There’s no need for football to come home, as showjumping has done it, again, was the verdict as Great Britain triumphed in the 2026 Agria Nations Cup at the Royal International Horse Show.

The team had been victorious in 2023 and 2024 but having just been pipped by Germany last year, came back to win with a fence in hand.

Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria) and Ben Maher (Catelly) finished on a total of eight faults, two fences ahead of Ireland, with Canada third on 24. Tim and his superstar campaigner Medoc jumped one of only two double clears to help seal Britain’s third win on home soil in four years.

Chef d’equipe Di Lampard said it was good to be back at the top.

“You talk about teamwork, this is what it’s all about, isn’t it?” she said, paying tribute to the teams behind the team, and her right-hand man Stanny Van Paesschen.

“I was quietly confident this morning, and yes, I had a bit of a nervous jitter towards the end of the second round – but I had every confidence in them.”

2026 Agria Nations Cup: Britain flying from the off

Britain was on flying form from the start; the first combination in, Jessica and her own 11-year-old gelding – a half-brother to her championship ride In The Air – jumped a textbook clear, sure and rhythmical, to give the team the best possible start, especially as it was the only clear in the first rotation of riders.

By the time Adrian came in, Britain’s was still the only clear. Chacco Volo did not touch a pole, but inexplicably stopped at the water, and the resulting time-faults meant they finished on a total of 20. Third in was Tim and the Gredleys’ and Unex Competition Yard’s 14-year-old, who were never in danger of touching a fence.

The luck had not been with Ireland in the first round; David Simpson and his Hickstead Derby hero Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve and Shane Breen and the versatile Scarteen had clocked up an uncharacteristic eight faults apiece, and team debutante Michaeli Byrne and MSH Claregalway four. But Conor Swail’s clear with Clonterm Obolensky put the team total at 12 and the pressure on by the time Ben came in with new ride Catelly.

Again, Ben and the 14-year-old owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright did not touch a pole – but again it was the water that was an issue, as Catelly went into it with a back foot.

This meant the team had a first-round total of four, a fence ahead of Brazil and two ahead of Ireland and the UAE. European champions Belgium and France were in seventh and eighth place, with 21 and 24 faults respectively, so missed out on the second round.

This rotation of riders led to a shake-up of the team order; Canada had finished round one in fifth place on 16 faults but Chris Pratt and Ideaal ES jumped clear and Kyle King (Kayenne Z) and Nicole Walker (Panter JVH) for four, so Amy Millar and Gaiete D’Elle’s five – an unlucky clip of the last fence and a time-fault – could be dropped for a total of 24. This was the same total as the UAE, who clocked up 12 in each round, but Canada’s faster time secured the podium. Brazil added four fences down in total to finish fourth.

In the second round, Jessica and Summerhouse clipped the troublesome early double, and Chacco Volo had an uncharacteristic two rails, which meant the pressure was on Tim and Medoc, who went round like the pros they are to leave everything up.

So in the end, it all came down – as it often has here before – to Ireland and the Brits. David and Pjotr had jumped for four, Michaeli eight and Shane and Scarteen a beautiful clear. So had Conor and Oliver Glancy’s 10-year-old clipped a single rail, or gone a second over the time, it would have been a home win without Ben needing to jump again. But their round was fast and faultless, the only other double clear secured, and leaving all the pressure on Ben’s shoulders. He could have one fence, two would have meant a jump-off with the Irish.

But Catelly wasn’t going to touch the water this time, and he flew everything else, clearing the last oxer to rapturous applause.

Ben paid tribute to the team at Hickstead, for the perfect going, sponsors Agria and the crowd.

“I’ve only had Catelly four months, so he was thrown in the deep end a bit, and we’re still making the odd mistake,” he said. “It was a bit of a unique fault I had in the first round; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse with a back foot in a water jump! So I had to make a bit of a plan B and got away with it.

“Then to come back, it was great to be able to finish it for this amazing team. I thought they were lying to me when I went in, that I had two jumps in hand and they’d told me one so I didn’t get too sloppy So I need to pay a bit more attention but Catelly jumped amazing, and showed what he can do. I’m very lucky to have the team of horses I have.”

Coming back to win

Jesssica and Adrian both jumped on this team last year and both were delighted to return and secure the win.

“I’ve had Chacco a long time, we’ve done it all together, and I’ve had an amazing season,” Adrian said. “This is actually probably the worst day we’ve had, unfortunately. But he’s an amazing, amazing horse. Unlucky today but that’s showjumping, and we’ll come back next time.”

Tim and Medoc were on the winning team here in 2023 and 2024, and Tim was delighted by the hat-trick, adding that Hickstead is the “holy grail” of showjumping.

“It’s where the showjumping all began for me, and I really want to give back to them every single year,” he said. “So to come here, jump a double clear and win on the team is brilliant, what it’s all about.

“Medoc got my career exactly back where I wanted to be, he’s been brilliant. Today was always the plan, we’ve been building towards this, and it’s come off. It’s very rare that plans come off, but it’s a nice feeling when they do.”

“This is for Bob”

Di added that the win was dedicated to the late legendary course-builder Bob Ellis

“We really wanted to win this year for Bob,” she said. “We all learned round his courses, they’re renowned all round the world. So talking to his daughter, we said we want to win at Hickstead. His memorial is in August and she said ‘I won’t be able to come [to Aachen], but bring a medal back’. Bob’s looking down on us.”

Hickstead director Edward Bunn thanked Agria, as without such support these shows cannot happen, and his team for their tireless weeks of work since the Derby meeting to ensure the ground was as good as it could be.

“Congratulations to Team GBR, to Di and her team,” he said. “Football doesn’t need to come home – showjumping does it for them.”

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Great Britain’s showjumpers triumphed in a hard-fought Longines League of Nations (LLN) at the CHIO Rotterdam.

After some fluctuating fortunes, a thrilling battle ensued between the British, the USA and the Netherlands, rumbling into a nail-biting jump-off. Less than half a second separated the three representatives against the clock, but it was Harry Charles, at just his third show with new ride, the 12-year-old mare LT Holst Freda, who secured victory by just 0.07sec. The 26-year-old rider topped the podium alongside his younger sister Sienna Charles riding the family home-bred Chawton, Ben Maher (Catelly) and Jessica Mendoza with Summerhouse.

“We have very cool, very focused riders,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “Their life is dedicated to their horses and completely devoted to the job. We have had unbelievable consistency on the podium in these past few weeks and this win secures qualification to the LLN final.

“I’ve every confidence in this squad that we keep rotating and we’ve got a great team here. It was a wonderful day of sport and a fantastic course that was fair to the horses as well. To finish with three teams in the jump-off. Wow.”

Siblings Harry Charles and Sienna Charles lead the charge to glory

Ben Maher acted as the British team’s pathfinder as 10 teams tackled Bart Vonck’s course, just touching the tape of the water jump in round one with another relatively new ride, 14-year-old Catelly, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. Jessica Mendoza’s eight faults was the discard score as Sienna Charles posted just four faults on firm favourite Chawton. Anchor rider Harry Charles then produced a vital clear with the New Zealand-bred mare LT Holst Freda, who came to the Olympic gold medal-winning Brit after competing at the recent World Cup Final with Julie Davey.

“It was down to the Charles family to get us into round two and they did it admirably,” said Di after the team finished seventh at the halfway point.

Having made the cut as one of the top eight teams to progress to the crucial second leg, with three riders per team and no drop score, Ben, Sienna and Harry shrugged off any pressure and delivered a hat-trick of clears to finish on a team score of eight. This forced the jump-off against Marilyn Little and La Contessa of USA, and Swiss rider Jason Smith (Picobello van’t Roosakker).

A masterful performance

“It was masterful how Harry rode the mare for the jump-off,” said Di Lampard. “Going first, he didn’t waste time anywhere; he threw down the gauntlet, riding beyond his years and his turn back to the vertical was pivotal. When we talked about it before the jump-off, we called it ‘a Bob rollback’,” she said; a nod to the late course-builder Bob Ellis’s trademark ingredient.

