June 13, 2025 
Less than two seconds—about the time it takes to turn on a light switch—was all that separated GCL Ramatuelle, St. Tropez winners Valkenswaard United from last year’s victors, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames.
The victorious team was helmed by Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER)—who jumped double-clear aboard his 5th place 2024 FEI World Cup Finals mount, Elysium, and veteran horse Vestmalle Des Cotis—and Gilles Thomas (BEL) who accrued 0/4 aboard his first-time GCL mount Qalista DN, a 9-year-old Belgian mare.
“In Madrid I had Luna [Van Het Dennehof] and Ermitage [Kalone], and now here with Qalista. She is a very good horse, and I had a very good feeling. But the first time, you never quite know—today she did fantastic!” Thomas said. “I must add with the double clear of Hansi [Hans-Dieter Dreher], the credit must go to him for our podium today.”
Indeed, this year, Dreher and Elysium boast a 50% clear rate and Dreher and Vestmalle Des Cotis a 75% clear rate at the GCL Round 1 height of 1.55m, according to Jumpr Stats. Ramatuelle becomes the second win of the series for Valkenswaard United, which also claimed the top of the podium at GCL Madrid last month.
The Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames’ Katrin Eckermann (GER) and Natalie Dean (USA) settled for second place by a mere second and a half, though they currently lead the series on 133 points. Riesenbeck International powered by HorseGym took third on 8 faults, with Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishaupt in the irons.
With 11 of 17 teams all within a rail of one another other after the first round, and five teams sitting on a zero score, Eckermann said the conditions in Round 2 changed slightly as the St. Tropez sun began to dip. “We saw many clear rounds in the first round, but again, the same as last year, the second round was tough. With the sun going down, it is not so easy,” Eckermann commented.
“It was a nice day also for [Iron Dames’ U25 Rider Anastasia Nielsen], joining the team for the first time in the first round. What a strong feeling with the team behind us!”
With this win after Stage 6 of 15 on the season calendar, Valkenswaard United is currently tied with the Shanghai Swans for second place on 124 points. Both teams will look to overtake the lead from last year’s history-making GCL Championship winner, the all-female Iron Dames squad, as the series moves on to Paris June 20-22.
