Valkenswaard United Seize Top Spot in Monaco Ahead of GCL Transfer Window

In a spectacular evening of elite sport and high-stakes strategy, Valkenswaard United soared to victory in GCL Monaco, the thrilling eighth stage of the 2025 Championship. With just days to go before the mid-season transfer window opens, every point counted more than ever - and the sold-out crowd at Port Hercule witnessed strategy, skill, and sheer brilliance in action.

This was no ordinary night. Big-name riders brought their A-team horses for a reason: Monaco is where championships turn, and titles begin to crystallise. Under the floodlights and with the Mediterranean breeze swirling through the arena, Valkenswaard United sealed their fifth podium of the season - and an incredible third win - with a flawless Round 2 performance. Gilles Thomas and the electric Qalista DN, paired with Lorenzo de Luca aboard Jappeloup, delivered two ice-cool clears that sealed the win and rocketed them into the lead of the 2025 GCL Championship standings as S.A.R La Princesse Caroline de Hanovre awarded them the trophy.

Back in the winners armbands, Lorenzo and Gilles for Valkenswaard United couldn’t hide their smiles. Gilles said, “It really is an extra plus after a great night. We were here to be on the podium, so to take the win and the armband back, we couldn’t wish for a better result. ”

Hot on their heels were Basel Cosmopolitans, whose determined effort kept the pressure high until the final fence. Andreas Schou and Napoli VH Nederassenthof produced a gutsy round in the second phase, while Zascha Nygaard Lill and her uber-consistent Primavera delivered yet another double clear, securing second place by the slimmest of margins - just three penalties separating them from the top step.

“Finally” explained a beaming Andreas Schou, he added “we had a lot of good rounds this season, but somehow it just didn’t quite come together with the right results but today was just perfect. Zascha once again delivered like she did in Paris, my horse jumped well, Michael’s did too, and we couldn’t be more happy with the results.”

Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses completed the podium after a rollercoaster evening. Jane Richard and Molly Malone Z posted one of the only double clears of the entire night, while Olivier Philippaerts kept their hopes alive with a fighting finish aboard Dixie Moon, despite two rails falling. The team’s resilience paid off, and they stood proudly in third.

A relieved Olivier said, “we’ve had a tough season this year, so to finish in third place is a great result. I felt as though first could’ve been ours but no matter what, Jane did fantastic tonight with the double clear.”

Against the dazzling backdrop of Monaco’s iconic harbour, the GCL once again delivered a blockbuster performance. The smallest arena on tour demands total harmony between horse and rider - where centimetres count and split-second decisions make or break the result. Fans packed the grandstands and lined the glittering edge of Port Hercule, creating an electric atmosphere that pulsed with anticipation from the first bell to the last.

With the mid-season transfer window just around the corner, every result in Monaco carried added weight. Many team managers were already deep in strategy talks behind the scenes, knowing Monaco was the final opportunity to gain ground - or solidify dominance - before potential reshuffles. 

Championship Standings After Stage 8

1. Valkenswaard United - 179 pts
2. Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames - 168 pts
3. Shanghai Swans - 156 pts
4. Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team - 131 pts

Round 2 Sports Report: Monaco Delivers Heat, Pressure, and Heartbreak

As the sun dipped below the skyline and the floodlights of Port Hercule bathed the arena in silver, the second round of GCL Monaco began with everything to play for. The course, designed by maestro Uliano Vezzani, was as unforgiving as it was intricate - tight distances, sharp turns, and a time allowed that punished hesitation. Only fifteen teams had made it through to Round 2 after two shock eliminations in the opener, and with the championship table tightening, the pressure was palpable.

Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team were first to feel the sting of Monaco’s miniature battleground. Riding high after their sensational victory in Paris, the team couldn’t repeat the magic. Both Simon Delestre and Henrik von Eckermann - usually paragons of precision - had rails across both rounds. It was a surprising downturn for the powerhouse pair, who quickly tumbled down the order.

Next came the Shanghai Swans, sitting third in the Championship and keen to close the gap. But the evening began on a back foot with a disappointing 12 faults in Round 1. Hoping for redemption, their Round 2 performance showed flashes of brilliance. Max Kühner and Katherina Rhomberg, who had triumphed together earlier this season in Mexico City, added just one rail between them in the second round. It was a valiant recovery, but not quite enough to climb into podium contention.

Drama soon struck the Rome Gladiators. Nadja Peter Steiner produced a sensational clear aboard Nice van’t Zorgvliet, but their fortunes reversed when the legendary John Whitaker suffered two stops at the final fence with Equine America Unick du Francport. It was an uncharacteristic moment from one of the sport’s most seasoned riders, resulting in Rome’s elimination from the competition.

Consistency was also the calling card of Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym. Opting not to make any changes heading into Round 2, they returned with the same riders who had posted six penalties in the opening round. Both Maximilian Weishaupt on Zuccero HV and Emanuele Camilli with Chacco’s Girlstar collected just one rail each - leaving the team on a final total of 14. It was a respectable showing in a class where even minor errors proved costly.

Then came the defining moment of the night. Valkenswaard United, sitting second in the Championship heading into Monaco, knew that this was their opportunity to strike. First in for the team, Gilles Thomas produced a class round with the nine-year-old Qalista DN, navigating the course with poise and precision. Lorenzo de Luca followed on Jappeloup, matching Thomas’ excellence stride for stride. Their faultless performance added nothing to their Round 1 score of five, propelling Valkenswaard United straight into the lead. The pressure was now on everyone else.

For the Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team, the response never materialised. Missteps across both rounds left them out of contention in a class that demanded nothing less than excellence.

The Basel Cosmopolitans, however, came charging in with intent. Carrying just four faults from Round 1, they meant business. Andreas Schou and Napoli VH Nederassenthof looked determined until a rail - knocked loose by a flick of Napoli’s hind leg - added four more faults. It was up to Zascha Nygaard Lill and the ice-cool Primavera to anchor the team. With calm focus, they delivered a stunning double clear, keeping the team on a total of eight and slotting them neatly into second place behind Valkenswaard.

Just three teams remained, and the tension around the arena was electric.

Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, who had led the Championship coming into Monaco, saw their campaign unravel under the lights. Both Natalie Dean and Katrin Eckermann knocked rails, unable to recreate their Round 1 brilliance. Their cumulative faults saw them slip behind Valkenswaard in the standings - losing not only the night, but also the coveted championship armbands.

Second-last to go were Madrid In Motion, with just three faults in hand. But luck was not on their side. Maikel van der Vleuten and O’Bailey VH Brouwershof N.O.P dropped two rails in Round 2, their tally of 11 pushing them down to fourth, narrowly missing a place on the podium.

Finally, all eyes turned to Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses. In true anchor style, Jane Richard and the formidable Molly Malone Z delivered one of the night’s only double clears. The veteran mare rose to the occasion yet again, and though two rails from Olivier Philippaerts on Dixie Moon threatened their chances, the team clung to a podium place - just enough to edge out Madrid and finish third.

Relive all the drama, strategy, and sporting excellence from GCL Monaco – watch the full class replay plus exclusive interviews now on GCTV.

The 2025 GCL Championship now heads to the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, where Stage 9 will unfold from 8–10 August. Expect another sold-out crowd, tactical shake-ups from the mid-season transfer window, and a pivotal moment in the race to the Finals.