“Valkenswaard United” win the fourth leg of the Global Champions League in Madrid - Christian Kukuk disappointed

Madrid - At the beautiful Club de Campo Villa grass stadium in the Spanish capital Madrid, the show jumpers from the “Valkenswaard United” team came out on top in the fourth leg of the Global Champions League and secured the top spot on the podium. Last year's winners, Marcus Ehning, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Gilles Thomas, only allowed themselves one mistake. Not a single team was able to remain penalty-free in the two rounds, which were designed by course designer Santiago Varela.  Second place went to the Shanghai Swans, the winners of the last two stages, who thus defended their lead in the overall standings. St. Tropez Pirates came third.

Team Riesenbeck International went into the competition with Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and his 15-year-old gelding Checker and Marco Kutscher with the twelve-year-old stallion Aventador S. Both pairs did not get off to a good start. Neither pair had a good start. They came out of round one with two faults and one down.

The plan for round two was clear and ambitious: Stay clear and ride fast. There was no change of horses. Marco Kutscher delivered a picture-book round with no faults - just as we have come to expect from him over the years. Christian Kukuk went on the attack and set a fast time. He had another knockdown in the double combination. The time was very good.  In addition to the twelve faults, he had four more.

Christian Kukuk, last year's winner of the Global Champions Tour stage in Madrid, was disappointed. He had spared his Olympic hero Checker for a few weeks after his victory in the Wellington Grand Prix for the competition in Madrid.

He commented on his ride as follows: “That was a very disappointing performance from me today. Not the result I would have liked for the first round, and not the ride I wanted to show in the second round! I am aware of this and even more motivated to do better next time.”

Riesenbeck International finished in eighth place among the 15 teams.

Team boss Ludger Beerbaum: „ Well done to our new team member Emanuele Camilli!

Again, like in Mexico he demonstrated why he is picked to join us and I am happy for his performances!

The reason why I/we decided to go for Christian and Marco was simply there experience and finesse which are generally in there own league and even though 8th place is not exactly what we where expecting, i would have picked the same team again!“