“Ben is still getting to know his horse, but he set up round two perfectly. Sienna rode amazingly, picking up where she left off last year after finishing fourth in the grand prix – this partnership loves this venue and it was a wonderful experience for her.

“It was a fantastic day and, to come back from seventh shows how close these Nations Cup competitions are. It was a big shock for France and Germany not to make the cut. The results can change completely. Everything goes with three counting riders in round two; the pressure is on.”

Harry Charles summed up: “That’s the great thing about this format – we were on the cut line after round one but everyone rallied together and we managed to get ourselves into a jump-off.

“All credit to my teammates and my incredible horse, Freda. To walk into an atmosphere like that is so impressive. I’m very proud of her and I’m so lucky to have her.”

After that penultimate qualifying leg of the LLN, the final chance for teams to qualify for the final in Barcelona rests in St Tropez- Gassin in September.

The British celebrations continued on Sunday when Ben Maher topped the grand prix riding Point Break.

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The Longines League of Nations (LLN) 2026 begins on Friday (13 February) with the first leg taking place in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

Ten qualified teams, plus host nation UAE, line up for the first of four qualifying events for the LLN Final in Barcelona in October, so which horses and riders are we going to see in action this week? The answer is an exciting mix of Olympic veterans and rising stars and we can’t wait for the LLN team action to resume.

Here are the shortlisted runners and riders for the first leg of the Longines League of Nations.

Longines League of Nations: rising stars to Olympic veterans among key contenders

With a prize fund of €700,000 on offer at each LLN qualifying event and a further €1,600,000 up for grabs in the Final in Barcelona, it’s no surprise to see an A-list field in action in Abu Dhabi this week. Here are the teams announced for Friday’s two-round Longines League of Nations. All four riders from each country will contest round one, with only the top eight teams progressing to round two, where just three of the four athletes will be picked to jump again, without the luxury of a drop score.

Great Britain

A “youthful quartet” is how Great Britain’s team is described, with Joe Stockdale (Ebanking), Jack Whitaker (Jack JL) and LLN debutant Sandy McLean (Calixte Heartbreaker Z) lining up alongside team stalwart Tim Gredley (Medoc de Toxandria). The nation arrives in Abu Dhabi as reigning champions, having won the Final in Barcelona last year.

“We’d certainly love to retain that Longines trophy this year, and will be giving it our all to top the podium in Barcelona come October,” says chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “I’d like to think we’ll start the year a bit stronger than in past years and have strong hopes for a podium finish in Abu Dhabi or Ocala to get some good points in the first half of the season.

“Arriving at Rotterdam with extra pressure to get points last year wasn’t ideal but we were fortunate and secured our spot for Barcelona before the St Tropez leg,” she continues. “I learned by watching my fellow chefs who had to wait until Saint Tropez to see if they qualified for the Final. As chef d’equipe, competing for your country means everything – it’s why I do it. To be able to select a team to represent King and country gives me huge pride and I’m honoured to do it.”

Ireland

Winners in Abu Dhabi last year , Ireland now has new jumping manager Jessica Kürten in the driving seat. The green jackets will be sported by Mikey Pender (HHS Los Angeles), 21-year-old debutante Niamh McEvoy (Olympic ‘GL’ ‘FVD’) and brothers Shane (BP Arctic Blue) and Trevor Breen (Highland President).

“The Longines League of Nations is a prestigious series as only the best 10 teams in the world can participate,” says Jessica. “I particularly like the fact that it goes on the rankings of the athletes, including one under-25 athlete. The format of the competition makes it very dynamic and exciting for fans who are watching – and quite nerve-racking for those involved! But I’m very much looking forward to Team Ireland’s campaign this year.

“Ireland is a country known for its affinity with horses. Many of our Irish athletes have spent time riding horses since they were very young, have a very natural way with the horse and how they ride them. This partnership and bond is always an advantage to them, especially when in competition environments where we must make big ‘asks’ of our partners.”

Belgium

The reigning European champions are represented by Rik Hemeryck, Jos Verlooy, Wilm Vermeir and Annelies Vorsselmans, with team manager Peter Weinberg at the helm.

“Ambition and consistency are built on the same foundation: trust and team spirit,” says Peter. “We encourage athletes to be ambitious, but always within a collective framework where the team result comes first.

“Clear expectations, mutual support and confidence in one another allow athletes to perform at their best while maintaining the reliability that is essential in team competitions. For Belgium’s Red Musketeers, success has always come from riding with the team, not just for individual results.”

Structure and reliability: core principles in LLN

USA

It’s all about girl power for Team USA in Abu Dhabi, with Natalie Dean, Callie Schott, Sarah Segal and Skylar Wireman having been picked by chef d’equipe Robert Ridland.

“The opportunity to view and access top international sport is hugely motivating to inspire the next generation of athletes, and we have seen that firsthand with the Longines League of Nations leg in Ocala,” he says. “For our younger athletes, my advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity to watch and learn from these types of events. Watch the warm-up, the horsemanship, the course walks, how athletes work with their teams – it all builds towards the bigger picture of being capable of putting the pieces together on these stages in the most important moments.”

Germany

The inaugural winners in 2024 are back in force with Marco Kutscher, Daniel Deusser, Sophie Hinners and Jörne Sprehe.

“Structure and reliability remain core principles of our approach,” says chef d’equipe Otto Becker. “At the same time, the sport continues to evolve. We respond by regularly reviewing and refining our processes, including season planning, performance analysis and communication within the team. The aim is to preserve proven strengths while integrating new ideas where they add value.”

France

More top names line up for France with Simon Delestre, Antoine Ermann, Olivier Perreau and Jeanne Sadran picked for the season opener in Abu Dhabi.

Chef d’equipe Édouard Coupérie says: “With the Olympic Games approaching, where teams are made up of three pairs, it is essential to be able to adapt to this format.

“LLN is a highly competitive circuit, where results throughout the year and in the Final are a goal for every country – France will need to perform better in the 2026 final!”

Netherlands

Chef d’equipe Wout-Jan van der Schans has selected Kim Emmen, Frank Schuttert, Leopold van Asten and Jur Vrieling to don the orange jackets in the first leg of the LLN.

“Fortunately we have many, many good athletes, and also quite a few relatively young horses coming up to complement the seasoned professionals,” says the country’s newly appointed high performance director Laurens van Lieren. “This, of course, is the long-term plan for ongoing national development and performance excellence. So we expect to have a good group of combinations to select from, which makes us very hopeful for this season.

“We are incredibly grateful to have our athletes consistently at this global podium, showcasing their skills and talents to an ever-growing global audience. We look forward to the development of our athletes and horses throughout this season, and we invite everybody to come and cheer for the (future) stars of our lovely sport!”

Switzerland

After a disappointing 2025, we see some new names lining up for round one with LLN debutant Jason Smith, Romain Duguet, Gaëtan Joliat and Barbara Schnieper.

“Looking ahead to 2026, the focus will be on further strengthening our leading athletes so we can be competitive both in the Longines League of Nations and at the Longines FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen,” says Swiss chef Peter van der Waaij. “The biggest progress has been made in developing the next generation, and I am convinced we will benefit from this approach in the coming years.”

Italy

Returning for its second Longines League of Nations season, Italy is set to be represented in Abu Dhabi by team veteran Piergiorgio Bucci, Giacomo Casadei, Paulo Paini and Clara Pezzoli.

“Our goal is to maintain a strong level of competitiveness in order to continue participating in the Longines League of Nations, because this circuit provides an excellent opportunity to compete in five-star events, which are not always accessible for our athletes,” says Italian team selector, Stefano Cesaretto.

Brazil

The experienced duo of Luciana Diniz and Pedro Junqueira Muylaert are joined by first-timers João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima and Luiz Felipe Neto de Azevedo.

