Top Takeaways from LGCT Miami Beach 2023
Despite an altered schedule due to the challenging weather conditions in Florida, the LGCT of Miami Beach offered a thrilling weekend of sport.
Torrential rains at the start of the week made it so that the Global Champions League would be run over just one round of showjumping in Miami Beach.
No opportunity for a schooling round in what is already considered one of the trickiest arenas to jump in, combined with a tough 160 track saw but few horse-and-rider combinations cross the finish line on a clean penalty sheet. Four teams finished on a team score of eight penalties and ultimately it was their combined time that decided who was to step on the podium. This is only the second time in the history of Global Champions Tour that the leading team has finished on 8 faults after one round of GCL, the first being in Cannes 2017.
Just nine combinations from 53 entries managed to produce a clear round. Evidently still in his winning ways from the previous weekend, Henrik von Eckermann took the individual win on GLAMOUR GIRL. Other clean rounds were produced by some of the favourites like the highest-rated horse in the field, H&M INDIANA. MOM’S TOUPIE DE LA ROQUE and the ever-so consistent GCL performer SOLID GOLD Z also left all rails in the cups. Maikel van der Vleuten is sure to be very satisfied from his trip to Miami Beach. Together with the star of his stable BEAUVILLE N.O.P. Z, the Olympic and World Championship bronze medalists put their best foot forward by producing a lovely clear in GCL and help their team Madrid in Motion secure the win. The following day, Maikel and Beauville N.O.P. Z came out again firing on all cylinders to produce another double clear to step onto the third spot on the podium in the LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach.
The LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach was of course the highlight of the weekend with electrifying sport. The previous year, Katrin Eckermann and the then just nine-year-old CALA MANDIA shocked the crowd by unexpectedly taking the win. This year they returned with slightly more pressure and expectation to do well. The pair proved they could handle it with ease and took their second consecutive LGCT Grand Prix victory in Miami Beach. This is is only the 7th time in the history of Longines Global Champions Tour that a rider manages to score back-to-back LGCT Grand Prix victories at the same venue.