Photos: Stefano Grasso / LGCT
It was a glittering display of teamwork
as Antwerp Diamonds shot to the ranking lead after stealing
a sparkling win at their home venue for the third round of
the Global Champions League. U25 team rider, and home hero
Jos Verlooy (BEL) said “we came with the big guns - our aim
was to win and we did, so I couldn’t be happier!”
The Antwerp Diamonds have taken the top spot on the team
ranking leaderboard, coming away from round three on 75 po
ints, just two points ahead of Monaco Aces and Valkenswaard
United, who are tied on 73 points apiece. The battle for the
lead has moved up a gear, and with the teams looking ahead
to Shanghai for the fourth round of action, rivalries and
strategy are beginning to show.
Donning their team jackets for the first time in the
Championship, which sported personalised names, logos and
team sponsors, the chilly weather in Belgium posed no
problem for the twelve teams, all hot to compete for the
first European leg of the League. Watched on by fans and
VIPs, with many more tuning in via the GCL TV live
streaming, the scene was set in the intimate sand arena,
nestled next to the River Scheldt.
The first round course was tough, and set at the full 1.55m
with plenty of turns to test the top riders and horses in
the world. Just three teams jumped a combined clear in the
first round; Rome Gladiators’ Laura Kraut (USA) with her
experienced grey 18 year old gelding Cedric and Marlon
Módolo Zanotelli (BRA) with the 11 year old stallion Rock'N
Roll Semilly, Monaco Aces’ Schuyler Riley (USA) with her
fiery chestnut mare Dobra de Porceyo and Daniel Bluman (COL)
with his 11 year old stallion Conconcreto Apardi and Antwerp
Diamonds’ Audrey Coulter (USA) with the 13 year old bay
Domino and Jos Verlooy (BEL) with his impressive grey
stallion Caracas. Pedro Veniss (BRA) with Quabri de l'Isle
and Athina Onassis de Miranda with AD Cinsey also jumped
clear, but picked up an unlucky time fault, leaving them on
a score of 1, ahead of the second round.
Some big names failed to make it into the top eight teams,
with surprises from all areas of the course. The experienced
duo of Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), who rode Sangria du Coty, and
team mate Marco Kutscher (GER) with Balermo, picked up four
faults apiece, leaving them on a total of eight and unable
to progress through to the next round. While top Belgian
rider Gregory Wathelet (BEL) jumped clear with his superbly
talented young 9 year old mare Lilly Lordanos for the Paris
Jets, they were unable to progress to round two when team
mate Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and his hot grey stallion Clarimo
ASK had two down during their round.
The pressure was on U25 rider Jessica Mendoza (GBR) of Miami
Glory rode a stunning round to jump clear with her 10 year
old bay gelding Sam de Bacon, as team mate Scott Brash (GBR)
and his 15 year old bay mare Ursula XII had an
uncharacteristic 12 faults, placing them in the drop zone.
Similarly Shanghai Swans’ Ben Maher (GBR) with Boomerang
picked up 12 faults, and despite second-to-go U25 team mate
Jessica Springsteen (USA) jumping a superb round with her
talented 13 year old bay mare Davendy S, they too were
excluded from the second round of action.
The next round had all the excitement of a jump-off with
pace and time counting to the final result. The three teams
on clear were fighting amongst themselves, vying for
position but also conscious they needed clears to stay high
on the leaderboard. The Vienna Eagles had a good round, with
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z lifting
them up the order, however his combined four faults with
team mate Lauren Hough (USA) and grey gelding Cornet 39
meant they would finish in sixth.
The Monaco Aces were looking hot to win, until Daniel Bluman
(COL) crashed through the last fence, much to the groans of
the crowd, had they jumped clear they would have won. John
Whitaker (GBR) of Valkenswaard United showcased his anchor
man role, jumping clear again with his top mare Ornellaia,
while speedy team mate Bertram Allen (IRL) and his
experienced grey mare Molly Malone gave it there all to push
the team back up to second place.
Rome Gladiators focused on strategy, with their tactics to
go slow and clear. All went well until Marlon clipped the
back of the rainbow oxer - agonisingly their slow time
dropped them back down the field, just shy of the podium and
in fourth overall.
But it was the Antwerp Diamonds who reigned supreme. Audrey
Coulter had one down in her round, meaning there was extra
pressure on rising star Jos Verlooy, who galloped between
the fences, and jumping clear - finishing on a combined four
faults and an impressive 111.77s overall.
The League now heads to Shanghai for the fourth round of
competition, next weekend in China.
Jan Tops, Co-Founder of the Global Champions League:
“It’s the first time [GCL] comes to Europe. Now the Antwerp
Diamonds are in the lead - it’s all very close but they have
moved ahead. After four rounds, no one was totally clear so
it was tense to the last riders. It’s always exciting to
ride together as a team. Today was a little bit chilly, but
it was nice as everyone likes our team shirts, and now they
like our jackets!”
Eric Thoelen, President of Jumping Antwerpen: “We are
honoured to have the GCL premier here in Europe. The first
shows were in Miami and Mexico, and as a local from Antwerp
I’m very proud that it has started here in Europe. I hope we
were a great host and I hope you are back next year!”
Audrey Coulter, Antwerp Diamonds, Gold Medal: “It’s
amazing to be at our home venue and to be winning is really
great. We came close in Mexico and Miami, but Valkenswaard
beat us, so it was good to beat them today! It’s exciting!”
Jos Verlooy, Antwerp Diamonds, Gold Medal: “It’s
special - I live just 20 minutes from here. We came with the
big guns - our aim was to win and we did it, so I can’t be
happier. It’s great to have the support here, I know 50% of
the people who are here at the show, so it’s super to win
for them here.”
John Whitaker, Valkenswaard United, Silver Medal:
“Miami was great, we had a great start. Then we had a blip
in Mexico. But we came back strong today - we were sixth
after the first round, so we fought hard and worked our way
back up. To finish second is good, and to be second overall
is very good. So I’m happy!”
Bertram Allen, Valkenswaard United, Silver Medal:
“I’m loving riding with [John Whitaker]. He’s pulled me up
twice now as I’ve had one down here and at Miami, so he’s
keeping the side up and I’ve got to try a bit harder next
time!”
Schuyler Riley, Monaco Aces, Bronze Medal: “I was
really excited to come here and be amongst this group and
this League. There’s nothing like it. It’s an amazing event,
an incredible opportunity and I’m proud to be here,
representing Monaco Aces.”
Daniel Bluman, Monaco Aces, Bronze Medal: “As Jan
says, you can start to feel the tension as the scores start
to add up. I know I wanted to jump a clear round, which
would have put a lot of pressure on Marlon {of Rome
Gladiators} and I got overly greedy to the last jump, tried
to protect the front rail and nearly ended up seeing myself
on the ground!”