Teams announced for new show-jumping league

Scott Brash is one of the stars who will be competing in the new show-jumping league

The 12 teams for the inaugural Global Champions League (GCL) season have been announced today, marking the start of a new era in show jumping.

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.

A star-studded list of athletes from different countries will be united on teams for the first time in this innovative new format, which include riders Scott Brash and Kent Farrington.

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.

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.

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 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.

Frank H. McCourt, Jr. Co-Founder Global Champions League and Chairman and CEO of McCourt Global, said: "Against the backdrop of the world's most exciting destinations, this innovative competition will take show jumping to unprecedented heights as it draws new fans, new athletes, and new sponsors from across the globe. Thanks to its unique format, the Global Champions League will provide riders with more opportunities to compete at the highest levels against the very best in the sport.

The teams are named: Miami Glory, Antwerp Diamonds, Madrid in Motion, Shanghai Swans, Cannes Stars, Monoco Aces, Paris Jets, Cascals Charms, Valkenswaard United, Rome Gladiators, Vienna Eagles, Doha Fursan Qatar