“Balancing experienced athletes with emerging talent is a central pillar of Brazil’s long-term strategy,” explains chef d’equipe Pedro Paulo. “While senior riders provide stability and leadership, younger athletes are progressively integrated into the high-performance environment.

“The Brazilian team is known for valuing a relaxed yet focused atmosphere. One informal tradition is the selection of a song for each event, chosen by the riders to represent that particular competition. That song often becomes part of the team’s routine, played while preparing in the stables. It helps create unity, reinforce team spirit, and maintain a positive mindset throughout the event, offering a small glimpse into the team’s culture behind the scenes.”

UAE

Chef d’equipe William Funnell leads the host nation’s three riders in Abu Dhabi, hoping to build on their tremendous second place finish of last year. Representing the UAE are Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi.

After Abu Dhabi, the LLN series moves to Ocala in USA, then Rotterdam in the Netherlands and finally St Tropez-Gassin in France before concluding in Barcelona, Spain.

You can follow all the Longines League of Nations action with Horse & Hound, with H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald bringing you all the news from Abu Dhabi this week.

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“I’ve been on many teams over the years but the strength and attitude that these guys have together is fantastic,” credited Ben Maher after he and team-mates Harry Charles, Donald Whitaker and hero of the hour once again, Scott Brash, lifted the trophy for the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday (5 October).

British showjumpers were riding the crest of a colossal wave leading up to the final curtain falling in Barcelona, notching up a remarkable hat-trick of team successes, which started with a long-awaited victory in the BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows, continued to the final LLN qualifier in St Tropez last month, before the celebrations rang out once again in Spain for the British dream team.

“Today means the world,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “The riders were so consistent at the beginning of the year and since Rotterdam it’s been go, go, go – three wins on the trot is just amazing. They make my job very easy.”

Longines League of Nations Final Barcelona: a first jump-off

The unique format for the LLN always makes for enthralling viewing but this final included the only missing ingredient so far – the series’ first jump-off to decide top honours. Having completed on equal team scores of 16 penalties, the scene was set for Ireland and Great Britain to battle it out in a thrilling showdown against the clock.

Billy Twomey, just eight months into his partnership with the athletic Jumping Jack Van De Kalevallei (Kannan x Chin Chin) set off first for Team Ireland. After performing some beautifully executed turns over another masterful Santiago Varela course, Billy saw a long stride to the final fence and pressed the accelerator. There was a collective gasp as the 10-year-old stallion gave it a hefty rattle, but luck was with the Irish side and they crossed the finish clear in 38.42sec.

In contrast to this relatively new combination, Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson have long reigned as one of the most successful partnerships in the world. The Scotsman had had the opportunity to seal victory for Great Britain with a clear in round two, but the world number five, fresh from victory in the world’s richest showjumping competition at Spruce Meadows last month, was left shaking his head in dismay after faulting at the middle element of the triple combination.

But there was no doubting this magnificent pair against the clock as Scott executed a perfectly judged round. Accelerating through the midway section allowed him the timely luxury of a perfect set-up to the tricky final fence, which the ever-obliging Jefferson soared over effortlessly, flying home with a quarter of a second to spare on the clock.

Great Britain, who didn’t qualify for last year’s inaugural final, were the newly crowned champions of the LLN Final 2025.

“I thought Billy did a fantastic job and really stuck it to us,” reflected Scott, surprisingly competing at his first LLN. “Thankfully I’m sitting on a quick horse and we managed to leave the jumps up. Hello Jefferson stayed calm – horses don’t really know what’s at stake so I just tried to stay focused and follow the great advice from my team.

“The team’s had an amazing year and it’s fantastic to finish on this note, so all credit to the guys, they’ve been amazing.”

Di added of her “icing on the cake” victory in the LLN Final Barcelona: “We’re well practised at having three in the final round who all count. It’s an amazing competition and I know organisers wanted a jump-off so it was great to have one.”

Di Lampard: “I have the best riders in the world”

Speaking of the country’s resurgence in recent years, Di continued: “There are some fantastic riders in the world, but I have three of the best and others coming up to join them. We had a couple of years where we were rebuilding. It happens in every rider’s career. Thankfully we have come back very strong.”

Pathfinder Ben jumped for four faults in round one on Enjeu De Grisien before delivering a crucial clear in round two.

“Enjeu stepped up amazingly – we had a small mistake in the first round but put that right,” he said. “With someone like Scott going last, it’s definitely easier.”

Harry Charles was also stepping back up to top level Nations Cups with 12-year-old Sherlock, owned by his father Peter Charles and Stall Zet.

“To walk back into a team that’s winning so much is very nice!” he said.

Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette, who have contributed so much to Britain’s success and medal tally this year, were the drop score in round one with eight faults, sitting out round two.

“She’s been fantastic all year so I can’t blame her for not being totally on it today,” he reflected.

Two riders shared the double clear bonus – Bertram Allen of runners-up Ireland riding Qonquest De Rigo and Nicola Philippaerts of fourth-placed Belgium on Katanga VH Dingeshof.

The best athlete of the season was named as Piergiorgio Bucci representing LLN debutants Italy, with his groom Yulia Khokhryakova and horse Hantano also awarded.

Brash and Hello Folie are simply superb again

British celebrations began on Friday night when Scott Brash landed the grand prix of Barcelona riding superstar mare Hello Folie owned, like LLN hero Hello Jefferson, by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham and looked after by groom David Honnet.

With 11 combinations coming forward for the jump-off, a high-octane thriller ensued but Scott and the 10-year-old Luidam mare cannoned round the magnificent Olympic arena at heart-stopping speed to top the leader board and earn the 99,000 euro top prize.

Scott had endured a barren period of five-star grands prix coming into 2025 but has gone on to land six already this year with Folie, Jefferson and Hello Chadora Lady.

“Folie jumped incredibly on Friday – she loves the job and feels like she’s getting more comfortable at that height now,” said Scott. “This was special.”

You can read the full report from the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 9 October.

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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

All roads lead to Barcelona, Spain, this week (2-5 October) for the Longines League of Nations (LLN) final where Great Britain’s showjumpers are among the nine countries who have qualified for Sunday’s two-round decider.

So who will be lining up for this year’s event?

The LLN Final in Barcelona: runners and riders

Great Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard has selected a star-studded dream team for Sunday’s LLN Final in Barcelona. They arrive at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona off the back of a glorious victory in the final leg of the LLN qualifiers in St Tropez-Gassin, as well as a historic victory in the BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows.

“We’ve had a really good season, but we’ve got better and better,” says Di.

Among the five riders representing Great Britain in Barclona this year are the trio of gold medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Scott Brash, Harry Charles and Ben Maher.

They will be joined by Donald Whitaker, who played a key role in helping Great Britain win team silver at the European Championships in La Coruna, Spain this summer. The final squad member is relative five-star team newcomer Adrian Whiteway, who was part of the polished winning team in St Tropez-Gassin recently on his LLN debut.

Horse-wise, Donald lines up with his great partner Millfield Colette, the 12-year-old mare he jointly owns with Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen and with whom he finished 10th individually at the European Showjumping Championships and were celebrated last year as the King George V Gold Cup heroes.

Adrian brings Deborah Cox’s hugely consistent 12-year-old stallion Chacco Volo. While Adrian joked after helping the British team secure victory at the LLN in St Tropez that “Time-faults are our forte, if you like – we’re pretty good at getting them!”, they are equally proficient at clear rounds and that’s what counts in these top tier team competitions.

A full house of Olympic gold medallists

Fresh from success in the world’s richest showjumping competition at Spruce Meadows, reigning Olympic team gold medallist Scott Brash has kept his options open with his choice of horses. He is opting to bring both 16-year-old Hello Jefferson and breakthrough star Hello Folie, both of whom are owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham.

Harry Charles returns to the team fold with his father Peter’s and Stall Zet’s Sherlock, The 12-year-old was last seen jumping double clear for a third place finish in the CSI5* Rolex grand prix at the Stephex Masters at the end of August.

