The sport’s top riders are lined up for the unique new team-based show jumping League, which kicks off on Sunday 10th April in Miami Beach, USA. Riders from different countries will be united on teams like never before in the history of show jumping.
A star-studded list of athletes are confirmed on team rosters including Scott Brash, Kent Farrington, Bertram Allen, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, John Whitaker, Marco Kutscher, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Ben Maher, Georgina Bloomberg, Lauren Hough, Maikel van der Vleuten, Sheikh Ali Al Thani, Olivier Philippaerts, Alvaro de Miranda, Roger-Yves Bost, Jessica Springsteen, Rodrigo Pessoa, Laura Kraut, Harrie Smolders and Gregory Wathelet.
The innovative new format, launching in an Olympic year, will lead to fascinating tactical battles and fierce rivalries elevating the experience for fans as the competitions are played out in 15 spectacular venues worldwide.
Team structure
Teams will have up to five riders, including a maximum of two Top 30 ranked athletes for the 1.50m /1.55m GCL team competition. At least one rider will be under 25 years of age as GCL focuses on developing the young talent of the future. It will be an important opportunity for young riders to train and compete alongside the best in the world. Two riders will be selected to compete at each event on the circuit, which follows the calendar of the established Longines Global Champions Tour.
The new multi-national squads of riders, including Scott Brash and Kent Farrington on a team together, will be paired for the first time ever as they depend on each other for sporting glory and a share of the GCL €7.5 million prize money. Team selection decisions will be critical as Team Managers select riders and horses to maximise the best performance and results at each event through the season.
All teams will start in the first round of the new competition and their combined score on penalties and time will determine whether they go through to the second round. Eight best teams will win through to the second round. Suspense and drama will be high as the first riders of each team perform and are then followed by the second riders of each team with mounting tension as they chase the scores and times to beat.
The new concept will create more options and opportunities for riders and will enhance the way fans enjoy and experience show jumping as they identify with the new-style team competition format. Fans will be able to follow their team and favourite riders and horses on TV, online and live at events as the competition intensifies.
The high stakes decisions of the Team Managers, the master tacticians, will be closely followed as they decide which horses will be best suited to different arenas and conditions such as sand or grass, jumping in daylight or at night under floodlights.
Teams will be named after the spectacular global destinations of the Tour and League calendar and can be revealed today. Each Team has its own identity with specially created names and logos:
