GCL Explained

GCL 2023 - Show Jumping’s Greatest Team Challenge

An exciting 2023 is underway, with GCL again welcoming 16 teams to the 16-event series set to battle it down in the championship race. . 

In the months leading up to the kick off of the 2023 season, strategy for success has been front of mind for Team Owners and Managers, who have been refining their approach  to kick off what is set to be a highly charged year ahead. 

This year sees a change in the GCL series with the introduction of a new weekend format, designed to benefit both horse, rider and team strategy. The biggest change will see Round 1 and Round 2 of the GCL team series now take place on the same day with again no drop score.

A BRIEF GUIDE TO GCL

Launched in 2016, the GCL brings together the world’s best horse and rider combinations from across the world from different nationalities riding on the same teams, rather than decided by country. Each team must feature an U25 rider, providing young talent of today, and future world champions of tomorrow, a launchpad of opportunity to ride, train and build camaraderie amongst their idols and the best in the business.

Each stop on the tour sees the teams compete in two rounds. In true championship style, the team’s combined scores from Round 1 are taken through into Round 2. The easy format of no drop score makes it simple for new audiences in each destination to follow the team competition.

Round 1 of the GCL will see riders faced with a CSI 5* 1.55m class, with team managers strategizing for their best approach for a day of intense competition.

A short break between Round 1 and Round 2 could see strategic changes from Team Managers, who can swap in horses and/or riders between the back to back rounds, ultimately producing a highly competitive Round 2.

Round 2 of the GCL takes place straight after Round 1, is a CSI 5* 1.60m class. In Round 2, teams will be represented by two riders from their team, with scores and points at the end of the competition ultimately going towards their overall team score, and series standing.

Throughout the year teams earn points to the overall total and series standings which comes to a head in the Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The teams placed in the top four after the Final will be granted a fast track place at the GC Prague Playoffs for the GCL Super Cup Semi Finals, the ultimate final show-down. 

GCL: 6 QUICK FACTS

• The GCL competition is the ultimate teams challenge, where riders from across nations compete on the same teams in pursuit of glory 
• Each team can be represented by three riders at every event with only two riders competing in each round
• Teams are represented by two riders per round, with all scores counting to the final standings
• Round 2 will see teams carry through their penalties from Round 1, ultimately deciding the starting order for Round 2
• The overall winners of the GCL competition will be the team with the least combined penalties and the quickest time over Round 2
• The series culminates in the GC Prague Playoffs where the teams ranked 5th and below will compete in the first day GCL Super Cup Quarter Final, with only eight teams carrying through to the next day’s competition - the Semi Final. They will be joined by the top four ranked teams in the overall season Championship, and battle to finish in the top six, making it through to the Final. Here the winning team will be crowned GCL Super Cup winners.