Completing the quintet of British riders is world number two Ben Maher, who also has a choice of two horses in Barcelona, with Enjeu De Grisien or Point Break.

Who are Britain’s rivals?

The other teams to have qualified for Sunday’s LLN Final in Barcelona from the four global legs in Abu Dhabi, Ocala, Rotterdam and St Tropez are Team USA, hosts Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France and the newly crowned European champions Belgium. Germany returns to the Spanish city as title-holders, having lifted the inaugural trophy in dramatic style in 2024.

Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake has selected Neal Fearon, Billy Twomey, Bertram Allen, Mikey Pender and Sean Monaghan for the Spanish event this week.

Among the other international showjumping superstars in action will be European champion Richard Vogel and the Olympic champion Christian Kukuk.

The four-day CSIO Barcelona kicks off on Thursday 2 October, with the 1.60m grand prix taking place on Friday evening (3 October). Horse & Hound will be on hand to bring you all the latest news with the full report appearing in the 9 October issue of the magazine.

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For the first time in nearly 30 years, Great Britain’s showjumpers have triumphed in the BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows Masters, Canada.

The British quartet of Matt Sampson (Ebolensky), Ben Maher (Enjeu De Grisien), Joe Stockdale riding Ebanking and Donald Whitaker with Millfield Colette were the stand-out performers throughout the two-round competition, jumping three double clears between them.

They thrilled the crowds at this, the venue’s 50th anniversary, topping the leader board on a zero score. Great Britain’s victorious team were joined on the podium by runners-up Germany and third-placed USA, who both finished on a team score of four but were separated by cumulative time.

Great Britain’s Nations Cup showjumping victory after a 30-year hiatus

Great Britain last won the BMO Nations Cup in 1996 when the “Fab Four” of Nick Skelton (Showtime), Geoff Billington (It’s Otto), Michael Whitaker (Two Step) and John Whitaker (Welham) lifted the coveted trophy at the Calgary venue. Since its inauguration in 1977, Great Britain has now triumphed 11 times in the world famous BMO Nations Cup.

This time around, chef d’equipe Di Lampard led the next generation to victory with triple Olympic gold medallist Ben, last night’s record-breaking six bar winner Joe and European silver medal-winning rider Donald all jumping double clears. The contest was taken right to the wire, however, and victory was only sealed as the final rider of the competition, Donald Whitaker with Millfield Colette, brushed off immense pressure to produce yet another foot perfect performance and claim the €150,008 (£130,000) first prize, as well as the towering BMO silverware.

“The spirit of this team is second to none, it’s come together so well this year,” said Di Lampard. “Three members of this team [Donald, Ben and Matt] are the European silver medalists and we’ve been building, building… But to have the win here at Spruce Meadows – I’m so proud of them all.”

There was further British success on the penultimate day of the Spruce Meadows Masters, when Charlie Jones and Capitale 6 won the CSI2* grand prix. The action concludes with Sunday’s CPKC International grand prix presented by Rolex where showjumpers will be competing for the richest prize the sport has ever seen.

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In the wake of a glorious European Showjumping Championships for Great Britain, the squad’s performance manager Di Lampard reflects on winning team silver, as well as unprecedented success for the individual riders.

Speaking on episode 167 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, which is sponsored by D&H this month, Di reveals that she “can’t talk any better of the squad we took out there” to A Coruña, Spain.

Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly), Donald Whitaker (Millfield Colette), Matt Sampson (Medoc De Toxandria) and Scott Brash, “who is always there to seal the job” delivered a glorious team medal, while Scott went on to win individual silver as well with new crowd-favourite Hello Folie.

“From day one, we were going to be brave,” recalls Di. “But leading from the front proved to be difficult. We’d never had that sort of pressure before. I certainly felt it.”

Di Lampard: “All the riders are great winners in their individual rights”

With four British riders finishing in the top 12 individually, these championships marked a tremendous milestone for the progression of the sport in this country.

“All the riders are great winners in their individual rights,” says Di. “[Britain’s individual rider] Jess Mendoza came to the top of her game as well, which was really pleasing.”

Di says she had in her mind a poignant moment from a previous championship, when senior riders Ben and Scott were jumping alongside relative newcomers Harry Charles and Joe Stockdale.

“I remember Ben turning round to Scott after we moved off the kiss and cry and he said ‘Come on, we’ve got to get this medal for the young two’ and that crossed my mind in Spain,” says Di. “We wanted this medal, but we really wanted it for Matt and Donald. That put more pressure on myself, which I tried not to show.”

Why retirement has been put on hold

Di was actually due to step down from her role as chef d’equipe after the Paris Olympics but she says that, after the devastating loss of her husband Dietmar Ackermann, she needed to “focus my mind”.

“I said I need to carry on, I need to keep busy,” she says. “Home is very lonely without Dietmar. But the sport is what I love and it keeps me going – I know Dietmar would want that.”

To hear more about Di Lampard’s insights on Matt Sampson’s “outstanding piece of horsemanship and determination” and her most memorable moments in the saddle, listen here to episode 167 of The Horse & Hound Podcast – or search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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On our 167th episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, which is sponsored by D&H this month, we speak to the British team’s showjumping performance manager, Di Lampard. She talks about Team GBR’s performances in Spain at the recent Longines FEI European Showjumping Championships, plus how the competition panned out and what’s next for British showjumping. We hope you enjoy listening.

Episode 167 of our popular audio service The Horse & Hound Podcast, which is sponsored by D&H this month, is now live.

Each episode is available for H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app, as well as here on the website. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode.

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On this episode, we speak to the British team’s showjumping performance manager, Di Lampard. She talks about Team GBR’s performances in Spain at the recent Longines FEI European Showjumping Championships, plus how the competition panned out and what’s next for British showjumping.

H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald also chats to Di about how her route into riding, how showjumping became her sport of choice and the incredible partnership she enjoyed with the outstanding Abbervail Dream.

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Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 167

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In this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we head to the iconic Grand Palais on the Champs-Élysées in the centre of Paris, where top-tier showjumping makes a welcome return after several years. There was much excitement across the pond too, where, in Florida, the second leg of the Longines League of Nations produced a high-pressure finale, resulting in the narrowest of winning margins.

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

Showjumping news: iconic venue makes welcome return

After a hiatus of several years during which the Grand Palais was transformed into an Olympic sporting venue for Paris 2024, top-flight showjumping made a welcome return to the iconic venue, on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris.

Under the breathtaking glass roof, the prestigious Saut Hermès took place over three days and Sunday’s feature grand prix was won by Simon Delestre with Cayman Jolly Jumper, finishing just ahead of Great Britain’s Robert Whitaker riding the brilliant stallion Vermento.

Robert and the Blatchfords’ 12-year-old stallion were drawn first against the clock, producing a double clear in 41.70sec. But France’s Simon Delestre triumphed in a time of 41.21sec, marking a historic third victory in this prestigious class.

“You can sense the weight of history at this venue,” said the in-form Simon, who won the Rolex grand prix at the Dutch Masters the previous week.

Robert said: “Simon was too quick, but I have no regrets.”

Great Britain’s Allana Clutterbuck (Vykinbay) and Claudia Moore (Hardesther) finished second overall in the Les Talents Hermès team competition.

• Saut Hermes results

USA claim victory in showjumping team thriller

With a vocal home crowd to propel them, the US squad of Lillie Keenan (Argan De Beliard), Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25), Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 and McLain Ward with Ilex delivered a dazzling victory in the second leg of the Longines League of Nations (LLN) in Ocala, Florida.

“To win on home soil and to have everyone see one of the best venues in the world is so special, because we all share an incredible sport,” said 28-year-old LLN debutante Lillie, who referred to Argan De Beliard as her “trusty team-mate”. “The more pressure the better for us.”

But in a dramatic evening of twists and turns, the contest remained nail-bitingly close at every stage and Germany were left ruing a first-round time-fault which kept them one point off the victors in the final standings. USA’s victory was only sealed with a final double clear from final rider McLain Ward (Ilex), marking a first LLN success for the United States.

