Eric Lamaze and Margie Goldstein-Engle compete for Cannes Stars
–> Simon Delestre and Lauren Hough join Hamburg Giants
–> Hans-Dieter Dreher will compete for New York Empire owned by Georgina Bloomberg
–> Marco Kutscher joins Prague Lions
–> Malin Baryard-Johnsson makes her GCL debut with Berlin Eagles
–> Laura Kraut and Marlon Zanotelli move to Monaco Aces
–> Cian O’Connor joins 2018 runners up Valkenswaard United
–> New to GCL William Whitaker and Harry Charles compete for Miami Celtics
London Knights, winners of the 2018 GCL Championship, keep their strong line up, but have recruited Max Kühner to ride alongside Ben Maher, Olivier Philippaerts, Nicola Philippaerts, Martin Fuchs and U25 talent Emily Moffitt.
Madrid In Motion, winners of the first-ever GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Playoffs last year, will also keep the majority of their team with Maikel van der Vleuten, Eric van der Vleuten, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Michael G Duffy being joined by Mark McAuley and Cindy van der Straten.
Every team will field an U25 rider focusing on the development of talented youth at the top level of show jumping.
The team Championship will unfold across a unique variety of show jumping arenas worldwide, kicking off next week at the vast sand arena at AL SHAQAB in Doha, Qatar and travels across the globe with teams facing formidable tests on expansive grass arenas and tight and technical sand arenas.
Team strategy will be crucial with every point counting in the race for the 2019 title as the squads work out their plans to field the best possible combinations suited to the different venues during the season.
Fasten your seat belts for another turbo-charged GCL season!
