In this week’s international showjumping news round-up we celebrate big wins for British riders Amanda Derbyshire and Jessica Mendoza. A shout out also to photographer Mackenzie Clark/FEI for capturing this remarkable chestnut stallion in mid-flight (above). There’s no way Ikigai was touching a pole this week! His rider Alex Matz reveals the best advice for aspiring young riders is to “watch and try to learn from the best – it’s free!”. Hats off to you, Alex, a top tip indeed.

Also this week, we are loving the fact Sophie Hinner has just won her first World Cup qualifier a week after her boyfriend Richard Vogel landed the previous leg in Lyon. That’s #couplegoals right there.

Read on for this week’s round-up of international showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: hat-trick winner credits “free” tips after last-minute call-up

US showjumper Alex Matz, 28, had a last-minute call to attend this year’s Royal Horse Show in Toronto, Canada, but he was handsomely rewarded with a remarkable five-star winning treble, including his first ever Longines FEI World Cup qualifier with the sensational flying chestnut Ikigai, who certainly wasn’t going to touch a pole this week.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said Alex, who produced the only double clear with the Dutch-bred Elvis Der Putte stallion. “I knew I had to give it my all because I had really fast riders behind me.

Ikigai came from Alex’s former employer Jos Lansink three years ago and their partnership has exceeded all expectations.

“Jos said he had quite a special horse but I didn’t really believe him,” said Alex. “Then I sat on him and he was like nothing I’d ever sat on.”

An injury last year put Ikigai on the sidelines for nearly a year, but in recent months the pair have been producing some of their biggest and most consistent results yet.

“He’s come back better than I could have ever imagined,” said Alex, whose father, US Olympic medallist Michael Matz, won the grand prix at The Royal in 1977. “I’m really proud because I’ve told everybody how good he is, but I think a lot of people didn’t believe me until recently. Now he’s proved it.”

Alex’s other two wins in Toronto came with the “phenomenal” 16-year-old Cashew CR, aka Monkey, whom he said it is a “privilege” to ride.

“You go to big shows and watch better riders to learn from them – it’s one big cycle,” he said. “McLain Ward, King Farrington, Conor Swail… those are three people in the top 10 in the world, why wouldn’t you watch and try to learn from them? It’s free!”

British showjumper Jessica Mendoza produced some eye-catching results at the show, including victory in the Brickenden Trophy on I-Cap CL Z, and Daniel Coyle’s partner Incredible, owned by Ariel Grange, was awarded the All-Canadian Cup for the leading Canadian-owned horse.

• CSI5*-W Toronto results

Showjumping boyfriend and girlfriend score back-to-back World Cups #couplegoals

Just a week after Sophie Hinners’ partner Richard Vogel won the Lyon leg of the Longines FEI World Cup, the 26-year-old landed victory of her own in Verona, Italy, riding the 12-year-old gelding Iron Dames My Prins.

“This is really something very special. I had it in my mind after Rich’s win last week how cool it would be if I could win this week, but I didn’t believe it could happen,” she said.

This is Sophie’s debut World Cup season but she beat Olympians Ben Maher (Point Break) and Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42) to the top spot.

While Sophie was in action in Italy, her boyfriend Rich Vogel also continued his winning form, landing the $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge riding the eight-year-old Levi Noesar (Zirocco Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet).

CSI5*-W Verona results

Showjumping news: Amanda Derbyshire wins $100,000 grand prix

US-based British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire bookended the grand prix podium on the CSI2* Split Rock Jumping Tour in Aiken, USA. She won with Cornwall BH and tied for third with Zadora, dead-heating with fellow Brit Grace Debney riding Jesprit HS.

• Split Rock Jumping Tour results

Arriba Harry Charles! Brit comes close in big money class in Mexico

Flying the British flag far and wide, Harry Charles and Casquo Blue finished third in the CSI5* La Silla grand prix in Mexico. The winner was home rider Andres Azcarraga on Contendros 2 but barely a second separated the top four riders after the 12-way second round.

• CSI5* La Silla results

A bucket list win for Smolders

And finally in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, Dutch showjumper Harrie Smolders won the CSI4* grand prix of Maastricht with 12-year-old Toulon gelding Mr Tac. In a thrilling jump-off, he beat Laura Kraut (Bisquetta) and Pieter Devos (Primo DV) to the top of the podium.

“Jumping Indoor Maastricht is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric competitions in the Netherlands,” he said. “It has four-star status but radiates five-star quality.

“Indoor competitions seem to suit Mr Tac well. The length of his stride to the last jump was amazing – he really stretches out.”

• Jumping Indoor Maastricht results
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Spruce Meadows in Canada is like a second home to British showjumper Matt Sampson, and he headlines this week’s international showjumping news round-up after landing the venue’s CSI5* grand prix with great partner Daniel.

We also celebrate a landmark first LGCT win for Olivier Philippaerts in Sweden. Read on for this week’s highlights of international showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: “If I were a horse, I would wish I was Daniel”

British showjumper Matt Sampson is enjoying another stellar season at Spruce Meadows, Canada, winning two CSI5* classes with 11-year-old mare One Whisper, but this week it was the turn of 16-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion Daniel, with whom he triumphed in Sunday’s 1.60m Pan American Cup presented by Rolex. Afterwards, Matt made an emotional tribute to “one of the most incredible horses” he has ever worked with, having teamed up together last year.

“I feel like it meant so much for Daniel to win,” said 34-year-old Matt, who immediately took congratulatory phone calls from his mother Ruth and girlfriend Kara Chad. “He deserves it. If I were a horse, I would wish I was him. He’s one of the most incredible horses I’ve ever had. I feel like, when we don’t win, it’s always my fault, so to win today feels amazing. It’s a dream come true.”

• Spruce Meadows results

A dream comes true in Stockholm

After four seconds and two thirds during his career, Belgium showjumper Olivier Philippaerts finally landed his first Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) grand prix in Stockholm, Sweden, with H&M Miro. This victory also came with a ticket to the Super Grand Prix in Riyadh in November. It was also a milestone first podium for runner-up Wilma Hellström for the home side riding the one-eyed Cicci Bjn.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of,” said Olivier, following in the footsteps of his father Ludo and brother Nicola in achieving LGCT success. “I’ve been trying many, many times and finished second a few times but I have been thinking that hopefully one day I can pull it off. To do it in Stockholm, in front of all this crowd, in front of all the people from H&M that support us all the time, is something I’ve dreamed of.

“The most important thing for all of us is to work together – the people that work at home and at the show really work together to achieve these things, so today we are going to really enjoy it.”

Claiming third was Jérôme Guery riding the phenomenal 18-year-old stallion Quel Homme De Hus, back from injury and in the form of his life.

• LGCT Stockholm results

International showjumping news: a borrowed horse and a “naughty child”

At the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, the CSI4* Florida Coast Equipment grand prix went to USA rider Aaron Vale, who borrowed Gray’s Inn from his wife Mallory and won.

“I know the horse and see him every day, but she does 95% of the riding,” said Aaron, whose wife has been riding Gray’s Inn since the 10-year-old warmblood gelding was six. “It was her idea, she’s been asking me for a long time, ‘Do you want my horse?’ and I always said no.

“She’s been doing so well with him and knocking on the door. But this week, I didn’t have a horse, so she told me I was showing her horse – and the rest is history.”

Amanda Derbyshire continued her winning ways at the venue with success in the CSI2* grand prix qualifier on Cornwall BH.

“There were a couple of options to leave out, which I was a little unsure of, especially after watching the first rider,” said the US-based British rider, who also picked up placings with Renkum Oriana and new ride Vogue. “Cornwall BH is like my naughty child! It took me five years to win a class on him. He’s 16 now and I’ve had him since he was eight, but he’s been an incredible partner and always tries to leave the jumps up. Now that he’s older, we pick and choose our classes. In the past couple of weeks, he’s placed second, first and now another win. I couldn’t be prouder of him and our team – it takes a big village, and I couldn’t do it without them.”

• WEC results

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In this week’s international showjumping news round-up, Irish showjumper Mikey Pender enjoyed an outstanding run of success, while Amanda Derbyshire posted a winning streak of her own, including on a very exciting new stallion.

This was a week where a strong Irish contingent was absolutely flying, but so was Guy Williams in Spain. Read on for our weekly round-up of showjumping news from around the globe, plus results.

