They have broken all records this season: No team has ever won as much in the Global Champions League as the Riesenbeck International team. Six stages have been decided for Philipp Weishaupt, Christian Kukuk, Eoin McMahon, Philipp Schulze Topphoff, Patrick Stühlmeyer, Jane Richard and of course Ludger Beerbaum this season. That has never happened before.
Even in the final stage, Philipp Weishaupt and his vice European champion Zineday (by Zinedine) and Eoin McMahon with Mila (by Monte Bellini) did not let up. Although they still kept things exciting in Riyadh with just three points ahead of the Paris Panthers.
Eoin McMahon had mounted Mila and a pole came down under floodlights on Friday evening. Philipp Weishaupt and Zineday were therefore under pressure; the Paris Panthers were chasing second place with eight penalty points. But Weishaupt remained cool as usual and steered the nine-year-old fox through the course flawlessly. In the end, the Riesenbeck International team won with four errors and were awarded the Longines Global Champions League crown for 2023.
„I’m absolutely happy but also exhausted. All the tension is now gone,“ said Philipp Weishaupt, visibly exhausted but happy about the great triumph after his ride. „Huge, huge compliments to the whole team. I couldn’t be more proud!“ Ludger Beerbaum also applauded.
Because not everything went according to plan for the team this season. After a foot injury for Philipp in the spring, an injury to Ludger Beerbaum and Eoin McMahon, the team was weakened. On the other hand, Christian Kukuk was very consistent for Team Riesenbeck International, who, although he did not start in the team in Riyadh this time, won the individual classification with Checker (v. Comme il Faut). Likewise, Philipp Schulze Topphoff delivered a strong performance for Team Riesenbeck International. Just as Patrick Stühlmeyer and Jane Richard did.
The entire final result of the GCL: HERE