Doha Falcons triumphed for the second week in a row securing the Global Champions League (GCL) win in Stockholm yesterday after Paris.
Jerome Guery, Simon Delestre and Julien Anquetin in round one emerged victorious with Quel Homme de Hus, Dexter Fontenis Z and Z Ice Cube Z in front of an electric crowd.
Last year’s overall GCL season Champions Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland picked up another big points haul after a rocky first part of the season with Christian Kukuk on Nice van’t Zorgvliet, Philipp Weishaupt with Zineday and Harry Allen onboard Lukaku vd Bisschop as the only other team on just four faults but 7 seconds slower to take second place. Much to the Swedish crowds delight, Scandinavian Vikings secured their first podium of the year as Henrik von Eckerman on King Edward, Nicola Pohl with Catz de Sulpice and Evelina Tovek riding Moeboetoe v/d Roshoeve stepped up to the plate in third.
Winning rider Simon Delestre, said, “We really focus for the team [overall] ranking, we are in third now, sometimes we have a bit of bad luck, but we fight for it today.”
And fight they did. Taking the win for the second week running, the on form riders Guery, Delestre and Anquetin put the pressure on and came out on top. Following their win, Simon said: “We have a fantastic team spirit, we are all good friends and to fight together instead of against each other is something really cool.”
With some movement on the Championship Standings for the Scandinavian Vikings, a long awaited podium finish finally arrived. Home hero and world number 1, Henrik von Eckermann said, “We haven’t had a great season so far, but with a podium it is great, Nicola made a great round and put the pressure on me to not mess it up, but luckily I was on King Edward!”
Teammate Nicola Pohl went on to add, “I must say the atmosphere here was incredible, maybe also because Henrik was on the team it felt like they were supporting us a little extra, and the great fans and great atmosphere really made it a great day!”
Podium veterans Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland Equestrian finished in a well-deserved second place, ultimately finishing 7 seconds ahead of third. The fourth podium for the 2024 season. Christian Kukuk spoke of the team’s reignited championship hope. He said: “We haven’t had as many podiums as last year, a few more second places rather than wins... There are more shows left for the season and we are definitely still fighting for the win.”
2024 Championship Standings after Stage 9:First: Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses: 176 points
Second: Doha Falcons: 170 points
Third: Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames: 169 points
Fourth: Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland: 161 points
