Lions Slay Giants with Dramatic GCL Rome Victory

GCL Media

Photo: GCL / Stefano Grasso

In a drama-fuelled GCL Rome, the Prague Lions were the Giant-slayers today after a knife-edge competition all came down to the final fence in a spectacular Italian showdown.

It was a dramatic weekend for the overall GCL Rankings, with London Knights just inching ahead in the Championship race by only one point. The team narrowly keep the lead with their tally of 288, however the St Tropez Pirates are just one point behind – heading into their home city event with a score of 287. Shanghai Swans sit in third with a total of 277 points and the Miami Celtics are only 10 points behind with 267 overall.

Today the Lions duo of Gerco Schroder and Marco Kutscher kept cool heads under enormous pressure with their horses Davino Q and Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior, delivering an almost flawless performance to take the win in Rome. But in a high-octane competition full of drama, nothing was guaranteed as fences fell left, right and centre.

The Hamburg Giants duo of Simon Delestre and Bart Bles were in pole position heading into today’s competition, but after a fault from Simon and his experienced horse Hermes Ryan, the pressure was well and truly on the shoulders of last to go Bart Bles to deliver the clear – and keep the win – with his top horse Israel v/d Dennehoeve.

But there was heartache for the team as the final fence fell, dropping them to third on the podium. Second today went to Madrid in Motion, after stellar performances from Mark McAuley with Valentino Tuiliere and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot.

A delighted Gerco said: “I’m very happy with my horses – both jumped fantastic yesterday and today. My teammate also did a fantastic job so I’m very happy!”

Marco highlighted the excitement to the final moment: “I watched the Hamburg Giants from [the stables] – it was a nice class with the last rider making the decision [as to who would take the GCL of Rome] in the end. It’s our first time winning, I’m very happy for the team and everything worked out really well!”

Uliano Vezzani’s course featured three challenging double combinations, with plenty of riders picking up faults at each. A Longines liverpool caught out a couple, a lantern-lined triple bar down the grandstand was a hefty challenge and a wide oxer by the in-gate depicting an image of the Colosseum meant horses and riders had to keep complete focus until the finish line.

Fans packed every inch of the picturesque Stadio dei Marmi, cheering and groaning as the greats of the sport were met with thrills and spills galore. Under blue skies, but with a cool breeze, there was drama at almost every moment, with unmissable action all around the arena as teams fought for supremacy.

Here’s how the action unfolded…

Valkenswaard United
After a disappointing day yesterday the United made a complete change to their horse power, with Alberto Zorzi opting to ride Ulane de Coquerie and Marcus Ehning piloting Cristy. First to go, home hero Alberto was looking for redemption today after his unusual 15 faults yesterday, and set off with determination. But the first part of the GCL double fell, the pair a little flat coming into the vertical, and the first part of the Colosseum silhouette also fell putting the team onto a score of 27 faults. Marcus Ehning and Cristy absolutely flew around – finishing clear but the team would stay on 27 faults this weekend.

Miami Celtics
The Miami Celtics were looking for damage control today to keep their team in with a chance of maintaining their position in the top 4 of the overall championship rankings. Jessica Springsteen and RMF Zecilie were first to go again, and they pulled off a flawless round – Jessica smiling in delight as she patted her 12 year old bay mare. With a strategic rider change Shane Breen came off the bench for the Celtics, bringing forward his top horse Ipswich van de Wolfsakker. But there was drama after the chestnut gelding spooked and refused at the Longines liverpool before it all came undone, the team adding another 13 faults to their score to finish on a total of 31 faults.

Chantilly Pegasus
Roger-Yves Bost had another day to forget with his horse Sangria du Coty, picking up a further 12 faults to add to the Pegasus’ score. A light fault for Constant van Paesschen and his chestnut stallion Verdi Treize unsettled them and they too collected 12 faults to put the Pegasus team on a total of 41 points.

Doha Falcons
The Falcons made no changes to their horse or rider line-up, with Michael Whitaker first to go on his 9 year old mare For Fun. They had 13 faults on the first day, but improved on that with just one down today at the Colosseum silhouetted double. Bronislav Chudyba brought back his 13 year old gelding New York, but they had a day to forget with 16 faults and the team plummeted to a total of 33 overall.

Berlin Eagles
Christian Kukuk brought back his top stallion Limonchello NT, the blue-eyed horse gleaming in the sunlight. They were a little long into the second of the doubles, just clipping the back bar to add another 4 faults to their score. Ludger Beerbaum made a horse change to ride his experienced 16 year old Casello, but they took too tight a turn to the Longines liverpool and collected 4 faults to their troubles. The Eagles would fall to 21 faults in Rome.

Monaco Aces
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli was brought in for the team today, with his 10 year old chestnut horse VDL Edgar M. But they had two fences down, including the first part of the Colosseum silhouetted double, and the team would drop to 20 overall. Laura Kraut would keep Curious George for her ride today, but they would match Marlon’s score, collecting another 8 faults and putting the team on a score of 28 overall.

Shanghai Swans
Another team in the top four heading into this event in Rome, the Swans were looking to regain points this weekend. But it wasn’t to be for Kim Emmen and Delvaux, the Swans adding another 12 faults to their score. Daniel Deusser changed horses to Calisto Blue, and the pair delivered, finishing clear to keep the team on their total of 17, but crucially ahead of Miami Celtics in points – their closest rivals in the overall Championship rankings.

