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GCT Paris - Thomas Extends Championship Lead in Style

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What a moment for Gilles Thomas. The championship leader couldn't have picked a more iconic place to add another Grand Prix victory to his collection. Riding the absolutely magnificent Ermitage Kalone under the lights of the Eiffel Tower, Thomas delivered when it mattered most—stopping the clock at 42.92 seconds in a jump-off that was pure theater.

Gregory Bodo's course was an absolute masterpiece of technical difficulty. Only seven combinations made it through the first round clean from a field of 40, and the casualties were brutal. Henrik von Eckermann retired Minute Man mid-course, Victor Bettendorf got eliminated after two refusals at a wall, and a who's who of the sport—Jack Whitaker, Jérôme Guery, Marcus Ehning, Pieter Devos, and Niels Bruynseels—all had single rails that kept them out of the jump-off.

The jump-off was fascinating from a strategic standpoint. Lillie Keenan and the 15-year-old Fasther set the early standard with a clinical 44.59 seconds. Katrin Eckermann went for broke on Iron Dames Cydello, posting the fastest time of the night at 42.45 but paying for it with a heartbreaking rail at the last fence. Denis Lynch played it tactical, going steady and clear in 52.70 seconds for third place—smart riding from a veteran who knows the points game.

But Thomas? He had one job as the last to go: beat Keenan's time. And he absolutely smoked it. From the moment they crossed the start timers, you could see they were in total harmony. Every turn was tight, every stride calculated, and when they galloped to that final fence, the crowd knew they were watching something special.

The key moment came before his round when Niels Bruynseels convinced him to go for the win rather than playing it safe.

Final Podium:

1. Gilles Thomas (BEL) - Ermitage Kalone (42.92s) - €101,838

2. Lillie Keenan (USA) - Fasther (44.59s) - €61,720

3. Denis Lynch (IRL) - Mr Boombastic (52.70s) - €46,290

Keenan was emotional about bringing Fasther back to this level after injuries:

This win puts Thomas firmly in control of the LGCT Championship standings with 160 points, extending his lead significantly. More importantly, he's secured his golden ticket to the Super Grand Prix in Prague. At 27, riding a horse like Ermitage Kalone, the sky's the limit.

LGCT Championship Standings (Top 5):

1. Gilles Thomas (BEL) - 160.0 points

2. Simon Delestre (FRA) - 118.2 points

3. Denis Lynch (IRL) - 112.2 points

4. Scott Brash (GBR) - 101.0 points

5. Andreas Schou (DEN) - 95.0 points

GCL Paris: Istanbul Warriors Pull Off Strategic Masterclass

The GCL competition was pure drama, decided by the finest of margins and some brilliant tactical moves. The Istanbul Warriors walked away with the win on 8 faults, but they had to earn every bit of it.

Four teams went into the second round on zero faults: Shanghai Swans, Paris Panthers, Istanbul Warriors, and Prague Lions. The Warriors made a key substitution, bringing in Henrik von Eckermann and Minute Man for the pressure round, and it paid off perfectly.

Here's where it got wild: Abdel Saïd started the second round for the Warriors and immediately put four faults on the board at the massive Eiffel Tower fence—literally took out an entire wing of the thing. The pressure shifted to von Eckermann, who delivered a lightning-fast clear that put them in the lead.

But the real drama came at the end. Shanghai Swans were the last team to go and had the win in their grasp. Christian Ahlmann went clear, keeping them in the hunt, but then Max Kühner had an absolute nightmare—12 faults—and handed the victory to the waiting Warriors before he'd even finished.

Final Team Results:

1. Istanbul Warriors (8 faults, 139.79s) - O. Fletcher/A. Saïd/H. von Eckermann

2. Valkenswaard United (8 faults, 139.90s) - G. Thomas/M. Ehning

3. Prague Lions (10 faults, 145.33s) - P. Devos/N. Bruynseels

Saïd summed up their approach perfectly:

Von Eckermann was optimistic about their season:

GCL Championship Standings (Top 3):

1. Cannes Stars - 152 points

2. Valkenswaard United - 149 points

3. Shanghai Swans - 141 pointsGCL Team Review: Valkenswaard United Win on Speed

CHIO Rotterdam: Cook Breaks American Drought in Style

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Karl Cook and Caracole de La Roque absolutely flew to victory in the €308,600 Grand Prix of Rotterdam, ending a decade-long wait for American success in this prestigious class. The last American to win? Lucy Davis back in 2015.

Bart Vonck's course design was getting rave reviews all week, and the Grand Prix showed why. His "challenging and original" track whittled 48 starters down to just eight for the jump-off, leaving a trail of frustrated world-class riders in its wake.

The first round was a serious test that separated the wheat from the chaff. Vonck's technical and creative design with a tight time allowed caught out a significant portion of the 48-strong field, with only eight combinations managing to navigate the track without fault to earn their spot in the jump-off.

