Just one day remains ahead of the seventh leg of the Global Champions League Championship, with the team riders gearing up ahead of Sunday’s competition, which will see the League debut in France for the first time. Kicking off at 16:45 tomorrow, the revolutionary team competition will see riders pair up to compete for their teams, battling it out for valuable points in the 2016 season Championship.
Earlier this week the team riders were revealed, with the 12 teams looking to field top rider combinations suited to the expansive grassy arena with a large predicted crowd. The pressure will be on the ranking leader Valkenswaard United riders Eduardo Menezes and Alberto Zorzi, a combination who took silver in Shanghai. The team sits on 145 points overall – just three points of next place team, Monaco Aces, who this weekend will see Daniel Bluman and Leopold van Asten in action – a new combination for the team. Just one point behind on 141 are Antwerp Diamonds, which will see another new combination of Audrey Coulter and Marc Houtzager.
The draw for the League took place on Friday, with riders watching on in anticipation as the starting order was determined at random. Vienna Eagles took the prime spot of final team to go, with the Shanghai Swans drawing the short straw once more as the first team to take to the arena.
The full starting order and rider list is as follows:
1. Shanghai Swans – Edwina Tops-Alexander & Jessica Springsteen
2. Cascais Charms – David Will & Andreas Kreuzer
3. Antwerp Diamonds – Audrey Coulter & Marc Houtzager
4. Miami Glory – Scott Brash & Georgina Bloomberg
5. Monaco Aces – Daniel Bluman & Leopold van Asten
6. Madrid in Motion – Pedro Veniss & Gonzalo Anon Suarez
7. Rome Gladiators – Laura Renwick & Marlon Zanotelli
8. Cannes Stars – Kevin Jochems & Roosje Brouwer
9. Valkenswaard United – Eduardo Menezes & Alberto Zorzi
10. Paris Jets – Rolf-Göran Bengtsson & Olivier Philippaerts
11. Doha Fursan Qatar – Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani & Faleh Suwead Al Ajami
12. Vienna Eagles – Paris Sellon & Rodrigo Pessoa
Host of the 7th leg of the League calendar, Chantilly is famous for its impressive, beautiful château, it’s premier racetrack and, of course, Chantilly cream. But it is Chantilly’s reputation as France’s ‘Capital of the Horse’ which makes it the perfect venue for a world class equestrian event.
The battle of Chantilly will be played out against the exquisite backdrop of the Château de Chantilly and the beautiful Grand Stables, which are surrounded by parkland, gardens and the Forêt de Chantilly.
Between the elite level show jumping competitions, visitors can enjoy the Musée Vivant du Cheval (Living Horse Museum), created by Yves Bienaimé in 1982, where the equestrian world of the past and present is brought to life in visually stunning equestrian shows and dressage demonstrations. Then it’s back to the picturesque arena for a stunning display of horsemanship from the world’s best riders.
The Global Champions League of Chantilly is set to be an exciting event on the 2016 calendar as fans and sports men and women from around the world come together in the grounds of a beautiful French château to enjoy show jumping at its finest.
Photo Credit : Stefano Grasso / GCL