In a heart-stopping GCL Championship finale under the blazing lights of Riyadh, Valkenswaard United roared to victory to claim the title for a historic third time. After months of relentless rivalries and precision performances, the powerhouse squad delivered when it mattered most – becoming 2025 overall season Champions that was determined by just 0.27 of a second to the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames.
The atmosphere was electric as Valkenswaard United sealed their place in history, conquering the world’s best to claim their share of the €8.5 million Championship prize. It was a masterclass in teamwork, consistency, and composure – the mark of true champions.
With Gilles Thomas and Hans-Dieter Dreher producing ice-cool rounds aboard Ermitage Kalone and Vestmalle des Cotis, the blue-and-gold squad roared to victory, denying the surging Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames a fairytale finish. The result ignited the Saudi skyline as Valkenswaard United sealed the crown with 326 championship points, just 11 clear of Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames made up of Sophie Hinners and Katrin Eckermann today. Shanghai Swans’ Daniel Deusser and Max Kühner rounded out the top three after a season of relentless consistency on 272 points.
In a dramatic twist in Riyadh, the Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team suffered a shock elimination in Round 2 after an unexpected stop from Fernando Martinez Sommer, opening the door for Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym led by Christian Kukuk with Checker 47 and Chacergano PS, and Emanuele Camilli aboard Chacco’s Girlstar. With a strong third-place finish in today’s final stage, Riesenbeck clinched fourth place in the Championship Standings by a single point – and, crucially, the last fast-track ticket to the GCL Super Cup Semi-Final, leaving the Prague Lions to battle their way through the knockout Quarter Final. So the rest of the grid now looks toward Prague – where the ultimate test, the €10 million GCL Super Cup, awaits.
The victory under the Riyadh lights marked a defining moment in Valkenswaard United’s illustrious legacy – a season-long masterclass sealed in spectacular style. As the crowd rose in applause, the Championship trophies were presented in a ceremony befitting the magnitude of the occasion. His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, led the presentation for the winning team, alongside Jan Tops, President and Founder of the GCL, and H.E. Abdulilah S. Aldalak, Assistant Minister of Sport.
The celebration continued as the grooms behind top three teams were honoured for their dedication and precision throughout the season as Stefan Stan, Sanne Melsen, Kelsey Jandura, Valentine Hssein, Marine Renauder and Mariella Offner were awarded trophys. It was a moment of pure triumphed and the unmistakable feeling that history had just been made in Riyadh.
After the final results with some solid positions towards the later part of the season unfortunately the comeback was too late in the season for the Paris Panthers who finished 17th and didn’t qualify for the GCL Super Cup in Prague.
Wearing a double winners sash, the ‘clear round machine’ Gilles Thomas commented on the consistency of Valkenswaard United. He said, “We got quite early in the season the armbands from the leading team, it’s been tight all season with the ladies in the Cannes Stars, and today again it was quite tight, but we are so pleased that we can win today as well as the overall.”
He went on to add, “you could really feel it was the Finals today, the courses were tough, we worked towards this final, bringing our horses in really good shape and going for the win!”
Summarised aptly by teammate Hans, who said, “We are fighting together, we are loosing together – and that is the most important part”
Second place the Cannes Stars powered by the Iron Dames couldn’t hide the smiles from their faces, following a season of consistency after their debut as the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames in 2024. Sophie said, “I think what sets us apart and makes the Cannes Stars so special is that our team supports each other so well, the team spirit is something really unique. So many people behind us, especially Deborah – before we came to Riyadh for the Final, we already had Deborah telling us how happy and proud she is. So it’s not that we came with a lot of pressure here – we already were really proud of what we had achieved.”
Daniel Deusser reflected on the rollercoaster season of the Shanghai Swans, he said, “i think this is the result of a very strong season for the Shanghai Swans team this year – like you said we started very good this year with a strong first half of the season. We had a couple of up and downs in the second part of the season but we came to the GCL Finals here in Riyadh with the goal to make it in the top four, to fast track us in the GC Playoffs to not need to ride the Quarter Finals… and we achieved that!”
Results here.
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