World number seven McLain, who spent four weeks on the sidelines after a fall in January said: “The drama at the end is a testament to the format – it makes for excellent sport and competition.

“When Sophie Hinners [Germany’s final rider] jumped clear, I got a smile on my face and thought, ‘OK, game on’. This is what we do – you focus and this is what you live for.”

Belgium finished third with 13 faults, equal with Ireland who missed out on the final podium place by just one second when the two teams were split by accumulated times.

“We set very high expectations of ourselves, so obviously we’re disappointed,” said Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake, who picked Darragh Kenny (Eddy Blue), Cian O’Connor (Bentley De Sury) and 20-year-old Tom Wachman with Tabasco De Toxandria Z as his trio for round two; Daniel Coyle and Incredible sitting it out after a four-fault tally in round one.

“Some of the poles that dropped were ones that we ordinarily wouldn’t have, but that’s jumping. There were some real positives out there and plenty to build on,” added Michael.

Great Britain repeated their Abu Dhabi result of sixth. Pathfinders Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly returned from an eight-fault first round to stay faultless in round two, while Jessica Mendoza (In The Air) hit a rail in each round and anchor rider Harry Charles (Casquo Blue) jumped clear in round one but added four penalties in round two. GB’s LLN team debutant Charlie Jones, 26, produced a super opener for just four faults on Capitale 6, but was on the sidelines for round two.

Chef d’equipe Di Lampard said, “It was a tough competition with strong teams and a strong course but everyone handled it well.

“The team were so unlucky; we were four faults away from third place and a clear from Jess or Harry in the second round would have clinched it.”

Di credited Charlie’s “unbelievable” performance.

“He had an early rail at fence two but kept it together to come home on four faults, all credit to him, he was outstanding.,” she said. “It is a shame with this format he couldn’t go again.”

• LLN results

Olympic champion lands grand prix

After a nine-way battle between some of the titans of the sport, the reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk landed Thursday’s $350,000 Lugano grand prix at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.

Riding the hugely exciting mare Just Be Gentle, with whom he jumped double clear in the LLN, the German rider set an unbeatable target from first draw. Ireland’s multi-medallist Cian O’Connor came closest with his own Iron Man but next-generation talent was hot on their heels, with 25-year-old French rider Nina Mallevaey (Nikka VD Bisschop) and 20-year-old US competitor Mimi Gochman (Inclen BH) in third and fourth respectively, the top five rounded out by the mighty combination of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward.

“She’s as sharp as a lion and in the ring she just wants to go fast,” said Christian of the Dutch warmblood by Tyson. “I’m excited for the rest of the year with her.”

• Lugano grand prix results

Showjumping news: “We’re over the moon”

Finally in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we head to Wellington, Florida. As the Winter Equestrian Festival reaches the final furlong, 20-year-old US rider Ansgar Holgers Jr landed the biggest success of his career in the $200,000 KASK CSI4* grand prix with Pixel-K Van’t Kattenhey.

“Any win feels nice, but this is definitely the icing on the cake,” he said, after beating Spencer Smith (HHS Seattle) and Shane Sweetnam (Gilona AO) to the top of the podium.

Ashlee Bond was among the other winners this week, riding Night Wish to victory in the WEF Challenge Cup. Their partnership hasn’t been plain sailing, however.

“He had a rearing issue and he was quite opinionated,” she said. “I worked with Leo Rauscher and he spent two weeks with him and completely turned this horse around. I’m really proud of the work because this was almost a lost cause. The fact that we’re here a year after he did his first 1.40m is really special. My goal is for him to do the FEI World Championships next year at Aachen, and the LA Olympics is my end goal. I think this horse has a good shot at jumping clear every day. I’m working backwards from three years to today.”

• WEF results
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The curtain lifts on the 2025 series of the Longines League of Nations (LLN) team showjumping competitions this weekend (Saturday 15 February) with the opening leg in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Although a couple of key riders have elected to boycott this year’s LLN, there is plenty to look forward to as the top 10 ranked nations battle it out for supremacy across three continents, with a ticket to the final in Barcelona the goal.

Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and USA are the countries in action this year, and the UAE joins them in round one as the host nation.

So which showjumping combinations are in action in round one of the Longines League of Nations this weekend?

Great Britain fields dynamic squad for opening leg of Longines League of Nations

Great Britain failed to qualify for last year’s LLN final, but the reigning Olympic gold medallists enter this year’s contest as the fourth ranked squad.

“As a team, we expect to perform even better this year thanks to having that bit more time to prepare and the opportunity to build on lessons learned in the previous season,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard, herself a former competitor at the World Equestrian Games, European Championships and Nations Cups.

“We need to have the strongest teams available for the LLN series. The other nations have been very competitive so far, so we need to match that standard if we’re going to secure a place in the final. Hopefully, we can plan and train with a larger squad of athletes and horses, balancing their individual goals with the responsibilities for Longines League of Nations team selection.”

Lining up to represent Great Britain in Abu Dhabi this week are Tim Gredley on Imperial HBF, who is jointly owned by Rachel Gredley, Bill Gredley and Unex Competition Yard. Joe Stockdale will be in action on Ebanking, owned by Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale, and Donald Whitaker brings Millfield Colette, who is jointly owned by Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen. Robert Murphy, 24, is riding Kannem JA Z, owned by Jos Lansink Horses BV.

“This year is a new season and a chance for everyone to make a statement,” Di added. “There will hopefully be some new combinations that are selected. Some athletes will be looking to use the series as a chance to prove themselves for selection for the FEI European Championships this summer, while the more experienced ones will be trying out new or younger horses. Last year held an element of the unknown because the series was new, but now we know what to expect and can be better prepared – time will tell.”

Explaining the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, Di said: “I’m helping the riders to strategically plan their competition schedules and supporting the grooms. The wellbeing of our horses is of utmost importance and making sure they’re feeling fresh is key to helping them perform at their best. I try to encourage the athletes to limit the starts of each horse and build a plan around their individual needs. A World Class programme vet is usually at the events to check their wellbeing and each horse will have a dedicated groom travelling with them to see to their every need.

“Good luck to everyone – let the sport be exciting and the best nations win. To all the British fans supporting us from home, thank you all for getting behind your national athletes. To the fans around the world supporting the Brits at each of the LLN competitions, please keep it going. The horses, let alone the athletes, raise their game in a good atmosphere.”

Ireland: the best in the world

Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake has picked LLN newcomers Trevor Breen and Jason Foley for Abu Dhabi, alongside Denis Lynch and Mikey Pender.

“In the 2024 Longines League of Nations we maintained a delicate balance between fostering young talent and utilising the expertise of seasoned combinations,” he explained. “This approach will continue in 2025 as we focus on developing resilience in emerging riders while refining strategies for our experienced athletes.

“That win in Ocala [last year] was a phenomenal night of jumping. It reinforced the strength of our program and gave us the momentum to secure the top position in the league standings. Finishing first was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team.

“Our youth programs are the foundation of our success. They provide a platform for emerging riders to transition to senior levels and excel under the green jacket,” he added.

“Our athletes support and inspire one another. This camaraderie and shared purpose are key to our success. It’s not just about individual performance, but about building a cohesive team that can rise to any challenge.

“For our athletes, we focus on goal setting and mental preparedness. Open communication is vital, whether it’s addressing logistical challenges or preparing for major events. This support helps alleviate pressure and keeps them focused. For our horses, individualised training and competition plans are essential. Targeting lower-level competitions allows them to build confidence and refine skills without unnecessary stress. Regular veterinary check-ins ensure they are in top physical and mental condition.

“As a small nation, our success on the global stage wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our fans and the dedicated systems behind our athletes. The level of competition among the 10 teams is exceptional and it’s a privilege to be part of this journey. We’re excited for what’s to come in 2025 and can’t wait to deliver more thrilling performances for our supporters.”