London Knights
The current GCL ranking leaders knew they had to produce a flawless score today to be in with any hope of maintaining the overall lead. First up was their U25 rider Emily Moffitt, bringing back her top horse Winning Good and they looked on flying form as they took on the course. But the 10 year old gelding became a little strong to the end of the course, the first part of the double coming down, as did the final Colosseum oxer. Ben Maher piloted his top horse Explosion W, the horse looking to be on stunning form. But they too had the first part of the double down, unusually four faults added to their tally to put them on 17 overall, and slower than the Swans on their time.

New York Empire
New York Empire made two strategic horse changes, with Denis Lynch up first with GC Chopin’s Bushi. But there was drama after they collected 8 faults for the team to tumble the team down to a tally of 12 overall. Hans-Dieter Dreher swapped to Berlinda but they too had an unlucky day, a further 8 faults added and plummeted the team to a total of 20 faults.

Scandinavian Vikings
Leopold van Asten came off the bench for the Vikings today, piloting his top mare VDL Groep Miss Untouchable. The course suited the careful mare, the 12 year old bay horse jumping her heart out for the Dutch rider and working beautifully to keep all the fences up – they would finish clear. Christian Ahlmann brought back his top stallion Take A Chance On Me Z, and they opted for a steady approach. But they too had an unlucky rub at the second gold double, the first part falling to drop the team to a score of 12 overall.

Paris Panthers
There was drama at the start for the Paris Panthers after Darragh Kenny and Important de Muze unbelievably had the first two fences down. The first part of the Colosseum double fell too, an unusual 12 faults added to the team’s score. There was a scary moment for Nayel Nassar and Lucifer V after the horse took off too early at the pillar oxer, leaving all the poles on the ground. Nayel managed to keep his seat, and the pair recovered brilliantly to finish clear. However the team would finish on a total of 20 today.

Prague Lions
The Lions came into today with just 1 time fault and Gerco Schroder was first to go with his 11 year old bay Davino Q. They survived a lucky rub early on, and pulled through to deliver a perfect clear round, keeping the team in with a chance. Marco Kutscher kept his 10 year stallion Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior, but they had the back rail of colourful oxer down, the team finishing Rome on a total of 5 faults. They would have a nervous wait to see if they could make the podium, with three teams left to jump.

Madrid in Motion
First of the double clears, Madrid in Motion, made no changes to their horse or rider line-up. Mark McAuley brought back Valentino Tuiliere – they knew they had to deliver the clear, and a fast one at that, but they took a risk too far as the troublesome first part of the Colosseum silhouetted double came down. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot could not afford a fence if they were to stay in with a chance of the win or at least a podium. But there was heartache for the team as the GC oxer fell, another 4 faults putting them on a total of 8 and crucially behind the Lions who would be guaranteed at least a podium.

St Tropez Pirates
The St Tropez Pirates knew a good result today could see them catapult into the overall ranking lead. First to go Edwina Tops-Alexander brought out her 10 year old chestnut gelding Casquell, and took no risks – opting for a steady clear. But there was shock after the Longines liverpool fell, before the gelding ran out at the Colosseum silhouetted double much to the dismay of the team. A total of 15 faults meant the Pirates would be off the podium today. Pieter Devos brought out his top horse Apart, and knew that he had to keep the team ahead of the Knights to take the lead. But they too would have the Colosseum silhouetted fence down, the team tumbling to a score of 19, and behind the Knights on points.

Hamburg Giants
The final team to go, Hamburg Giants, had everything to lose – the pressure on their shoulders enormous. Simon Delestre brought out Hermes Ryan, his experienced 14 year old gelding. However a fault at the GCL double put them on a score of 4, leaving teammate Bart Bles with no room for error as the final rider to go. Bart brought out Israel v/d Dennehoeve, his top horse, and went for a steady clear, the Dutch rider giving the horse as much time as possible to the fences. They cleared the troublesome Colosseum silhouette double and looked on song to win, until the back rail of the final fence fell, as did the team’s hopes of a win today.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Jan Tops, Co-Founder GCL: “GCL Rome is always fantastic especially in the setting of this historical city. Everyone anticipates a good time here – they look forward to the weather and history. We have been seen amazing sport today. This is our fifth year here – people love to come to these events. When you saw the difficulties [had] from the last line it makes it exciting until the last fence. The [GCL concept] is working well, today we didn’t see the winner on 0 faults – it shows it is very difficult. We know what to expect here, we have great ambience, the people are very excited and stay till the last moment, and they are obviously rooting more for their Italian riders.”

Daniele Frongia, Responsible for Sports & Major Events in the City of Rome: “I am so excited for this [event], thanks to Mr Tops, his staff and these great champions sat here. Rome has experienced a great international event, and the people of Rome are very proud.”

Bart Bles, Hamburg Giants 3rd place: “Yesterday we did a super job, it was a very nice class, while today was a really big job – there were lots of difficult lines and Simon went very well. I did my best but the last line was difficult. But we are happy with third!”

Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, Madrid in Motion, 2nd place: “It proved to be a tough course and it created a lot of emotion until the last ride. We are happy with the second place but had a bit of bad luck with one mistake each. We have moved up in the standings so we are happy. There are still two more events to go so will be fighting until the end.”

Gerco Schroder, Prague Lions, 1st place: “We’re very pleased with today and yesterday. I rode my other horse yesterday – he also did a great job. We made a plan for me to change horse and Marco to stay the same. It was good plan and it worked out very well!”

Marco Kutscher, Prague Lions, 1st place: “This is our first win of the season – we weren’t expecting it today as we didn’t have the strongest combinations but we are very satisfied. We are looking forward to St Tropez and New York to try and keep moving up the rankings.”