The casualty list was extensive and impressive. Sophie Hinners came closest to qualifying with just 2 faults on Iron Dames Singclair, but a host of world-class riders were caught out by single rails: Jos Verlooy (Parise van den Dael), Kevin Staut (Canbella Blue PS), Harrie Smolders (Mr. Tac), Laura Kraut (Baloutinue), Marc Houtzager (Sterrehof's Dante), Ben Maher (Enjeu de Grisien), and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (Iron Dames Just A Dream).

The eight who made it through set up a fascinating tactical battle in the jump-off. As the second pair to enter the arena, Cook and Caracole de La Roque laid down a gauntlet that would prove impossible to beat. They navigated Vonck's shortened and twisted track with fearless precision, leaving all the rails in their cups and stopping the clock in a blistering 37.17 seconds.

The combinations that followed gave valiant chase, but none could match their pace. France's Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour came closest, producing a beautiful clear round but finishing nearly a full second slower in 38.09 seconds to take the runner-up spot. Great Britain's Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette secured the final podium position with a clear round in 38.78 seconds. Fellow Brit Sienna Charles and Chawton also went clear but were slower in 40.89 seconds for fourth.

The pressure told on the final three combinations. The sole Dutch representative in the jump-off, Bas Moerings aboard Ipsthar, posted a fast time of 39.36 seconds but a costly rail down relegated them to fifth place. Hessel Hoekstra (Comthago VDL) and Petronella Andersson (Odina van Klapscheut) both struggled in the jump-off, each collecting 7 faults to finish sixth and seventh respectively. Maikel van der Vleuten, despite his sterling performance in the League of Nations the day before, had 8 faults with O'Bailey vh Brouwershof N.O.P. to round out the jump-off field.

Cook was full of praise for his 13-year-old mare: "She is really special. She is just such a committed horse; whatever she does, she throws her body completely at it." But here's what makes this partnership so unique:

Cook described her as having "only one speed" and being "fully confident," a horse that "knows exactly what she's doing out there."

Grand Prix Podium:

1. Karl Cook (USA) - Caracole de La Roque (0/37.17s)

2. Nina Mallevaey (FRA) - Dynastie de Beaufour (0/38.09s)

3. Donald Whitaker (GBR) - Millfield Colette (0/38.78s)

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Mallevaey knew what she was up against:

Whitaker was candid about his round:

"Looking back at the jump-off, I may have messed up a bit. It was a challenging course, and to beat Karl you needed to be perfect." But he had nothing but praise for his mare:

League of Nations: Netherlands Pull Off Dramatic Home Victory

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This was absolutely bonkers. The Netherlands snatched victory from France in the most dramatic fashion possible, with Kevin Staut's final round essentially deciding the entire competition.

Going into the anchor round, France was sitting pretty. They had the win locked up with room for error—Kevin Staut could have a rail and a couple time faults and still win. But show jumping doesn't care about your calculations. An early fault at fence #2, then another at the B element of a double, and suddenly the 8-fault round handed the victory to the Dutch on their home turf.

The format of this series is brutal—no drop scores in the second round, so every fault counts. The Netherlands finished on 10 faults total, France on 13, and you could hear the collective gasp from the orange-clad crowd when they realized what had just happened.

Final Standings:

1. Netherlands (10 faults) - Van der Vleuten, Emmen, Smolders, Greve

2. France (13 faults) - Sadran, Mallevaey, Dilasser, Staut

3. Great Britain (16 faults) - Sampson, Maher, Whitaker

Harrie Smolders thought they'd lost it:

This result was crucial for Dutch confidence—they moved from eighth to seventh in the overall standings with 185 points, giving themselves some breathing room heading into the final qualifier. The current standings after three of four qualifiers tell a fascinating story:

League of Nations Standings:

1. France - 240 points

2. Ireland - 225 points

3. Germany - 220 points

4. USA - 200 points

5. Belgium - 200 points

6. Great Britain - 195 points

7. Netherlands - 185 points

8. Italy - 165 points --- Qualification Line ---

9. Sweden - 120 points

10. Switzerland - 90 points

Only the top eight qualify for the €1,600,000 Final in Barcelona, and with just one qualifier left in St. Tropez, the pressure is absolutely intense. Italy in 8th place looks relatively safe with a 45-point cushion over Sweden, but in this format, anything can happen. Sweden would need to win St. Tropez and hope Italy has a complete disaster to have any shot at Barcelona.

The real drama is in positions 4-7. Look at that logjam—Belgium and USA tied on 200, Great Britain just 5 points behind, and Netherlands now safely in 7th but still vulnerable. Any of those teams could surge into the top three with a big result, or completely fall out of qualifying. The math is simple: win in St. Tropez and you're probably in. Have a disaster and you might be watching Barcelona from home.