Showjumping news: Pender’s week to remember

Irish showjumper Mikey Pender saluted the crowd in delight after his flying finish on his great partner HHS Calais secured victory in the Longines CSI5*-W grand prix at the HH Sharjah Ruler Cup in the UAE. This victory with the Bravo Hughes-owned son of Cavalier Royale, bred in Ireland by Ita Brennan, sealed a marvellous run of success for the 24-year-old Hickstead Derby-winning rider.

Mikey started the week by filling the top two placings in the grand prix qualifier, topping the leaderboard on HHS Calais and slotting into second on Al Shira’aa Stables’ 10-year-old stallion Chacco Bay. Mikey went on to win Sunday’s winning round on Chacco Blue, before triumphing on his Rome Nations Cup and Riyadh grand prix winner HHS Calais after a formidable 14-way jump-off.

“I went over there for six weeks, building up the horses, and that was the perfect way to end,” said Mikey, who was part of Ireland’s second-placed team in the new Longines League of Nations the week before on Calais. “You’re going there to win those big five-star grands prix, so to pull it off on a horse who is in great shape, jumping well, is what it’s all about.

“He jumped very well the week before in the League of Nations so I was quite hopeful.

“Chacco Bay jumped his first five-star grand prix last week – he had two down but I was very happy with how he jumped – then he was second on the first day here and won his 1.55m on Sunday. So he improved and he felt like he jumped even better – he’s very exciting.”

Continuing the Irish domination, Hickstead-based Shane Breen and home-bred Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) finished third to Mikey with a super double clear in the horse’s first five-star grand prix and Shane won Saturday’s speed class with 16-year-old Z7 Ipswich.

• HH Sharjah Ruler Cup results

Amanda Derbyshire’s horse-buying trip pays off

US-based British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire claimed a string of national and international wins on her first visit to TerranNova Equestrian Center, Florida, combining a horse-buying trip with a bucketful of success in the ring. As well as national success, Amanda claimed a 1.45m victory on Otto BH before heading the grand prix with the 12-year-old and finishing third with a new ride, the eight-year-old stallion Destine To Be.

“It was fast today,” said Amanda after the grand prix. “There were 13 in the jump-off so I knew speed was going to matter. I did one stride less to the double, he’s got a big stride and he’s careful, and it all worked out in my favour.

“It was Destine’s first FEI week so I’m probably more excited about him, that was a fast double clear stepping up.”

• CSI2* Myakka City results

Showjumping news: first grand prix victory is “everything and more”

Making the showjumping news headlines at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala, Florida, was Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro, posting a first ever grand prix victory riding H5 Sporthorses’ H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z. Rain couldn’t dampen the competitive spirit in the CSI3* $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida grand prix over tracks set by Colm Quinn.

“My trainer Eduardo Menezes told me there were only five in the jump-off so I might as well go for it,” said Carlos. “We wanted to test the horse a little bit. He’s still green, and this was his first real big jump-off. My horse is very fast naturally, you just let him go and he is just eager to canter forward.

“He’s an amazing horse,” he added. “I got him as a seven-year-old who was quite green. He was produced by a very young rider from Belgium, who took him to the children’s European Championships then to the Belgium national championships at 1.45m. We saw him there and purchased him shortly after.

“From then on, he’s just done everything and more that we’ve asked of him. We stepped up to this level last year and he’s had a few good placings, but never in the podium and never a win, so I couldn’t be happier with him. He did everything and more out there tonight.”

In second was Daniel Coyle on new ride Incredible, with third place going to another Irish representative in Tom Wachman on Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z. Tom had won Thursday’s grand prix qualifier on Cathalina S and had simultaneously been competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival, where he won an under-25 class on nine-year-old mare Obora’s Laura.

A career best win for a little mare with a big heart at WEF

There was no stopping the Irish in this week’s showjumping news and it was Philip McGuane on board the Evergate Stables’ Orphea HQ who recorded a career best in the Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge Cup, held on the grass Derby field.

“Philip has developed a really strong partnership with Orphea,” said owner Nayel Nassar of the mare who has been with Evergate Stables since a seven-year-old. “It’s been really cool to see him come into his element, get more competitive, and dig in for these kinds of classes because we always knew he was capable.”

Philip joined Evergate Stables to produce their young horses after riding for Switzerland’s Beat Mandli and US rider Katie Dinan.

“Orphea is not very big herself, but she has a big heart,” he said of the Emerald mare. “She knows where the jumps are, and as long as I don’t make a mistake she’s always there. I just need to get her anywhere near the jumps to be honest.”

• WEF results

Spanish success: Ernie flies to victory

On week two of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, one of the show’s big winners was Guy Williams, who landed Sunday’s CSI4* medium tour grand prix on the 12-year-old Emerald son, Ernie Of Greenhill Z. On the Moura Tour in Valencia, Sandy McLean scored in a 1.45m with his great partner Gino F.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

When Shane Breen won last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal International with the stunning grey mare Haya, we were instantly smitten. But now she’s proved she’s competitive at the highest level, finishing second in her five-star grand prix debut – to the mighty combination of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, no less.

Closer to home, there was an emotional victory for Billy Twomey and the “freakishly” talented stallion Chat Botte ED, who was owned by the late Sue Davis, in the CSI3* grand prix at Bolesworth International. Read on for all this week’s international showjumping news and results.

‘It took the best combination in the world to beat us!’

The €480,000 Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Stockholm was won by home hero Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, but chasing them home just 0.06sec slower was Shane Breen riding his 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Haya, who was making her five-star grand prix debut. Marcus Ehning and Stargold finished third.

Shane described the stunning grey mare as having “The heart of a lion, the mind of a professor”.

“I’ve been riding her a lot in speed classes, so I knew she was pretty quick,” said Shane. “But I thought to get on the podium would be amazing, to win would just be another dream. To come second, I am absolutely over the moon.

“It took the best combination in the world to beat us!”

Scott Brash and Hello Mr President also secured a win at the five-star show.

• LGCT Stockholm results

British victory at Spruce Meadows

Team GB rider Amanda Derbyshire landed the 1.50m RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m class at Spruce Meadows riding the stallion Otto BG.

“It’s a whole different ball game out there in the international ring,” said Amanda. “It very much reminds me of Aachen and Hickstead – big famous rings – and it’s very special to ride in them.”

Second-placed Conor Swail also secured a 1.45m win of his own with Gamble, who has a 42% top-10 strike rate in 1.40m-plus classes, while his countryman Darragh Kenny braved the rain to win with Chic Chic, as well as the CSI2* grand prix on Vancouver Dreams.

“It was a great day, I haven’t been to Spruce Meadows in probably four or five years and it’s a fantastic facility,” said Darragh. “The rainy weather didn’t bother me.”

• Spruce Meadows results

Nations Cup thriller

The defending champions in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup series, Belgium, won in Sopot, Poland, just beating first-round leaders Argentina, who are bidding for Olympic qualification, by one point. Germany and Switzerland finished third and fourth, separated only by time.

“The most nervous of all today was me,” said chef d’equipe Peter Weinburg. “They kept their nerve and produced brilliant round after another and that’s how we won.”

• Sopot results

Showjumping news: ‘Luck was on my side’

Shane Sweetnam won the $100,000 CSI3* 1.50m Lugano Diamonds grand prix on the Split Rock Jumping Tour with the fastest of only two double clears round Alan Wade’s track with new ride Gilona AO.

“Today, luck was on my side, so I knew what I had to do and I was able to execute it,” said Shane.

A poignant Bolesworth victory

Ireland’s Billy Twomey won the CSI3* Cavago grand prix at the Bolesworth International with the “freakishly” talented 15-year-old stallion Chat Botte ED, owned by the late Sue Davies.

“He is an outstanding jumper who’s always been freakish over a fence,” said Billy of his breeding stallion, who finished ahead of countryman Jonathan Smyth on Mulvin Lui, with Guy Williams third on Ernie Of Greenhill Z for Great Britain.

“It’s an emotional win. Bolesworth is only 20 minutes from Pewit Hall, where Sue used to live. I sometimes pick up my phone and have to stop myself from trying to call her, as I always called her after a win. She was a huge supporter of mine for 22 years, which is almost unheard of in our sport.”

