Four clear rounds gave New York Empire a faultless victory at the Global Champions League in Rome. Yet Riesenbeck International’s second-place finish could prove just as significant, leaving the championship leaders within touching distance of the 2026 title.
New York Empire won the battle in Rome. Riesenbeck International might soon win the war.
The 2026 GCL Rome competition produced a convincing victory for New York Empire powered by Lugano, who completed all four team rounds without a single fault. It was precisely the sort of performance that makes an unforgiving sport look suspiciously straightforward.
Behind them, however, Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym were quietly collecting something potentially more valuable than another winner’s trophy: championship security.
Their second-place finish extended their advantage at the top of the Global Champions League standings to 45 points. With two stages remaining, a top-six finish in Cairo would guarantee them the championship, regardless of what their rivals manage.
Rome belonged to New York. The season is increasingly looking like Riesenbeck’s.
New York Empire deliver four clears when it matters
There was little ambiguity about the winning performance.
Denis Lynch and Michael Pender established New York Empire’s advantage in the opening round, both jumping clear to leave their team as the only combination sitting on zero faults.
With ten teams advancing to the second round, that was an enviable position. It also meant there was no need for elaborate calculations or desperate attempts to recover lost ground.
Lynch returned aboard Chicago and produced another clear before Bertram Allen completed the job with Pacino Amiro.
Four rounds. Four clears. Zero faults.
Allen was understandably delighted with the performance and the contribution of his teammates.
“What a great day for New York Empire. Winning in Rome is always special, but to do it with four clear rounds makes it even better. The whole team has done an incredible job, and Denis and Michael really set us up perfectly in the first round, so I knew I just had to go in and finish the job. Pacino Amiro jumped brilliantly, and it’s a fantastic feeling to get this result for Georgina and everyone involved. With just two stages left, these points are really valuable. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into Cairo and finish the season on a high.”
The victory was particularly useful given New York Empire’s position in the championship. They now sit just seven points behind second-placed Istanbul Warriors, making the fight immediately below Riesenbeck considerably more interesting.
Riesenbeck turn four faults into a valuable second place
If New York Empire supplied the day’s polish, Riesenbeck demonstrated the importance of managing a championship over an entire season.
Philipp Weishaupt’s opening round aboard Oreo D.R. brought four faults, although Marco Kutscher kept the team firmly in contention with a clear on PIK EUR Lemar NRW.
The second round was considerably cleaner.
Kutscher repeated his clear-round performance, while Weishaupt returned aboard Callao L and also finished without a fault.
Their four-fault aggregate secured second place and another 25 championship points.
It was not quite the unblemished performance delivered by New York Empire, but Riesenbeck had little reason to complain.
Weishaupt acknowledged the importance of the result without assuming the championship was already settled.
“We’re really happy with second place today. As Marco said, at this stage of the season it’s all about the Championship, and these points are incredibly important for us. There are still two stages to go and we know anything can happen, so we have to stay focused.”
The distinction matters. A stage victory is an immediate reward. A championship requires consistency over months, including afternoons when somebody else happens to be better.
Riesenbeck have positioned themselves remarkably well for that longer contest.
The GCL championship standings tell their own story
Following Stage 13 in Rome, Riesenbeck International lead the championship on 267 points.
Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team remain second with 222, followed by New York Empire on 215.
Basel Cosmopolitans powered by Les Trois Rois occupy fourth with 203 points, while Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team complete the leading five on 195.
The important figure is the 45-point separation between the first two teams.
With a maximum of 30 points available at each of the remaining stages, Riesenbeck now have a route to the championship that does not depend on anybody else’s results.
Finish sixth or better in Cairo and they will be crowned 2026 GCL Champions with one stage to spare.
Even maximum points for Istanbul Warriors in Cairo would not prevent that outcome.
There is still room for an awkward afternoon to complicate matters, of course. Showjumping has never been particularly interested in respecting a comfortable spreadsheet.
For Istanbul and New York, the calculation is less forgiving. Both need strong results, and both require Riesenbeck to leave an opening.
Istanbul Warriors recover as the chasing pack jostle for position
Istanbul Warriors did enough in Rome to retain second place in the overall standings, although their afternoon required a recovery.
Abdel Saïd opened with a clear aboard Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z, but Simon Delestre collected eight faults on Gatsby du Tillard.
The response in Round 2 was impressive.
Delestre returned with Gatsby du Tillard and jumped clear, while Saïd also finished fault-free aboard Wathnan Calvaro.
Their eight-fault total secured third place.
Basel Cosmopolitans finished fourth, helped by second-round clears from Harry Allen on Edison de Hus and Zascha Nygaard aboard Com’on Drako de Maugre. They collected 19 championship points.
Riyadh Knights took fifth ahead of Shanghai Swans in sixth, Mexico Amigos in seventh and Prague Lions in eighth. St Tropez Pirates and Doha Falcons completed the top ten.
For several teams, the competition had effectively ended much earlier.
Only ten progressed beyond the opening round, leaving Valkenswaard United, Cannes Stars, Madrid in Motion, Rome Gladiators, Monaco Aces and Cairo Pharaohs eliminated.
The home team, Rome Gladiators powered by Cavalleria Toscana, finished their opening round with 20 faults. Cairo Pharaohs endured an even more difficult outing, accumulating 40.
Cairo could settle the championship before Rabat
The Global Champions League now moves to Cairo, Egypt, from 22–24 October for the penultimate stage of the 2026 campaign.
The setting beside the Pyramids of Giza offers a remarkable backdrop, but the sporting significance is considerably more substantial than the scenery.
Riesenbeck can secure the title there. Istanbul Warriors need to protect second place while attempting to reduce the leaders’ advantage. New York Empire arrive with a Rome victory and an opportunity to continue closing the gap.
The final stage in Rabat remains on the calendar, but Riesenbeck may render its championship implications rather less dramatic.
For now, New York Empire have every reason to enjoy a flawless afternoon in the Eternal City.
Riesenbeck, meanwhile, head to Egypt knowing that perfection is no longer necessary.
Sixth place will do.