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Quick Hits

Hickstead Al Shira’aa Derby: The Whitaker dynasty continues! Robert Whitaker won the Al Shira'aa Derby aboard the 19-year-old Gentlemen VH Veldhof, making him the fourth family member to claim the Boomerang Trophy. He and his father John are now the only father-son duo to both win this historic class. The three-way British jump-off was classic Hickstead drama, with Robert's 88.33-second round proving just fast enough to edge cousin William by over a second.

Al Shira’aa Derby Podium:

1. Robert Whitaker (GBR) - Gentlemen VH Veldhof (4 faults, 88.33s) - €39,600

2. William Whitaker (GBR) - Flamboyant III (4 faults, 89.75s) - €24,000

3. Sammie Jo Coffin (GBR) - Chaccomo Blue (4 faults, 96.07s) - €18,000

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Hickstead Speed Derby: Mark Edwards and Royale Tale crushed the Speed Derby in definitive fashion, posting one of only two clear rounds and finishing more than seven seconds clear. Edwards revealed this was the specific target for the mare all season. "The Speed Derby has been the plan for her for the last couple of weeks – she's been in great form," he said.

Speed Derby Podium:

1. Mark Edwards (GBR) - Royale Tale (0 faults, 95.80s)

2. Joe Whitaker (GBR) - Icaterina (4 faults, 103.63s)

3. Jessica Hewitt (GBR) - Hot Bluebird (4 faults, 103.95s)

Deauville EEF Series: Belgium's young guns dominated the Nations Cup semi-final, finishing on just one penalty point total. The team led by Filip Lacus comprised Roy van Beek, Zoe Conter (who delivered a crucial double clear), Sacha Beghuin, and Mathieu Bourdeaud'Hui. Great Britain failed to qualify for the final—a major upset that shows how unpredictable championship format competition can be.

EEF Nations Cup Results:

1. Belgium - 1 penalty point - Qualified

2. Spain - 4 penalty points - Qualified

3. Brazil - 12 penalty points - Not eligible

Deauville Grand Prix: Olivier Robert claimed a popular home win in the €60,300 Grand Prix, using it as an "active break" between La Baule and Aachen. He was the sole French rider in the nine-horse jump-off and delivered when it mattered with the fastest of three double clears.

Deauville GP Podium:

1. Olivier Robert (FRA) - Iglesias D.V. (0 faults, 41.57s)

2. Roy van Beek (BEL) - Cavoiro-H OLD (0 faults, 42.25s)

3. Nicole Holmén (SWE) - Oh Sissi (0 faults, 42.35s)

Speed and Precision: Abdel Saïd grabbed a thrilling win in the Paris Eiffel Challenge with Bonne Amie, describing his mare perfectly: "a bit like a G-Wagon with a Ferrari engine." The victory came after shaving just two-tenths off Max Kühner's leading time.

Industry News

Regulatory Updates: US Equestrian has strengthened horse collapse protocols—any horse that collapses is now automatically barred for seven days minimum and must pass a vet check before returning. No more subjective decisions in pressure situations.

Horse Retirements: Can Ya Makan of Shane Breens stable was honored with a retirement ceremony at Hickstead this week.

Market Watch: The summer auction season is heating up with multiple online sales scheduled for late June, including Youhorse.auction and the Schockemoehle Online Auction. The market for quality horses appears robust.

Looking Ahead

All eyes turn to Spruce Meadows next week for the 'Pan American' tournament, the only 5* action on the calendar. The $350,000 AON Grand Prix is the headline act, with Anderson Lima making his debut as the lead 5* course designer at the iconic Calgary venue. Should be fascinating to see how his Mexican style translates to the legendary Spruce Meadows facility.

The other major action centers around Budapest, where they're hosting both World Cup jumping and the FEI Nations Cup as part of their CSIO3*. This is crucial for World Cup qualifying points and another chance for nations to fine-tune their team combinations.

Stateside, we've got solid 4* action at WEC Ocala in Florida—always produces good sport in that summer heat. Meanwhile, the historic Lake Placid show in New York hosts CSI3* competition in what's traditionally one of the more scenic stops on the American circuit.

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spruce Meadows 'Pan American'

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WEC Ocala Summer Series

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Budapest CSIO3* World Cup & Nations Cup

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lake Placid Horse Show

Rating: 8.2/10

What a week of sport! Thomas extending his championship lead with such dominance in Paris was the perfect combination of technical excellence and tactical brilliance. The GCL drama with the Warriors' strategic masterclass, Cook ending the American drought in Rotterdam, and that absolutely bonkers Dutch victory in the League of Nations—you couldn't script it better.

From Gregory Bodo's masterful course design in Paris to Bart Vonck's creative challenges in Rotterdam, this was show jumping at its absolute finest. When you get storylines this compelling across multiple continents, you know you're watching something special.

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