• Bolesworth results

You can read all the showjumping news, including the full report from Bolesworth International, in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 22 June.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The summer season is reaching a crescendo across the Atlantic, with a string of top level shows in Canada and USA at the moment with showjumping results coming thick and fast, but there’s plenty of action in Europe too. This week we saw a rare tie for top honours in a five-star grand prix, a rider having to improvise with a fast plan B after losing a stirrup in a jump-off, an oversized pony finding the winning formula and the return of Ben Maher’s World Championship star Faltic HB in a nail-biting jump-off.

Here is your weekly round-up of international sporting action from the world of showjumping over the past few days, as well as this week’s showjumping results.

Who needs two stirrups anyway?

In the final CSI5* class at the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) of Rome at the Circus Maximus, Christian Ahlmann and the stallion Solid Gold Z (pictured below) triumphed – despite the rider losing a stirrup en route and having to improvise during his jump-off round. Christian executed a miraculous rollback after his foot slipped out of the stirrup at the third fence from home.

“I had to do one or two extra strides than I planned,” said the German rider, who still bolted home 0.91sec faster than runner-up Malin Baryard-Johnsson of Sweden riding the brilliantly named Harley Davidson in a six-way jump-off. “He is an unbelievable horse, an unbelievable fighter and I’m so pleased everyone can see how special he is.”

• Showjumping results from the 1.50m jump-off class at the LGCT Rome

A historic dead heat and incredible winning streak for Matt Sampson

Very rarely will a top-level grand prix result in a dead heat, but at the Continental CSI5*/2* tournament at Spruce Meadows, Canada, Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and British rider Matt Sampson shared the spoils after both riders stopped the clock on exactly 38sec in Sunday’s Friends of the Meadows grand prix presented by Rolex (pictured below). A field of 20 combinations representing eight nations tackled Anthony D’Ambrosio’s track with seven making it through to the jump-off. Riding Imerald Van’t Voorhof, Paul set the lightning-quick target for Matt to chase and he and the great mare Ebolensky flew off in hot pursuit, posting the exact same time. This was the first time in Spruce Meadows history that there were two winners of a five-star grand prix.

“We love Spruce Meadows, to be able to jump in the big grass fields before next week [CSIO5* Masters tournament] and have this result builds confidence,” said Matt. Paul added: “This is a big grand prix in itself, I’m very happy to be here and to have this opportunity ahead of next week.”

This win was the icing on the cake for a jubilant Matt, who is enjoying an incredible winning streak, having also claimed victory this week in the 1.45m CSI2* grand prix with Rachel Evison’s Curraghgraigue Obos Flight, a 1.40m on Evora BJX and Thursday’s 1.50m class riding Fabrice DN, with several other placings too. Well done Matt!

• Spruce Meadows Continental tournament showjumping results

The secret to one “quirky” multi-winning horse? A ‘support human’

US showjumper Kristen Vanderveen landed the speed stakes at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on a big-striding horse with “a quirky personality”, Bull Run’s Prince of Peace.

“It’s great to be back at the Hampton Classic,” she said. “My plan was actually to go all-out on my second horse, Faustino, but today it paid off to stay a little conservative. Prince of Peace is also a really fast horse, so I didn’t have to go all-out with him.”

“He’s quite the character,” she said of the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He’s taken me a bit of time to figure out. He’s got a quirky personality, so he’s a little special in the barn. He always likes to have his groom with him; we call it ‘needing his support human.’ But he’s won many classes over the years and been great. He’s done speed classes and grands prix, and it’s nice to have a horse that I can use in both divisions.”

• Hampton Classic results

Faltic HB is back!

One of the heroes of Great Britain’s bronze medal-winning squad from last month’s World Showjumping Championships, Ben Maher’s ride Faltic HB, was back in action this week, competing at the LGCT of Rome. Ben and the Oakingham Stud’s stallion blitzed round clear in 43.35sec to finish a very close second to victor Christian Kukuk riding the impressive stallion Mumbai in Saturday’s grand prix. The victorious German rider picked up one of the last remaining golden tickets to this year’s prestigious LGCT Super Grand Prix at the Prague Playoffs in November.

Taking third after a thrilling 12-way jump-off was Marlon Zanotelli riding Like A Diamond Van Het Schaeck, just ahead of world champion Henrik von Eckermann with his potential superstar mare Iliana. The recent LGCT London winner, Pieter Devos and Mom’s Toupie De La Roque finished fifth while another Brit, Jodie Hall McAteer rode another brilliant double clear with Salt’N Peppa (H&H‘s Spotlight star in this week’s magazine, in the shops 8 September) to finish seventh.

“This means everything to me,” said Christian, who is based at the stables of Ludger Beerbaum. “I have put enormous effort into this sport and all the horses, especially Mumbai, over the past 10 years since I started at Ludger’s and I always dream about winning one of these LGCT grands prix.

“I just realised that the breeder of Mumbai is here and it is her birthday – I think the day was just made for us. My groom has always said ‘I want to win one of these grands prix and I want to be in Prague for the Super Grand Prix’ and I said ‘I will try my best’. Today it worked out – it means a lot to us.”

Ben Maher has closed in on leader Christian Ahlmann in the championship standings; now just six points separate the two contenders as they head to the next round in New York this month before the final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October.

• LGCT grand prix of Rome results

“Big pony with a big heart” jumps to victory

At the 2022 Hampton Classic Horse Show at Bridgehampton, NY, Amanda Derbyshire triumphed in Friday’s CSI2* grand prix qualifier riding Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Wonder If (main image above).

“I’ve had ‘Juicy’ since the start of Florida this year,” said Amanda of the 10-year-old British-bred Cevin Z mare, formerly produced by Emma McGlynn. “She’s the most awesome horse. She’s literally a big pony with a really big heart. She’s been nothing but perfect since we got her and is the nicest, friendliest horse. Every time you go into the ring, you know she’s going to try for you, and it’s such a good feeling to have. Even though she’s little and doesn’t have the biggest stride, she makes up for it by being really fast and economical over the jumps. The owner, Becky, was also here to watch today, and it’s just amazing. She’s my biggest supporter, and I will always be grateful to her.”

Sunday’s $410,000 Hampton Classic five-star grand prix was won by Karl Cook with Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet.

• Showjumping results from Hampton Classic

“What a horse”

At the CSI3* Bemer Riders Tour at Lier, Belgium, Great Britain’s Robert Whitaker was in the money, claiming a victory in Friday’s 1.50m grand prix qualifier riding Caroline Blatchford’s 13-year-old Evert after a quality field of 13 jumped off against the clock.

“What a horse,” said Robert, who went on to finish 10th to Frenchman Mathieu Billot (Darling De L’Angevine) in the 1.55m feature class and also finished in the money at the show with Vermento.

• Showjumping results from CSI3* Lier

London Knights win GCL of Rome

The duo of Mike Kawai and Sam Hutton helped GCL team London Knights to their first podium of the season at the Rome leg on Saturday (3 September).

“This feeling is actually amazing because I have always wanted to be on top of the podium in the GCL and to win the class feels incredible – we finally did it!” said Mike, who is trained by Jan Tops and rode Goldwin, a former mount of Laura Kraut, in Rome.

Sam, who was riding the London stallion Oak Grove’s Laith at only their second show together, added: “We really stuck together as a team. Abdel Said was there helping us and it was a great feeling. We are going to be fighting for a top-four finish that is for sure. When I walked it I thought it was quite a difficult course, and everyone was jumping it really well early on but I think it was the pressure of the teams that got to everyone.”

Berlin Eagles have now taken the lead in the GCL Championship with just two stages to go.

• GCL results from Rome

Auction purchase is proving profitable

Israeli showjumper Daniel Bluman took top honours in the $74,000 Hampton Classic CSI2* grand prix riding Cachemire De Braize.

“Cache has been with us for about three years,” said Daniel of the 10-year-old Selle Français gelding. “He came out of an auction a few years ago, and I’ve been working with him since. He’s got a lot of talent, and he’s definitely fast. He’s had almost 10 international wins. He’s a very good horse, very competitive, and has his own way of going.

“[Course designer] Alan Wade of course did a good job, but we don’t expect anything less from him. It was a difficult track for the two-star level, but Cachemire is a five-star horse. He’s done a lot of four-star grands prix, so he’s really at a level where he has experience and scope to spare. He gave me a really, really nice first round, then was great for the second. I knew I had to lay it out in the second round because I had some fast riders coming, and Karl Cook had already had a good jump-off. I just focused on my plan, and it worked out.”