USA: valuable exposure for younger athletes in the Longines League of Nations

USA will be represented in Abu Dhabi by an all-female quartet of Skylar Wireman, Lucy Davis Kennedy, Taylor Kain and Kaitlin Campbell, lead by chef d’equipe Robert Ridland, a former Olympian.

“Introducing younger athletes into the Longines League of Nations is an excellent way to test them against the top sport, while providing valuable exposure,” he said.

A mix of experience and youth on French squad

With a new home stage to compete at during the LLN series in 2025, France is hoping to use lessons learned from 2024 as a springboard. Kevin Staut, Simon Delestre, Jeanne Sadran and Alexa Ferrer are the French representatives in leg one.

“The challenge lies in the early start to the circuit, which overlaps with the World Cup season,” said Sophie Dubourg of the French equestrian federation. “This year, we’re choosing to mix experience and youth from the outset.”

Title holders Germany bid to regain their LLN crown

Chef d’equipe Otto Becker brings a quality quartet of Katrin Eckermann, Sophie Hinners, Jörne Sprehe and Maximilian Weishaupt to spearhead the nation’s bid to defend their LLN crown and follow up on the individual Olympic title earned by Germany’s Christian Kukuk.

“In this series, every round counts,” said Otto. “There is no margin for error, which makes it incredibly exciting for spectators and significantly raises the stakes for riders. That’s why we will again focus on fielding experienced horse-and-rider combinations in 2025. Winning Barcelona for the third consecutive time would be an incredible achievement.

“Only the very best teams earn their place in the Longines League of Nations,” he added. “We have the highest respect for our fellow competitors and their supporters, and we look forward to delivering top-class sport for fans around the world.”

Team Belgium: inspiring the next generation

Chef d’equipe Peter Weinberg has guided the Belgian team since 2017 and flying the flag in Abu Dhabi will be Riky Hemeryck, Thibeau Spits, Jos Verlooy and Wilm Vermeir.

“One of the most critical insights from 2024 was the importance of starting strong and maintaining consistency throughout the series,” said Silke Hamerlinck, head of communication for high-level jumping administration at the Belgian equestrian federation. “It also provides an invaluable platform for our athletes to perform at the highest level while inspiring the next generation of riders.

“The outstanding team spirit among our riders creates an environment where everyone thrives and learns from one another. This unity strengthens our performances and fosters resilience during challenges.”

New leadership and different goals in Switzerland

Although he does not have key players Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat at his disposal for the LLN, young chef d’equipe Peter van der Waaij has selected a great team for Abu Dhabi – Bryan Balsiger, Romain Duguet, Janika Sprunger and Edouard Schmitz.

Switzerland hosts more than a dozen international equestrian events annually but its flagship show St Gallen was removed from the LLN series for 2025 after having been cancelled owing to bad weather in 2024.

“Our team is very persistent,” said Peter. “They keep working on their weaknesses and strive to enhance their strengths. The level of horsemanship among our riders is very high and they prioritise the wellbeing of their horses above all else.

“We strongly believe that big crowds help our sport move forward, both in the short and long term.

A strong Longines League of Nations start for the riders in orange?

The Netherlands finished runners-up in the LLN Final of 2024 and new chef d’equipe Wout-Jan van der Schans fields Kevin Jochems, Tani Joosten, Leopold van Asten and Jur Vrieling for the season opener.

“In Rotterdam last year we had a sea of orange cheering us on,” said Jantien van Zon from the Dutch equestrian federation.

Mighty Sweden always bring their A-game

Helmsman Henrik Ankarcrona pins his LLN hopes on Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Angelie von Essen, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli and Petronella Andersson to build on their podium finish in the LLN final last year.

“Perhaps the real highlight, though, is that the team learned a lot over the 2024 series, which means we will be aiming for more podiums in 2025,” said Henrik. “From grooms to riders to support staff, each and every individual plays a critical role to the performance. If everyone brings their A-game and the best version of themselves on the day, we will have a good run for the podium again.

“We are always mindful of integrating new talent at the right time and place to align with our long-term vision for the sport. Having that bigger vision is essential to keep on track, but we also aim to perform well on the day – this presents the ultimate balancing act for both immediate and sustainable success.”

Italy makes its LLN debut

Italian riders join the Longines League of Nations for the first time, with Piergiorgio Bucci, Emanuele Camilli, Giacomo Casadei and Giulia Martinengo Marquet flying the country’s flag for their debut in Abu Dhabi.

Team UAE led by William Funnell

Host nation UAE has chef d’equipe William Funnell at the helm and his squad representing their country on home soil are Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi and Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi.

What is the Longines League of Nations format?

The 2025 LLN format follows that set last year and differs slightly from traditional Nations Cups. The competition comprises two rounds of jumping over the same course. Four athletes compete for each country in round one, with the best three scores counting for the team total. The best eight teams return for round two, fielding only three riders per nation, which means that every score counts.

In the event of a tie, one athlete from each of the tying nations will jump off against the clock.

Where are the remaining legs of the LLN?

The 2025 LLN campaign continues in Ocala (USA), Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and new venue Gassin-St Tropez (France), culminating in the grand finale in Barcelona, Spain, in October. Each qualifying event offers a prize fund of €700,000, with €1,600,000 up for grabs at the final.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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

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

Great Britain landed its opening team showjumping contest of 2025, the CSIO4* Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines, in the United Arab Emirates yesterday (2 February). The competition marked a return to the British fold for team showjumping stalwart William Funnell, who last jumped in a Nations Cup two years ago, and his exceptional double clear with Equine America Billy Picador proved pivotal to Great Britain’s victory.

“The strength of the team is brilliant, so credit to them all,” said Great Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard.

The British squad was led out by pathfinder Joe Stockdale with Renske Quelhorst’s exciting nine-year-old Billy Santorini, who was jumping in his first Nations Cup. The pair jumped for four faults and a clear.

Georgia Tame, 27, was contesting only her second show with 10-year-old Be Golden, having helped to produce the son of Golden Hawk, out of Shane Breen’s great mare Zarnita, in his younger days for Breen Equestrian. The pair picked up 16 faults in round one but returned for a smashing clear in round two, just picking up one time-fault.

Johnnie Walker, an 11-year-old Harley VDL gelding, was another horse making his team debut having been beautifully produced by Lily Attwood, and the pair posted a crucial clear in the opening round before their eight faults in round two became the drop score.

Having stepped aside from jumping in team competitions while he took the role of chef d’equipe to the UAE showjumping team on their journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics, William Funnell made a welcome return to the British squad, jumping a brilliant double clear on the squad’s second Billy Stud-bred horse, the 13-year-old mare Equine America Billy Picador. Picador, like Santorini, is by Billy Mexico but out of Animo mare Bidorette.

Finishing on a team score of five faults, Great Britain won gold, ahead of the UAE riders in second, three penalties adrift. The three-rider squads of Belgium and Germany took third and fourth respectively, and Ireland finished fifth.

Nations Cup showjumping thriller: great team spirit

Di Lampard told H&H the win was “a fantastic start to the season”.

“It was a real mix of new and old and the fact every rider contributed is great,” she said. “It was fantastic to see Billy Santorini starting his Nations Cup career so well with Joe Stockdale, he looks very promising and Joe is really maturing. The horse hasn’t been competed a lot but has been very carefully produced and it just shows that when you get the foundations right, they can step up.

“Georgia hasn’t been riding Be Golden very long so it was a great show of her horsemanship – it was just towards the end of the first round that it started to unravel, but she was supported well in the second round and she’s a great rider.”

A surprise return to the British team

Di described Lily Attwood’s journey to the top with Johnnie Walker as “a feather in her cap”, adding that there was “no bigger surprise than having William riding for us again”.

“He was fantastic and it just goes to show that he still wants to ride and to do it well, and what an example he sets; I told him what a brilliant performance it was and for all of his pupils to see. To pick things back up at Nations Cups after a couple of years out is amazing, but especially to do it with a double clear. It just looked so good,” she said.

