GCL Teams Revealed for 2021 Championship

Bologna, January 29, 2021 – In an intense off-season period, team owners, trainers and managers have been busy strengthening squads waiting for a new very competive season.

Teams’ sights will be fixed on victory at the high stakes GCL Finals and GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Playoffs.

A truly international field of riders are ready to work as teammates to win a share of the overall season prize purse of € 25.9 million.

Headline moves for 2021

– Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze joins the roster of Cascais Charms

– Popular Dutch Champion Frank Schuttert transfers to Scandinavian Vikings

– Hungry for success the Cannes Stars sign European Gold Medalist Cian O’Connor and LGCT Grand Prix of Paris Champion Sameh El Dahan

– Shanghai Swans pick up German maestro Christian Ahlmann to boost their firepower

– Jane Richard Philips switches from Cannes Stars to Berlin Eagles

– The Prague Lions field Leopold van Asten for the competitive 2021 season

GCL Teams 2021

There will be drama and emotion all season in the high stakes championship.

With safety as top priority, Global Champions continues to work with National Governments, local authorities and the FEI governing body to ensure strict protocols under the COVID-19 regulations.

Every team will field a U25 rider as part of GCL’s commitment to the development of talented youth at the top level of show jumping.

This year’s power-packed GCL sees 76% of athletes (excluding the U25 competitors) ranked in the top 250* in the world, including 23 out of the top 30 riders.

London Knights, winners of 2019 GCL Championship battle, keep their strong line up with Olympic Gold Ben Maher alongside Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts, Martin Fuchs, Cameron Hanley and U25 Emily Moffitt.

Shanghai Swans, champions of GCL Super Cup in 2019, are determined to put up a strong challenge with a top new signing reinforcing their squad. Christian Ahlmann will join Pius Schwizer, Max Kühner, Margie Goldstein-Engle, Alexandra Thornton and US Lucas Porter.

GCL kicks off in Doha where the teams will be challenged in a variety of testing tracks with fans around the world set to enjoy another highly-charged season unfolding at incredible destinations.

The individual championship of the Longines Global Champions Tour will again deliver fantastic top sport with the winners of each LGCT Grand Prix booking a place in the LGCT Super Grand Prix with a €1.25M purse.

And this season Tops International Arena will host eight events that will range from young horse classes, including Global Future Champions all the way up to CSI5*.

Jan Tops, President of the LGCT and GCL, said…

«We are delighted to announce the exciting line up of 16 teams for the new season of GCL.  Once again it will take exceptional team performances to win the GCL Finals and the GCL Super Cup and the incredible prize money on offer. With fantastic U25 talent in the GCL we continue giving young riders the opportunity to shine at our unique world class venues. I would like to personally thank Longines, our long-time Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the Longines Global Champions Tour. We are working with national Governments and all relevant authorities to implement Covid-19 guidelines for health and the safety of everyone connected with our events. Despite these challenging times, we want to offer our fans the best in show jumping and this season GCTV will deliver features using the latest technology to enrich the viewing experience».

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Source GC