• Hampton Classic results

Botham’s quick-fire treble in Rome

Fresh from success at the London leg of the LGCT, Adam Botham rode Barbara Hester’s Harvey to victory in Friday’s CSI2* two-phase at the LGCT in Rome. Warwickshire-based Adam quickly made it a winning double, jumping Barbara’s great stallion Ebanking (pictured above) to victory in the 1.40m equivalent, then the duo returned the next morning to take the red ribbons for the speed class by an incredible margin of nearly 2sec.

Another British rider who finished in the ribbons in London, Izac Ketteridge, chased home Adam and Harvey in the opening two-phase to finish second riding Z7 Caretina and then followed up with a victory double in both Saturday’s 1.30m speed class and Sunday’s jump-off class riding Carron Nicol’s impressive 11-year-old Galerius.

Ireland’s Shane Breen was another victor in Italy’s capital this week, winning the opening CSI5* two-phase with Z7 Ipswich.

• LGCT Rome showjumping results

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British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire has made the “heartbreaking” decision to retire her championship mare Luibanta BH at the age of 14.

“Lulu” can be credited for taking Amanda to the highest level of the sport and really helped to put her on the map. The pair helped Great Britain win team bronze, and earn Olympic qualification, at the 2019 European Showjumping Championships, they jumped to 17th individually at the World Equestrian Games in 2018 and earned many five-star placings.

But last year the Luidam daughter was diagnosed with spondylosis, a degenerative condition of the spinal column, and she will now be taking a step back from the sport to hopefully breed the next generation of top-class jumpers.

“Lulu gave me everything for the last five years, she was a little mare with the biggest of hearts,” said Amanda. “I’ll never be able to thank her enough for all she has given me, from jumping my first five-star grand prix to winning my first Nations Cup and many other classes.”

Luibanta was originally produced by Ellen Whitaker and Amanda began riding the mare as an eight-year-old in 2016.

“I remember going to Ellen’s to try a different horse and it wasn’t what I was looking for,” Amanda told H&H. “Ellen told me about Lulu but said she was very unfit and wasn’t ready to try because she had been on a break but I could do a few jumps if I wanted. We watched a video of her doing the seven-year-old classes at the Sunshine Tour and I liked the look of her. I tried her that day and the rest is history.

“I never expected her to take me to that level, but it just shows you what the heart can achieve. Lulu always believed in herself and thankfully she believed in me too.”

Amanda said Luibanta had given her “so many proud moments” but that team bronze at the European Championships in Rotterdam in 2019 (pictured below) was the stand-out.

“The plan that summer was to aim [my other horse] Roulette at the Europeans but after our fall at Hickstead, plans had to change,” she said. “I was at an all-time low mentally, but thankfully due to an amazing and supportive team around me, I got chosen to represent my country on Lulu instead. Lulu stepped right up and gave Team Great Britain all she had to help secure not only a medal but our Olympic place. Standing on the podium is a memory I will cherish for ever.

“Winning my first Nations Cup in Florida also stands out, and making it to the final of the World Equestrian Games. No matter what, Lulu always gave you her all — she was so versatile, from winning the speed final at Washington to getting top ribbons in several five-star grands prix, she really could do it all.”

“What made her so incredible was her heart, she was a little mare but you never felt like any track was too big,” she added. “I never walked a course and thought we couldn’t do it, that’s the feeling she always gave you. She made you believe.”

During the summer of 2020, Luibanta had been in flying form and US-based Amanda gave her a two-month holiday before gearing her up for the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida at the start of 2021.

“Although she was very sound, she felt stiff in her back and neck when I started jumping her and didn’t feel quite the same,” explained Amanda. “We spent a lot of time investigating and trying different things but after many treatments she still didn’t feel like the same horse when it came to jumping.

“In the summer she got diagnosed with spondylosis. Although if managed correctly she could have continued her career at a lower level, I just didn’t think she deserved that. Lulu had given me everything, made so many of my dreams come true, she owed me nothing. Her heart was always so big and I wanted her to end her amazing career at the top of the sport where she belonged.

“In October I made the heartbreaking decision to retire her. As a barn favourite it was hard to let her leave our team, so she travelled to Florida with us and has spent the past four months hanging out in the sunshine, going on an occasional hack and eating lots of treats!”

Luibanta flew back to the UK last week and will head to Amanda’s family home to enjoy her retirement.

“We are planning on doing embryos with her, as I don’t want to put her under any unnecessary pain whilst carrying a foal with her spine condition,” said Amanda, who is currently considering stallion choices but has “plenty of fun ideas”.

Amanda also paid tribute to the Gochman family who owned Luibanta and the whole team who have helped along the way, “who cared and supported us on our exciting journey”.

Amanda has some exciting new horsepower in her string, including the British-bred 10-year-old mare Wonder If, a daughter of Cevin Z who she bought from Emma McGlynn.

“I’m very excited about the future with her, she has been produced slowly and correctly and she’s now ready to step up to the next level,” said Amanda. “We also bought MHS Cardenta, an eight-year-old from Ireland who I’ve just started doing some 1.45 classes on, and a nine-year-old mare called Chanteric who I’m just starting out doing some 1.40 classes on.”

Amanda also has two exciting six-year-olds who are currently in the UK being produced by Emma Stoker and Declan Irvine.

“Of course we are still searching for my next ‘Lulu’!” she said. “I desperately want to get back up to the level to ride for my country again, so for now I’m working hard and being patient.”

But Amanda’s final words are paid in tribute to the unforgettable Luibanta: “You made so many of this little girl’s dreams come true and for that I owe you everything.”

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Amanda Derbyshire has paid tribute to her great showjumping partner Roulette BH, known as Bertie, who has been retired 15 months after being seriously injured in a fall in the Nations Cup at Hickstead.

“I can finally talk about him now without breaking down, but it’s taken a long time. I cried for a year every time I thought about him,” Amanda told H&H. “I would literally give anything to have him back — I prayed night after night — but I can’t.

“Roulette was my Olympic horse – I had no doubt about it and neither did anyone else because he had every bit of talent and every component you need for a championship horse. I think that was what was so heartbreaking, because I knew that he was my shot. How do you ever find that again?”

The 11-year-old Moschino gelding, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC, tore leg ligaments and suffered a fracture of his knee in the incident at the water jump during the pathfinder pair’s round for the British team in July 2019.

Roulette was treated first by Sussex Equine Hospital vets, then taken to Newmarket, where he stayed for three months.

“He then spent around four months at a rehab facility called Ivy Lodge – they did a brilliant job,” said Amanda of the Gloucestershire rehabilitation and pre-training establishment run by Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire and his wife Lauren.

Treatment throughout his recuperation came from Amanda’s “fantastic” vet Christiana Ober.

“We just prayed and hoped that it would heal, but we all knew that Bertie needed a miracle to make a full recovery, so I can’t thank the Gochman family enough for all they did in making sure he had access to five-star veterinary treatment and to Roulette’s groom Lesley Veall, too — she stayed with him in Newmarket, then went to live at Ivy Lodge for a few weeks to help settle him in, so he had a familiar face during that traumatic time.

“It’s also thanks to the Gochman family that I was fortunate enough to have Luibanta BH, who was to be my partner at the Europeans a month later, where we won a team medal. I was so lucky to have another chance to keep going and continue doing what I love, not everyone has that opportunity and I’ll be for ever grateful for that.”

After his recuperation at Ivy Lodge, Roulette rejoined Amanda at her base in Florida.

“We started riding him and he was back in full work for four months,” Amanda said. “The vets then did a full anaesthetic MRI with the high-detail imaging to see if it was safe to start jumping him. Unfortunately I didn’t get my miracle – all the injuries had healed, except for the torn ligaments, which meant it wasn’t safe for him, or me, to start jumping him again. So even though he was completely sound, the risk of a catastrophic injury was too high and I couldn’t put him, or anyone, through that again – I couldn’t have my heart broken twice.”

The decision was made to retire Bertie and he recently arrived at Spring Ledge in Virginia, USA, a full retirement facility run by Sloane Coles and he’s now “as happy as can be” enjoying his new life out in the field alongside a couple of other old grand prix horses.

