It may have taken them until the 13th stop on tour, but 2023 GCL Champions Riesenbeck International are officially back in business.
Helmed by German riders Philipp Weishaupt aboard Coby 8 and Philipp Schulze Topphoff with Carla NRW, Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland Equestrian was the only team to maintain a zero score over two rounds of competition at GCL Valkenswaard.
“It’s about time!” Weishaupt said to GCTV after the class. “Last year, it was almost normal to win. This year, it’s been a little rare, with the podiums and especially the wins, so we are extremely delighted about the result.”
Despite taking pole position after Round 1, New York Empire powered by Lugano Diamonds couldn’t convert their advantage to win. However, a fast clear from Scott Brash (GBR) on Chadora and a four-fault round from Richard Vogel (GER) on Cydello kept them in second place on a combined time of 157.14 seconds.
Meanwhile, championship leaders Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, also on a zero score after Round 1, suffered a gut-wrenching final fence down for Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) on Cornela on Day 2, dropping them into third place behind New York Empire on a time of 160.04.
Employing their well-known tactic of not switching horse-and-rider combinations after the first round, ‘the Philipps,’ Weishaupt, 39, and Schulze Topphoff, 26—who were the only team to do so—logged back-to-back clears, taking over the lead on Day 2 with two teams left to jump.
“I was joking to Philipp [Schulze Topphoff] earlier in the week,” said a self-deprecating Weishaupt, adding that the Ludger Beerbaum-owned-and-managed Riesenbeck International had plenty of options for riders in Valkenswaard. Among them: 2024 Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk.
“They let us two farmer boys ride the 5* here for the team, isn’t that a bit risky?” Weishaupt joked. “But we didn’t let ourselves mess up, so thank God, it worked out.”
With this victory, Riesenbeck International brings their team total to 239 points, closing the gap with long-time series leaders Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames on 271 points.
Heavy-hitters the Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses—who sit on 236 points after an unusual last-place finish in Valkenswaard—are currently in third with just two events left to jump in the regular season.
Next up: the series moves on to Rome August 30 – September 1.