Stage 5 of the Global Champions League – St. Tropez Pirates win

Riesenbeck International finishes seventh in the middle of the pack

French weeks at the Global Champions League: until July, the two show jumping series, the Global Champions League and the Longines Global Champions Tour, will be visiting the dream destinations of Cannes, St. Tropez, Paris, and Monaco.

At the fifth of 15 stages of the Global Champions League team competition in Cannes, traditionally held in a sand arena in the heart of the glamorous city and right on the French Riviera, the riders from St. Tropez Pirates dominated. Second place went to the women's team Cannes Stars with Sophie Hinners and Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Madrid in Motion secured third place on the podium. Riesenbeck International placed seventh in the middle of the field.

The Riesenbeck International team started the first round with Olympic champion Christian Kukuk on his 10-year-old Chacco Blue son Chageorge and Marco Kutscher on the 12-year-old Armitage son Aventador S. Christian Kukuk delivered a dream round with his stallion, leaving the course with a broad grin and no faults – in contrast, Marco Kutscher's performance was disappointing, with two knockdowns.

The decisive second round of the very demanding course designed by course designer Uliano Vezzani took place under floodlights. Emanuele Camilli replaced Marco Kutscher in the team with the 13-year-old mare Chacco's Girlstar. Christian Kukuk had no reason to change his horse.

Emanuele Camilli had his sights set on the finish line, but the last two obstacles proved fatal for the pair, with the poles falling twice after an impressive performance. And as if that weren't enough, Christian Kukuk also made a mistake afterwards.

Team manager Ludger Beerbaum: “Unfortunately, we are still a long way from the podium due to small but costly mistakes. Nevertheless, I feel that we have the opportunity – and will soon take advantage of it – to make significantly fewer mistakes and thus score more points.”

In the overall standings at the start of the stages, which are now taking place in quick succession, the Shanghai Swans (110 points) are ahead of the Cannes Stars (108 points) and Team Valkenswaard United (94 points). Team Riesenbeck International continues to try to make up important points and work its way up from tenth place (69 points).