“He’s totally sound so we could have kept him at home as a pet, but he’d already done that for six months so I thought he deserved his chance to be a normal horse,” Amanda said. “I didn’t know how he’d take to retirement as he’s a special character, but he’s adapted well and he can happily spend the rest of his life there, so that’s all we can ask.”

Amanda and Roulette BH enjoyed a brilliant partnership in their competitive year together and had been hotly tipped for championship medals, including at the Tokyo Games. The gelding had formerly been owned by Emma Ziff and produced very successfully in Great Britain by Phillip Miller and Ben Walker before Amanda took the reins in the spring of 2018. The pair finished third in the King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International and represented Great Britain in Dublin and at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, as well as securing top placings in grands prix and World Cup qualifiers.

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“He was double clear in about six good grands prix in a row ,” said Amanda. “I won the Saturday grand prix in Devon [Pennsylvania] on him, the Saturday three-star grand prix in Wellington [Florida] which was my first grand prix win at that level, then followed up by finishing second in the four-star grand prix at Upperville. They were just a few weeks apart, with all the lights and atmosphere, so pretty special.

“Barcelona also stands out for me when he jumped a clear round for Team GB, because it was one of his first team events and he was absolutely brilliant that night.

“He was just allergic to knocking the jumps down and he was so fast against the clock . I will always feel lucky to have so many successful memories with Bertie and cherish the fact that I was a small part of this special horse’s life.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Britain has secured its place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a bronze medal finish at the Longines FEI European Showjumping Championships.

There were three Olympic spots up for grabs this week, with 10 of the 15 teams competing at the championships in Rotterdam seeking tickets to next year’s Games.

The race was on in today’s final, with six of the 10 teams that made it through to the third day of jumping still hoping to come away with Olympic qualification.

Belgium’s phenomenal gold medal-winning performance was gilded with one of the places, with Britain taking the second ticket and fourth-placed France claiming the final spot.

British chef d’equipe Di Lampard said it is “fantastic” to have this team together and last week’s victory in the Aga Khan trophy in Ireland was the boost the side needed.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for 12 months now and Dublin was certainly the trampoline for here,” she said. “The riders are all very well supported by some very good owners and a very strong team behind them as well. We are very fortunate and picking up momentum looking forward to Barcelona [for the Nations Cup final in October] and 2020.

“We came here to qualify for Tokyo and we have come away with a lot more than in terms of a bronze medal and now of course have Ben in pole position going into Sunday in the individuals and Holly in 12th. So our focus is now very much on Sunday and supporting the pair of them.”

Article continues below…

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“I’m very happy obviously,” said Ben Maher, who is sitting in first place individually following a third foot-perfect clear with Explosion W. “The priority for the team today was to secure Tokyo qualification, which [has been] a hard job as it’s been a difficult year for us.

“We have an incredible team and very good team spirit, some things haven’t gone our way this week as well but we kept together today and I gave the team the best start I could and some confidence to produce the results.”

Joining Ben on the British team were Holly Smith (Hearts Destiny), Amanda Derbyshire (Luibanta BH) and Scott Brash (Hello M’Lady). Their combined result means Britain now has a full set of equestrian disciplines qualified for next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Luck was not on Ireland’s side in the team competition with rails for all four riders yesterday. Two clear rounds and two unlucky poles in today’s final was a strong improvement, but not enough to take one of the Olympic spots. The nation will have one final chance to qualify for next year’s Games, which will come at the FEI Nations Cup final.

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Britain and Ireland are both through to the team jumping final where medals and Olympic qualification are on offer today (Friday, 23 August) at the Longines FEI European Showjumping Championships.

At the start of the week, 10 of the 15 nations in the team championship arrived hoping to take home one of the three tickets to Tokyo.

The top 10 teams following yesterday and Wednesday’s qualifying rounds will jump this afternoon and there are six countries left in the mix for the three Olympic spots.

These are overnight leaders Belgium, Britain, which is in provisional bronze, France (provisional fourth), Italy (lying in sixth), Ireland (currently eighth) and Denmark (lying 10th).

The draw is in reverse order, meaning defending European Champions Ireland have been drawn third to go and Britain is the eighth team on the start list. Germany, which is currently holding provisional silver and already has its Olympic qualification, will be the penultimate team to jump with overnight leaders Belgium last to go.

Cian O’Connor and PSG Final will be the first combination into the arena for Ireland in 13th, with Britain’s Ben Maher and Explosion W — overnight leaders of the individual contest — five riders later in 19th.

Shane Sweetnam (Alejandro) is next to go for Ireland and is set to jump just before 4.30pm. Holly Smith and Hearts Destiny, who produced a fantastic clear for Britain yesterday and are lying 11th individually, will start just after the half-way point at number 29 in the running order.

The third riders for the respective teams — championship debutant Peter Moloney (Chianti’s Champion) and Britain’s top finisher at the 2018 World Equestrian Games Amanda Derbyshire (Luibanta BH) — are 34th and 39th to go.

Ireland’s team anchor Darragh Kenny (Balou Du Reventon), who is the nation’s highest-placed individual so far in 12th, is number 43 on the start list; while London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash (Hello M’Lady) is the third-last rider to jump.

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Individuals who are not competing on a team, or whose team has not made it through to today’s final, will be first to jump. Austria’s Max Kühner, in provisional ninth, will be the last individual rider to go before the start of the team contest.

Less than a fence separates the top nine riders and other individuals worth looking out for are Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and the superstar mare Albfuehren’s Bianca, who are 45th to jump. The pair made yesterday’s challenging track look easy and are sitting in provisional silver place behind Ben Maher.

French rider Alexis Deroubaix (Timon d’Aure) are holding the bronze spot at the moment and are sandwiched between defending individual champions Peder Fredricson and H&M All In and Scott Brash in the starting order at number 48.

Today’s team final kicks off at 3pm (2pm BST) and will be broadcast live on the BBC red button. Click here for the full running order.

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Britain has edged up the leaderboard into provisional gold and bronze position following cracking rounds by the team at the Longines FEI European Championships.

The British team has moved up from fourth to third, behind Belgium and Germany, keeping them in contention for both medals and Olympic qualification.

“I’m absolutely pleased with where we’ve finished, we’ve moved up a little bit an I think we are in a really strong position for tomorrow,” said British chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “It nice to be where we are and still going up that ladder. It is amazing how all the teams have shuffled places; some surprising shuffles with the Germans moving down [from first to second]. At this stage we are really focusing on ourselves, on our own performances.

“The horses came out of the ring very well and fresh and the riders are in a fantastic place and the four of them are working brilliantly together.”

Ben Maher and Explosion W, third overnight, were the first Brits to jump and made short work of the testing course to move into first place individually. The 10-year-old gelding (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet) looked fresh and focused, clearing the 1.60m fences with room to spare and adding nothing to yesterday’s score of 0.62.

Ben said the round gave him “great confidence”.

“He feels in great form and I was happy to go first today to get it done and out the way,” said Ben, who jumped last for Britain yesterday. “I’m probably more use after [I’ve jumped] in terms of helping the other guys. He was quieter today and I didn’t have to work him too much this morning, he settled into the rhythm.”

Holly Smith and Hearts Destiny, who is also only a 10-year-old, were next into Rotterdam’s main arena for the Brits and strengthened the team’s position with a masterful clear. This leaves them in 11th place individually and well within touch of the top placings.

“My horse is absolutely unbelievable — I believe he is one of the best horses in the world and he just showed it today,” said Holly. “Massive thanks to owners Sue and Gordon Hall for keeping the horse with me and having every faith in me, but also to my husband Graham for his support. It isn’t easy for women in sport and he encourages me all the way.”

Holly added she was “super calm” until the water.

“I had a foot in the water yesterday, everybody is going in it today and I really, really wanted to make sure I didn’t,”she laughed. “got over it and said to myself ‘Holly, you’ve got to calm down a bit!’ There was a nice shortish distance on eight to the planks, which helped me settle everything down a bit and I took Ben’s advice to jump every jump as it come in the combination.”

Amanda Derbyshire and Luibanta BH had an unlucky foot in the water — which caused widespread problems through the class — and rolled the first part of the Longines treble at 13a. Amanda was quick to blame herself for the faults at the water and the pair are now on a score of 12.11 penalties, leaving them in 35th place individually.

