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Istanbul Warriors Fight to First GCL Win in London

Longines Global Champions Tour London 2024 of London ©Ljuba Buzzola/LGCT

Cannes Stars did not win the Global Champions League of London. But the ladies still dominated.

Five of the six athletes on this year’s GCL London podium were female.

Istanbul Warriors, powered by Carpe Diem and represented by Géraldine Straumann on Long John Silver 3, Zascha Nygaard Lill with Stanley and Primavera, and Andreas Schou on Billy Matadorm, captured their first-ever GCL win in London.

With Straumann and Nygaard Lill contesting the second round of the two-round class, they were the only team to finish designer Ulliano Vezzani’s course with a single rail down.

London was a GCL debut for Nygaard Lill, an addition so sudden she didn’t have a team coat and wore Schou’s instead. And by “wore” we mean “swam in.”

“I didn’t really know what to expect because it’s my first Global Tour show,” said the 30-year-old Danish rider. “But then I walked the course, and I felt good with the horse and Andreas always give this good support.”

Nygaard Lill was hoping for a podium finish. When asked if a win seemed “like a reality in any dream to you?” she replied:

“Dream, yes. But reality? Not really.”

Ask their clearly delighted team owner and rider, Efe Siyahi, however, and it was all part of the plan: “I am proud of my team—today the [ladies] showed the [their strength] and we are so proud of them! We made strategic plans to have Andreas in Round 1, which paid off with a clear round, then let it to Geraldine and Zascha in Round 2. We couldn’t be more proud of this result.”

Zascha Nygaard Lill with Primavera. ©Ljuba Buzzola/LGCT
©Ljuba Buzzola/LGCT

Returning on a score of zero with clears from Schou and Nygaard Lill, Straumann and Long John Silver 3 rode a foot perfect clear in Round 2, while Zascha Nygaard Lill’s added a lightning fast 4 fault round to the scoreboard.

“I couldn’t be happier with my horse Long John Silver 3,” said Straumann, 19. “He is so consistent and just such a dream to have on my team.”

Stockholm Hearts finished second as the fastest team with 8 faults from Malin Bayard Johnsson and twins Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts.

Cannes Stars, the championship leaders, secured third place, with yet another podium for Sophie Hinners, Natalie Dean and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Over 12 stages, Cannes Stars have landed on six podiums, including four victories, and now extend their lead to 250 points.

Stockholm Hearts move up the GCL Leaderboard to 228 points, while Doha Falcons sit in third on 211.

The GCL now heads to Valkenswaard, NED, for the 13th leg of the season, August 23–25.

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