“I must confess I didn’t ask William initially to ride in the team because last year he had his other commitments and couldn’t do it. But it wasn’t until they were talking among themselves out there in the UAE and Stanny van Paesschen said to me he thought William might ride on the team if asked. So it was a really good team spirit out there that got this team together.”

William Funnell’s last Nations Cup showjumping appearance for Great Britain came two years ago and this time around he was also acting as chef d’equipe to the runners-up UAE, resulting in some friendly rivalry between the top two teams.

“I cantered in for my second round knowing that Great Britain could win, but if I had once fence down, the UAE would win, so it was a bit of a win-win situation!” William told H&H. “It was fantastic to have two Billy Mexico horses on the team – both Santorini and Picador are horses my wife Pippa Funnell produced and I thought Joe did a fantastic job, he’s really come of age as a rider, whether it’s riding his young ones or the horses he knows. He’s doing a sterling job and Santorini looks to have a big future for him.

“It wasn’t my plan to jump the Nations Cup but it was great to be able to support the British team as well as the UAE team – I actually thought having me on the team would egg the UAE riders on a bit, because they didn’t want to get beaten by me!”

Next stop, Longines League Of Nations

The next team contest for Great Britain will be the five-star Longines League of Nations, which kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 15 February. Joe Stockdale will be back in action, this time with Ebanking, and he will be joined by Tim Gredley on Imperial HBF, Donald Whitaker on either Picasso VD Zwartbleshoeve or Millfield Colette, and Robert Murphy riding either Hulde G or Kannem JA Z.

“Hopefully we see some nice partnerships coming through to introduce and hopefully everybody can keep hold of the horses; everything’s looking good,” said Di. “Off the back of the Games, I think it has put a bounce in everybody’s step.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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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, we celebrate some mighty performances, particularly from cousins William Whitaker and Jack Whitaker, in the opening week of Bolesworth’s new international tour.

But we also look further afield to some notable Nations Cup podium finishes, a five-star win for a former groom ranked 1,813th in the world, and a rider winning a jump-off against herself. Read on for this week’s international showjumping news round-up and results.

Showjumping news: the big guns are out for a Bolesworth thriller

William Whitaker and Chacco’s Lando took full advantage of the slivers of opportunity left for the taking by their rivals to secure a British victory in Bolesworth’s high-class LeMieux CSI2* grand prix during week one of the inaugural Bolesworth International Equestrian Summer Festival presented by Al Shira’aa.

Ireland’s Shane Breen “knew the big guns were coming behind me” – setting the standard by taking the brave man’s route with Cato Boy over Rafael Suarez’s jump-off course. But William was braver – as last to go, he had to be – slicing across the oxer at fence five and delivering an all-round masterclass in jump-off riding to power ahead by 0.6sec.

“I was in the best position to know what everybody else did before I went in. Shane set a really good target – I knew that I had to give everything to try to beat him and luckily it paid off,” said William, of Old Lodge Stud’s talented 11-year-old Chacco-Blue son, who is looked after by Mia Allison and Sophie Price. “He’s a great horse and I feel now each month I get to know him a little bit better and exactly how he needs to be managed so that he jumps his best.”

Britain’s Christopher Smith was the first to come close to runner-up Shane’s impressive time on owner/breeder Nicola Barry’s nine-year-old mare Messarado Blue, and their performance earned them a place on the podium. Don’t miss the full report in this week’s H&H magazine, in shops Thursday 10 June.

• Bolesworth results

Rider wins five-star jump-off against herself

In Canada, the CSI5* Spruce Meadows Continental meeting presented by Rolex hosted some of the world’s top riders and Erynn Ballard (main image) took the spotlight when achieving the rare feat of a one-two in Friday’s The Mustangs 1.55m grand prix qualifier.

The Olympic hopeful took top spot with Libido Van’t Hofken in a time of 42.86sec, finishing a fraction slower on the former Ben Maher ride Gakhir in 84.53sec. Her closest challenge came from Great Britain’s Matt Sampson on Daniel.

“My first five-star win [at Thunderbird Show Park last month] was the greatest day of my career so far. But everybody that rides a pony, whether you’re a little girl, a little boy, or a teenager, you do this to go to the Olympics. So certainly it’s in the forefront of my mind and I’ve got the horses to do it, but I still have a lot of work to do,” said Erynn, who could be part of Canada’s first-ever all-female Olympic team in Paris. “I’m always hashtagging ‘girl power’ and I think that it would be a great thing for the younger generation of the sport. But at the end of the day, no matter what, we’re all teammates.”

Matt Sampson had turned the tables the previous day, beating the Canadian to victory in the CSI5* AON Cup with new ride One Whisper.

• Spruce Meadows results

Showjumping news: “She’s a proper horse,” says Jack Whitaker

Next in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we’re back to Bolesworth, where a “sassy little” mare got everyone talking when winning the CSIYH1* Al Shira’aa seven-year-old final. It’s part of this sport’s magic to see a prospective future talent score that first significant win. When that success comes in the hands of one of Britain’s top rising stars, that magic is brushed with an extra sparkle. This year’s final was a real jewellery shop window, headed by the super mare Chique Rv Z in the hands of Britain’s Jack Whitaker, with Ireland’s Shane Breen and Konrad Obolensky a close second.

“We think she’s a proper one,” said Jack, who bought the Cicero Z daughter as a four-year-old with Jake Saywell. “She’s like a rubber ball – a real compact, sassy little mare. I don’t think she knows that she’s small! With her, I have to stick to my own plan, as I can’t just copy the strides that everyone else is doing. But I know that she’s quick and I know she can turn tight.”

• Bolesworth results

Nations Cup thrillers: “I am proud of the team”

At the CSIO3* Longines EEF Nations Cup in Luxembourg, winners Belgium topped the podium on a zero score after a jump-off with Ireland. Great Britain finished in third.

Ireland was represented by brothers Max Wachman (Kilkenny) and Tom Wachman with Cathalina S, Michael Duffy on Clitschko 17 and Cian O’Connor producing a double clear with Fancy De Kergane before felling one pole more than Belgium representative Jeroen Appelen on Monte Blue PS against the clock.

“I suppose you could say that’s one that got away,” said Horse Sport Ireland high performance showjumping director Michael Blake. “The lads jumped great for the most part but one or two little mistakes have ultimately cost us. It is still an excellent result and, of course, congratulations to the Belgium team. When Tom and Cian, our final two riders, jumped their clears under pressure to apply pressure on the Belgians, they didn’t wilt to take us to the jump-off, where they got the job done.

“I am proud of the team. A Nations Cup runner-up finish is never to be sniffed at and it highlights the consistency we have in our programme.”

Third-placed Great Britain also secured a place in the semi-final in Deauville later this month.

“I’m delighted, it’s the first time Britain has qualified for the EEF semi-final in Deauville,” said Great Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard, who led Mark Edwards (Flying Tinker II), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), Olli Fletcher (Hello William) and Robert Murphy on Kannem JA Z to the podium. “All four riders contributed with clear rounds and this squad is going to the four-star Nations Cup in Sopot, Poland, next week.

“I like the format for the EEF, where all the teams get to compete in the second round – unless they are eliminated in round one – and get to put the wrongs right. It’s in the right spirit and they gain valuable experience, whereas the standalone three-star teams only take the top eight [through to round two]. I’m looking forward to the Deauville semi-final and hopefully, the final in Warsaw.”

Great Britain and Ireland also finished fifth and sixth respectively in the Longines EEF series qualifier in Drammen, Norway, where another jump-off decided victory for Poland over hosts Norway, with Sweden third after torrential rain hit the venue during round two. It was the first time for eight years that Poland has won a Nations Cup. Each of the British quartet jumped a clear – Simon Crippen (Handsome), Leo Lamb on Gmail, Faye Sutton with Spider and Phillip Miller riding Don Royale, who went on to finish third in Sunday’s grand prix.