“It was definitely my fault, I was about 2ft too far off it, she tried and I think the other fence was unlucky as she jumped a brilliant round,” said Amanda.

The water was also the scene of a frustrating four faults for Scott Brash and Hello M’Lady, who jumped superbly around the rest of the course.

“I thought she jumped fantastic, even better than yesterday, so I’m delighted with the mare and hope we have another good round tomorrow,” said Scott.

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Three clear rounds from the Belgian side have propelled the team seven places up the scoreboard into provisional first.

“The boys did a fantastic job and the horses jumped brilliantly,” said Belgian chef d’equipe Peter Weinberg. “After yesterday when we were in eighth place, we know we had to fight. The team rode very well and the horses jumped good, that’s why we are two steps closer, but there is still another day to come.”

Eight faults from both Marcus Ehning (Comme Il Faut) and Christian Ahlmann (Clintrexo Z) have dropped overnight leaders Germany into provisional silver, while France has slid behind Britain into fourth.

There are three Olympic qualification spots available at these championships. At the start of the week, 10 nations here were in the mix for these.

As only the top 10 countries go forward to tomorrow’s team jumping final, that list has been narrowed to six: Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, Ireland and Denmark.

The final team jumping session, which will decide the team medals, starts at 3pm (2pm BST) tomorrow (Friday, 23 August) and is scheduled to be broadcast live on the BBC red button.

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Ben Maher and Explosion W’s stand-out performance in today’s first qualifying competition of the Longines FEI European Showjumping Championships has helped propel Britain into individual and team medal contention.

The pair were last to jump for the British team and produced a foot-perfect round over Louis Konickx and Quintin Maertens’ technical course to secure third place individually in the opening championship class on Tuesday (22 August).

All the British combinations jumped well, picking a smattering of unlucky faults to sit in fourth as a team overnight on a score of 9.41 — less than two fences behind provisional leaders Germany.

“Explosion is naturally a fast horse, he was very excited to be here yesterday and was even fresher than normal,” said Ben. “He feels in great shape and I’m very happy with his position.”

Ben added Britain has come “trying to win” and while the side is slightly behind the leaders today, the side is “still in with every chance”.

British team manager Di Lampard told H&H today was a “real strong start for the team”.

“I’m delighted with the way all the horses jumped, Holly and Amanda got us off to a great start, although they were fractionally unlucky, and Ben finished the job masterfully,” she said.

“I feel as though the four horses — including Scott’s horse [Hello M’Lady] who is a little bit more rusty than the others coming into this championship — went well I think we are in a really good place for tomorrow.

“The horses are all in absolute fine fettle, they are really well and the riders are relaxed and have worked well together, so we are really looking forward to the rest of the competition.

“The team spirit is amazing. They have come here on a mission, are really focused and very professional. We are looking towards a medal and qualification for Tokyo hopefully. All we need is a little bit of luck.”

Germany is sitting in the team gold medal position on a score of 4.22, with three combinations inside the top 10. In second on a score of 5.39 is France, who are among the teams chasing Olympic qualification.

Sweden is currently in bronze, with their defending European Champions Peder Fredricson and H&M All In heading the individual contest, while defending team champions Ireland are in sixth.

“It’s nice to get going,” said Peder, adding H&M All In is an “unbelievable horse”. “I think it was a really nice course, you had to get going straight away and make a decision between fences one and two as to whether you wanted to do seven or eight strides. That set the pace for the rest of the course I thought.”

Amanda Derbyshire served as pathfinder for the British team, producing a quick round with the 11-year-old mare Luibanta BH. The pair were unlucky to tap 12a — a teetering upright on the final line following a tight rollback turn from a big orange oxer at 11 — which added four seconds to their time.

“I’m feeling pretty excited,” she said. “We’ve got a good start and I wish I didn’t have that fence down, but it was unlucky , she tried hard and was pretty quick everywhere else.”

Holly Smith and Hearts Destiny, members of the winning Nations Cup team in Dublin last week, showed their class with a strong round. The big-striding bay looked completely in tune with his rider and was unlucky to put a toe in the water.

“I was delighted with how the horse went, obviously frustrated to have a foot in the water as I thought he jumped fantastically and I could have been right up there [without those added seconds],” said Holly.

“In the speed round with him, it is about trying to do it in the least possible strides without having to push him an unsettle him. There’s two days of jumping left in the team competition and you don’t want to be rushing them and getting them flat. It is a balance of trying to go quickly without rushing and although I did have a foot in the water, I did achieve that and put a decent score out there.”

Scott Brash and Hello M’Lady were also unlucky to add eight seconds to their time for a front foot in the water and the back rail on the oxer at 12b.

“Obviously I’m disappointed with my result, but I think the mare jumped very good and she will only progress and get better as the week goes on,” said Scott. “It was a very good course, not overly big, it is tricky and he played with the colours a lot. There were faults all over it, which is the sign of a good course.”

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Today’s first round was a speed class, run under table c rules. This means combinations do not receive faults for rolled poles, but instead knock-downs or disobediences result in extra seconds being added to their finishing time.

The winner takes forwards zero penalties to both the team and individual competitions and combinations are given a score according to the time difference between them and the victor. This is calculated using a coefficient.

The team competition gets underway at 10am (9am BST) tomorrow and is scheduled to be broadcast live on the BBC red button. Team medals are awarded Friday, with the individual final on Sunday.

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A stellar showjumping squad will try to secure Olympic qualification for Britain at the European Championships next month.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has announced the combinations that will travel to Rotterdam for the competition, which runs from 19 to 25 August:

• Scott Brash with Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris’s Hello M’Lady
• Amanda Derbyshire with Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH
• Ben Maher with Poden Farms’ Explosion W
• Laura Renwick with Arabella Prior’s Dublin V
• Holly Smith with her own and TJ Hall Ltd’s Hearts Destiny

There are three places for Tokyo 2020 on offer at the championships; these will pass down the line if a nation has already qualified. After the championships, the only chance left for Britain to qualify would be the Nations Cup final in October.

Performance manager Di Lampard said: “The European Championships this year are absolutely crucial if we are to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. I have full faith that the selection panel have put together a very strong team who could not only secure a qualifying ticket for Tokyo, but also medal in both the team and individual finals. 

“I would like to personally thank all the owners that have made their horses available and, of course, the riders who are as committed as I am to delivering for Great Britain. In addition I extend my thanks to the dedicated support team at the BEF and British Showjumping who also play a vital role.”

Continues below…

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British Showjumping chief executive Iain Graham said he has “full confidence” in the team.

“In Ben and Scott we have two London 2012 team gold medallists who have also held the top spot individually on the world ranking lists,” he said.

“Both Holly and Amanda have proven themselves as championship team riders and Laura has been having consistent success at top level. I would like to congratulate the entire team on their selection and also thank the owners who have generously made their horses available for the British campaign as we set our sights on Tokyo.”

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British rider Amanda Derbyshire has been crowned overall leading lady rider at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida.

The US-based showjumper performed consistently well across the 12-week festival.

Her big wins came in the $134,000 CSI3* Horseware Ireland grand prix on Roulette BH and the $72,000 CSI4* Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup round 11 aboard Luibanta BH.

She won back-to-back leading lady titles in week 10 and 11 of WEF in the build-up to claiming the overall Martha Jolicouer leading lady rider award on 30 March.

“Having this award adds a whole other element of competition among some very talented female riders and I am beyond thrilled to win the overall title this year,” said Amanda, who won her first WEF Martha Jolicouer leading lady award in 2018.

“It was an incredible feeling to just win once, but to win twice more this season and take overall is indescribable.

“I am so grateful to Martha for recognizing leading ladies, but also for being such a steadfast supporter of horse sport in general.

“This season was a spectacular one for me and I could not have expected more out of my horses.”

The award was presented in memory of horsewoman Dale Lawler.

In recognition of her achievement, Amanda was also given a custom-built jump of her choice from Martha.

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“The leading lady award was always the one that I aimed to win when I was competing because it is a testament to consistent top performances,” said Martha, who started presenting the award in 2010.

“Wellington is the winter equestrian capital of the world and attracts some of the best riders in the world.

“To experience how horses have brought us all together is something special for me. It was an honour to watch Amanda find so much success this season and win her first overall leading lady rider award.”

