Cannes, France – April 03, 2025 – Cannes Stars, powered by Iron Dames are showing strong determination as they continue their 2025 season following their triumph in the 2024 championship. After securing a victory in the first leg in Doha, the all-female team set their sights on Mexico City with a clear goal: to maintain their momentum and deliver another solid result. With only a single rail down in the second round, Cannes Stars finished in second place, further solidifying their lead in the Global Champions League (GCL) standings.

Natalie Dean on Acota M and Katrin Eckermann with Chao Lee made a stellar start in the first round on GCL day in the vibrant city of Mexico. Both riders executed fast and clear rounds, putting the team in a prime position for the second round. In the challenging 1.60m second round, Katrin jumped another clear round with Iron Dames Cala Mandia. Unfortunately, Sanne Thijssen and Con Quidam RB had a rail down in the triple combination, resulting in a 4-point total. This secured the team’s second-place finish, just behind the Shanghai Swans.

Meanwhile, the Monaco Comets made a strong start in round one, with Edwina Tops-Alexander on Corelli des Mies and Jörne Sprehe on Toys both jumping clear over the 1.55m course. However, in the second round, both riders returned with different horses. Jörne and Sprehe Hot Easy kept a clean slate, while Edwina and Fellow Castlefield had two rails down. With a total of 8 points, the team finished in sixth place. The Monaco Comets Powered by Iron Dames are currently in fourth place in the overall GCL standings.

In just one month, both Iron Dames teams will head to Shanghai, China, where the Cannes Stars will aim to extend their lead, and the Monaco Comets will look to climb the standings.

NATALIE DEAN
“I am really happy with how Acota M jumped today and you could really feel the team spirit from both of the Iron Dames teams today! We are very excited to have back-to-back podium finishes, it’s a long season but we are off to a great start!”

KATRIN ECKERMANN
“I have to say that both my horses have jumped great today and with the team spirit, it’s a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my rounds. It’s still very early in the season, but the feeling is really good. We are a strong team and now also with the Monaco Comets, it’s so nice to come all together and share these moments together. It’s giving all of us a strong feeling. It’s something very special that Deborah created, and I think we are all enjoying it.”

SANNE THIJSSEN
“I actually have a double feeling coming out of this round. Of course I’m really happy with the second place for the team today, but I also feel like I was very unlucky out there having that one fence down. It was such a light touch and we could touch it ten more times and it won’t fall, but this time unfortunately it fell. Natalie and Katrin did an amazing job today with their clear rounds. We show that we are a strong team and I hope we can keep it up like this for the rest of the season.”

About the Iron Dames:

Founded in 2018 by Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames is a groundbreaking project that empowers women to compete on equal terms with men in mixed-gender fields. The project made its beginnings in motorsport, becoming the first all-female line-up to win an FIA World Endurance Championship race in 2023. It has since expanded to a 16-driver line-up, contesting a range of disciplines including single seaters, rallying and karting.

The project is developing year-on-year, with Iron Dames Young Talents nurturing the next generation of female racers in grassroots motorsport and the expansion in equestrian with 12 top riders competing in the prestigious Global Champions League, where the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames became the first all-female team to win the GCL championship. In 2024, the team’s core values took on new significance with the educational and inspirational ‘Meet the Iron Dames’ and ‘Every Dream Matters’ initiatives.  

“Women driven by dreams”: the Iron Dames motto applies to all women who break down barriers and go beyond their limits.

Source: Press Release from Iron Dames Equestrian

Photos: © Iron Dames Equestrian

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