Other weekly winners of the award over the 2019 season included Erynn Ballard, Laura Chapot, Margie Engle, Tiffany Foster, Lauren Hough, Eve Jobs, Beezie Madden, Karen Polle, and Jessica Springsteen.

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Great Britain’s top three female showjumpers Holly Smith, Amanda Derbyshire and Laura Renwick each won a big-money grand prix at the weekend, sending out positive signs in a crucial year for the sport where Olympic qualification is the big target.

In Wellington, Florida, Amanda Derbyshire won the $134,000 Horseware Ireland grand prix with relatively new ride Roulette BH, for whom “the big aim is 2020”.

She finished fastest in an all-female jump-off with Gochman Sport Horses’ 10-year-old gelding by Moschino, previously ridden by Ben Walker and Phillip Miller, whom she describes as “very, very strong”.

“I was really lucky in the double at the end — I didn’t have much control by then — but luck was on my side,” she said. “For the past nine months, we’ve been working on rideability so in the jump-off I can actually let him go.

“We took it pretty slow last summer, and we didn’t face him at all the big stuff. I think by doing that we’ve trusted each other. He’s jumped three grands prix here [at the Winter Equestrian Festival], and he’s been clear every time. We have big plans.”

British success in Europe

Holly Smith’s victory came with her WEG partner Hearts Destiny at the CSI4* Suzuki grand prix on the Sunshine Tour in Spain. She was pitted against seven of the world’s leading riders in the jump-off but rocketed home clear, a full second quicker than her rivals.

“My horse is exceptional, this is the first grand prix that we have won together and I am delighted with him,” she said. “There was a long gallop to an enormous upright, followed by a very tight turn back afterwards and I was unsure if I should do one or two strides. But I went for one stride knowing I had to go for it if I wanted to win!”

Continues below…

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Sealing a sensational weekend, Laura Renwick triumphed in the 1.50m CSI3* grand prix at Vilamoura, Portugal on the 11-year-old Dublin V, a son of Vigaro who was previously ridden by Anthony Condon, William Whitaker and Simon Crippen. She beat her countryman Will Fletcher on Persimmon V into second place.

Don’t miss the full reports on all this week’s showjumping action in Horse & Hound, out Thursday 21 March.

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Britain’s newest showjumping star and leading 
lady rider talks to Sarah Jenkins about making 
the World Games team, riding Big Star and 
loving the American lifestyle

Amanda Derbyshire was selected to showjump for Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, in September 2018. The 30-year-old, who originally hails from Lancashire, has been based in the United States for the past nine years. She runs Baxter Hill, an impressive 40-stable yard in Wellington, Florida, for owners the Gochman family.

“Going for WEG selection felt a little surreal. The further we went through the summer, the more I kept thinking, ‘Wow, that dream is getting a little bit closer’. Winning the Nations Cup in Florida and then coming second at Hickstead was incredible. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a 
little girl,” says Amanda, who was encouraged all the way by trainers Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut, and British team performance manager Di Lampard.

“This is the first year I’ve had a group of horses capable of jumping five-star shows with that level of success,” says Amanda. “And it was good timing as the family also planned to compete in Europe this summer.”

The “family” is David and Becky Gochman and their daughters Mimi and Sophie, who also came to Europe to compete at top level, allowing Amanda to impress at the right moment. The teenagers made an impact in Europe, too, and are ones to watch for future US teams. The Gochmans take pride in what they have achieved as a team and that includes getting Amanda to a position of being in contention for a team place.

Amanda’s Irish fiancé, David Blake, is also a showjumper, handily based in North Carolina, where WEG 2018 was held.

Early days

Amanda was introduced to riding early by her own family, being legged up on her mother Julie’s “big riding club horse”, Scooter. When Amanda was six, she starting riding a five-year-old pony, Sparkle. “I used to fall off most days in the beginning,” she recalls.

She enjoyed riding in the British pony system, which she feels has benefits over the American one she sees more of now.

“They have hunter jumpers in the US, which is comparable to working hunters in the UK and you’re judged on style and movement. That makes kids ride nicely, it’s not such 
a free-for-all and you need more flatwork schooling and discipline in your riding. But the British pony jumping system makes our kids a little braver and, in my opinion, it is a little more fun,” she points out.

She became brave and talented enough 
to be spotted by Olympic gold medallist 
Nick Skelton.

“I’d just finished college and Nick saw me at a show and said he needed someone to ride the young horses, so I went there for a year,” she explains.

One of those young horses was Big Star, who would go on to win gold at London 2012. Amanda recalls: “When he was five, I rode him for the first six months. Looking back I’m grateful for that, though at the time he was very boisterous and a lot for a little girl. From the day he came off that truck, you knew he was going to be special.”

It was Nick’s partner, US showjumper Laura Kraut, who suggested Amanda go to the States. Amanda had met US clients at Nick’s and was intrigued by the American system. It turns out the lifestyle suits her, and though she visits her parents in Lancashire, who enjoyed having the chance to see and watch her compete here more this summer, she won’t be coming back to the UK permanently.

“I love the American lifestyle and 
year-round sunshine. We spend six months competing in Florida and then six months travelling round the American show circuit,” she says.

“It’s non-stop and a lot of work, particularly travelling, but the summer shows in America are beautiful and I’m definitely happy here with a great group of family and friends to work with. In Florida, the horse community takes Mondays off and we enjoy going to the beach together and drinking margaritas.”

She still trains with Nick and Laura, including this summer when she was based with them while they competed in Europe, and last winter when they were all in Florida over the same three months, but often she’s doing it on her own.

“I know they’re excited about what we’ve achieved,” she says. “And I know they’ve got 
my back.”

An incredible string

Modest about the phenomenal horses she has the opportunity to ride, Amanda recounts how she found her current top three.

“Roulette would have been hard to miss,” she says of arguably the best of her string, a horse everyone was talking about when Amanda went horse shopping with the Gochmans on the Sunshine Tour in Spain this year.

“He’s very, very strong, but so careful and talented you know he’s always going to jump. He’s a timid personality, but very sweet and is changing with a lot of one-on-one attention. He’s going to be the best,” says Amanda, though right now her heart is with Luibanta BH, the little mare who has put her on the map.

“She’s taken me the furthest. She’s the easiest horse who would do anything for you. I’m never worried riding her, I know she’ll try and has a big heart. She never makes a mistake so you know you can be successful on her when you go in that ring. I’m so grateful to have her in my life; she’s been a game changer for me. I’ve had her since she was eight years old and we’ve got this far together, jumping our first Nations Cup and our first five-star grand prix.”

The third horse is Cornwall BH, found with Shane Sweetnam as an eight-year-old. With Amanda he came second in the two-star grand prix at the London Global Champions Tour, and second and fourth in the five-star classes in Dublin last month.

“All mine are like pets, most of them follow me around without headcollars on. I can’t do that with Roulette just yet, but it won’t be long,” Amanda adds.

When she started with the Gochmans, the children were only five and six — she’s “grown up with them” and is “like family”.

“We bought one young horse and have progressed steadily from there,” she says. “Attack was my first grand prix horse and he was so successful that we kept progressing. We shocked ourselves how big the operation grew.”

Continued below…

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What do the Gochmans get out of supporting the Brit this far?

“They’re excited to support a young, up-and-coming person,” Amanda explains. “They’re proud of how much we’ve achieved as a team. They love watching at the top shows, too. And, sure, they hope their children will be on the team for the USA in future.”

Baxter Hill has found a winning formula, and the British team is a very happy beneficiary.

This interview first appeared in Horse & Hound magazine.

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Simone Blum took the individual gold medal in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, today (Sunday, 23 September).

The German rider added just one time-fault to her score today, in the second round, riding the chestnut mare DSP Alice.

Simone is the first female individual world showjumping champion since Canada’s Gail Greenough in 1986 and the first woman to take the title at a WEG, as the 1986 championship — held at Aachen — was the last of the standalone World Championships.

“I’m so grateful to be here — I cannot describe my feelings. It’s unbelievable,” she said. “For me it doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or man, we are the same. But today was a perfect day.”

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs claimed the silver, moving up from third coming into today’s competition. He and Clooney also cleared all the fences today, adding two time-penalties in the final showdown.

Fellow Swiss rider Steve Guerdat rose from ninth to take home the individual bronze on Bianca. The pair put in two faultless rounds today.

Martin said: “I didn’t think too much about time allowed — I knew it wouldn’t matter too much because Steve was quite a few points behind. I knew with a time-fault I could still be in front of Steve, so that’s what I did.

“Watching Simone, I obviously hoped she’d knock a rail and I could be world champion, but she was far away off even touching a pole and that’s why she is the world champion today.”

Austria’s Max Kühner retained second place with a clear in the first round today, but Chardonnay had fences nine and 10 down in the last barrage to drop to sixth.

Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire missed out on the second round, which is for the top 12 only, when she finished 17th. She and Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH had the second part of the double at fence eight and the oxer at fence 12 down.

“The first rail was a bit unlucky, the second I’ll definitely take as my fault — I needed to get up there more on the six strides,” she said. “But overall I’m super proud of her.”

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor also did not progress to the second round as he and Good Luck had the oxers at fence six and 11 down to finish 13th.

“Good Luck has been in good form all week, but maybe he’s a bit out of gas today,” he said.

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Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG are in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) — on sale now — and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The starting list has been revealed for the individual final of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, tomorrow (Sunday, 23 September).

Tomorrow marks the end of WEG, with the driving cones phase taking place as well as the individual showjumping final.

The top 25 riders after the three rounds of jumping so far will start in round A of tomorrow’s competition, which begins at 9.45am (2.45pm) in the US Trust Arena. They start in reverse order of merit, carrying forward their penalties from the previous days.

The leading 12 combinations will then go through to the final showdown, round B, which starts at 12.35pm (5.35pm British time).

One British rider has qualified for the final. Amanda Derbyshire lies 15th with Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta, so she will be the 11th rider into the arena, at approximately 10.07am local time (3.07pm).

Ireland also has one pair through to tomorrow — reigning European individual bronze medallist and team gold medallist Cian O’Connor on Adena Springs and Ronnoco Jump Ltd’s Good Luck. He is sitting in sixth place and will be the 20th rider into the arena, so will jump around 10.25am local time (3.25pm British time).

Update: Amanda and Cian both had eight faults so they sit 17th and 13th after the first round. Neither of them progress to the last round today.

Germany’s Simone Blom leads the rankings going into tomorrow’s final riding DSP Alice, on a total of 2.47 penalties. In second place is Austria’s Max Kühner, who rides Chardonnay, on 2.97, with Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs sitting third with Cooney on 4.68.

Just 9.34 penalties — a little over two rails down — separates the top and bottom riders heading into tomorrow’s final.

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Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG are in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) — on sale now — and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain and Ireland both missed out on qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping team competition finished this afternoon (Friday, 21 September) at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Britain finished in eighth. The lead-off horse, The Billy Stud’s Billy Buckingham, was tired today and had three fences down under William Funnell, plus a time-fault.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing, it’s not what we wanted,” said William. “It’s easy to make excuses but it’s not good enough.”

The next two rounds brought hope to Britain. Holly Smith hit top form with Hearts Destiny, who belongs to TJ Hall Limited, Holly and her husband Graham, and finished with just one time-fault.

“He was jumping the best he has all week and I let him down with the time-fault,” she said.

Amanda Derbyshire was over the moon to put in a clear for Britain with Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH.

“I wasn’t nervous but I was a bit stressed because I knew every score counted after William and I didn’t want to let the team down,” she said.

William Whitaker stayed clear up to fence 11, but both that and fence 12 came down for him and Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines. Only a fault-free round would have pushed Britain up to sixth and secured the Tokyo 2020 ticket.

It was a similar story for Ireland, who finished seventh. Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z) had nine faults, with four apiece for Shane Breen (Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker), Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu) and Cian O’Connor (Good Luck).

“I’m delighted for myself but we need clear rounds,” said Shane Breen. “I’d have liked to take a bit of pressure off the lads.”

Britain and Ireland will now have to try to qualify for the Olympics at next year’s European Championships.

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Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain is through to the final round of the team competition in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG). Team GBR finished ninth today (Thursday, 20 September) and the top 10 teams will return tomorrow to fight for medals and Olympic qualification, which goes to the top six teams.

Amanda Derbyshire starred for Britain this afternoon with five faults — four for a foot in the water and one for time — on Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH.

“I’m so proud of her, she was brilliant,” said Amanda. “For a little horse to jump all those big jumps when it’s hot and keep going to the end is incredible.”

Britain’s final rider William Whitaker had eight faults on Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines, at the upright at fence six and the second element of the difficult double at 13.

“It was a tough course and that’s what you expect, but it’s still disappointing,” said William. “I need to have a look at the video and work out where it all went wrong.”

William Funnell (Billy Buckingham) had five faults this morning and Holly Smith eight, so with one of Britain’s eight-fault scores discarded, the team score from today and yesterday is 31.04. This is some 12.95 points behind the medal zone, but less than one pole (four faults) behind sixth place, which would secure a ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Ireland currently sits sixth on 27.12. Paul O’Shea had eight faults this afternoon on Skara Glen’s Macchu Picchu, at the final part of the treble at four and the second element of the double at 13.

“I don’t know know what I’d do differently — we needed a bit of luck. He tried his heart out and gave us everything,” said Paul.

Cian O’Connor secured Ireland’s position in the final with a fantastic clear on Good Luck, one of only five today.

“I’m really happy. Yesterday I made a mistake and today I rode better and he went clear,” said Cian.

Cian currently lies fifth individually, with Amanda Britain’s best rider in 25th.

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Switzerland, the USA and Germany hold the team medal spots at the end of today. Switzerland’s effort is led by Janika Sprunger on Bacardi VDL, who just had a time-fault today.

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca holds the individual lead now, after a clear today on Irenice Horta.

“She’s jumping amazingly and we’ll keep trying our best,” said Lorenzo, who has only been riding the mare since June.

McLain Ward is second for the US, having added a single time-fault to his score today, and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson sits third with H&M Christian K.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

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Britain lies 16th after the first leg of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon today (Wednesday, 19 September).

Britain’s anchorman rider, William Whitaker on Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines, had a great round, with just four faults at the oxer into the double at fence 11 for a score of 82.62sec. He finished 28th in today’s competition.

“I was really pleased with him, he jumped a great round over a tricky course,” said William. “It’s difficult to get the balance between being quick and not taking too many risks. I should have helped him a bit at fence 11, but I couldn’t be happier with how he jumped and it gives me confidence going into tomorrow.”

At the end of today’s competition, riders’ scores are converted into penalties which they take forward into the next days of jumping. The best three scores will count for each team.

Britain’s third team rider, Amanda Derbyshire, finished on 85.3sec after Luibanta BH, who belongs to Gochman Sport Horse LLC, plunged into the water jump at fence eight. Amanda managed to get things back together, although the pair did also have the back bar off the oxer at fence nine.

“You can’t get yourself down about it — it’s a long week and we just have to do the best we can,” said Amanda, who lies 46th. “She’s never done that before and I don’t think she’ll do it again.”

Britain’s first two riders jumped this morning — William Funnell (Billy Buckingham) finished the day in 60th and Holly Smith (Hearts Destiny) in 59th.

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Ireland sits 10th in the team standings. This afternoon Paul O’Shea took the back bar off the first fence, a triple bar, with Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu to finish on 87.33sec in 62nd.

“I was too slow to number one and left him too much to do — I have to take the blame for that, but he jumped very good,” said Paul.

His team-mate Cian O’Connor finished on 81.72sec in 23rd after Good Luck just knocked down the back rail of the oxer at fence 12.

The penultimate rider into the arena, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, won today’s competition riding Bianca in a time of 76.33sec. Switzerland also holds top spot in the team competition, ahead of the Netherlands in second and Brazil in third.

“I think it’s an advantage in a speed class to go towards the end,” said Steve. “I walked the course and it was nine hours later until I get on my horse so it was a long day, but we knew that before we came and were ready.”

Temperatures were touching 30ºC today in Tryon, but Steve said it didn’t bother the horses.

“All the horses I’ve had like the heat — they feel better, they are looser than when it’s cold and they get a bit tight in the body,” said Steve.

Brazil’s Pedro Veniss (Quabri De L’Isle) took second with Rowan Wills third for Australia riding Blue Movie.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now