• CSIO3* EEF Drammen results
• CSIO3* EEF Roeser results

Showjumping news: Cannes success for Brash and Howley

We continue this week’s showjumping news round-up with the opening day of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes, where Ireland’s Richard Howley and Petitfour VD Wareslage won a 1.45m speed class, toppling long-time leaders Ben Maher and Ginger-Blue.

“Heading in to beat Ben Maher always adds to the pressure,” Richard said. “Obviously he is a world-class rider, so it’s an honour to take the win over him today.”

Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Valentino topped the GCL first qualifier by more than two seconds while Saturday night’s grand prix was won by Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann on the appropriately named Messi Van’t Ruytershof in the city’s football stadium Stade Des Hesperides.

“I had a short second of a moment where I thought ‘now you just drop the rein and go’… and he made it, I am so thankful for this horse – what a horse,” she said.

• LGCT Cannes results

A winning week for Amanda Derbyshire

US-based British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire sealed a spectacular week at the Tryon International with victory in the $120,000 CSI3* 1.50m grand prix on Cornwall BH. She topped a four-way jump-off to decide the honours, having also sealed victory with Otto BH in the two-phase.

• Tryon International results.

A first ever grand prix success for former groom, ranked 1,813th in the world

A 29-year-old rider from Czechia made history with victory in Spruce Meadows’ five-star grand prix. Vaclav Stanek, who just two years ago was working as a groom at the venue, rode Quintin to an unexpected victory over Matt Sampson and Daniel.

“I didn’t even expect to get a clear round, let alone win my first five-star event,” said the 1,813th ranked Czech showjumper who is a former Rolex Young Riders Academy pupil. “I have watched Spruce Meadows since I was a little kid hoping one day I could ride here, but I would never even dream about winning here. I finally got my cooler in the best way possible.”

• Spruce Meadows grand prix results

“I’m determined every day”: Kent Farrington triumphs in La Baule

Finally in this week’s showjumping news round-up, we celebrate US rider Kent Farrington’s brilliant win in the Rolex grand prix Ville de La Baule riding Greya after an exhilarating 11-way jump-off. The duo delivered the quickest of four double clears, beating fellow American Karl Cook (Caracole De La Roque), and Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet (Bond Jamesbond De Hay) took third.

“I’m determined every day,” said Kent. “Our sport has its ups and downs, because horses are animals with their own rhythm and needs. That’s what makes our sport so beautiful. You go from hero to zero very quickly, and that’s the game. I try to stay focused and not think about what might have happened or what might happen. I hadn’t really looked at Karl’s course, and this allowed me to follow my plan and secure the victory.”

Germany won the show’s CSIO5* Nations Cup and while Great Britain wasn’t involved in the team competition, individual representative at the show Lily Attwood and Karibou Horta won Saturday’s accumulator.

• CSIO5* La Baule results

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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

With the Paris 2024 Olympics fast approaching, all eyes will be turning to who is performing well in international team competitions as riders vying for a place in the squad begin their Olympic build up – and where better to look for clues than the new-look Longines League of Nations?

Great Britain enjoyed a successful 2023 Nations Cup season, winning the home leg at Hickstead after a 13-year dry spell and finished the series with victory in the opening leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. The new CSIO5* Longines League of Nations season kicks off at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 11 February and British chef d’equipe Di Lampard will lead a strong quartet for this top flight competition under its new format.

Joe Stockdale will be taking the reins on either 13-year-old mare Equine America Cacharel, who is owned by Joy Cocklin and Joe’s mother Laura Stockdale and recently returned to competition after several months on the sidelines, or the 10-year-old stallion Ebanking, who is jointly owned by Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale.

Joe will be joined on the British squad by France-based Skye Higgin riding Bernadette Lejeune’s 11-year-old mare Djordania Du Tillard.

Completing the British side are cousins Jack Whitaker and Donald Whitaker. Jack is the youngest member of the British side at 22 and he has the choice of two horses – either his father Michael Whitaker’s 15-year-old Equine America Valmy De La Lande or the 12-year-old mare Equine America Q Paravatti N, who is owned by Michael and Graham Gillespie. Donald, 31, brings either 13-year-old stallion Di Caprio or 11-year-old mare Millfield Collette, both of whom he jointly owns with Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GMBH.

“We’ll work to showcase the horses and riders involved in the series and tell their stories to inspire others,” says Di Lampard as excitement builds towards the Longines League of Nations.

“The new team competition format will provide fresh opportunities to develop our athletes – both human and equine – against some of the best jumping nations in the world and I look forward to seeing what they can bring to the table.”

Longines League of Nations: “It will take riders out of their comfort zone”

Di Lampard took the helm as Great Britain’s first female performance manager in 2015, having previously competed herself at the highest level, including representing her country at world and European championships. She now focuses on team structure, management and coaching, working to continue Great Britain’s rich equestrian history “and the legacy it provides”.

“We have a proven system which we know works for the squads, but the new Longines League of Nations enhances the opportunity for younger and less experienced riders, and indeed horses, looking to gain international experience in a team setting,” she says. “They’ll have the chance to gain their air miles and learn about travelling further afield, alongside mixing with the very best riders in the world.”

According to Di, the new format is “creating a buzz” among the riders.

“It’ll create a bit of competition for selection for the teams, which is always healthy, and it will even take some of the riders out of their comfort zone,” she says, describing the series as “an achievable goal for riders” and “a vital stepping stone” towards championships.

“The series is inspiring and educational for those new to equestrianism, as well as those starting on their competitive journey,” she says, adding that the selection door “is always wide open”.

“The series is a great opportunity for many riders. For example it’s ideal for one-horse riders who are just making their way up the international pathway and competing at elite level.”

“The experienced riders help support the younger, less experienced ones”

The secret to Great Britain’s success, says Di, is the all-important team meal.

“There’s always a good sense of camaraderie, but getting the team spirit going with the riders is important,” she says. “It’s such a great learning environment with a mix of experiences, so that meal is important.

“The experienced riders help support the younger, less experienced ones, and educate them along the way. Team order is also important. Certain riders like to go in certain positions – it’s lucky for them – while we like to make the less experienced riders feel more comfortable in the order.”

Great Britain lines up as one of the world’s 10 top ranked nations competing for the Longines League of Nations curtain-raiser in Abu Dhabi, before the action moves to Ocala in USA, St Gallen in Switzerland, Rotterdam in the Netherlands with the final taking place for the series’ top eight teams in Barcelona in October.

Longines League Of Nations: top 10 teams line up

The teams are drawn according to their world ranking, with host side United Arab Emirates – who are not vying for qualification – leading the way in Abu Dhabi, followed by Brazil, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany, France, USA and finally Ireland have pole position.

The reigning Olympic, World and European champions Sweden are sending out Henrik von Eckermann, Wilma Hellström, Peder Fredricson and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, while Brazil fields former Portuguese team member Luciana Diniz, Marlon Zanotelli, Yuri Mansur and Luiz Felipe de Azevedo Filho.

Flying the Belgium flag are Gregory Wathelet, Koen Vereecke, Abdel Saïd and Wilm Vermeir with France sending Kevin Staut, Roger Yves Bost, Olivier Robert and Olivier Perreau.

The 2023 Nations Cup title holder Germany fields Christian Ahlmann, Jörne Sprehe, David Will and Christian Kukuk while representing Ireland are Michael Pender, Richard Howley, Mark McAuley and Denis Lynch.

Dutch fans will be cheering home Kim Emmen, Jur Vrieling, Loewie Joppen and Leopold van Asten, while the Swiss team consists of Janika Sprunger, Barbara Schnieper, Elian Baumann and Pius Schwizer.

Team USA will be represented by Alise Oken, Callie Schott, Hannah Selleck and Aaron Vale with hosts UAE, led by chef d’equipe William Funnell, fielding the quartet of Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhair and Ali Hamad Al Kirbi.

While the first round is run much like the traditional Nations Cup seen until last year – with the best three scores counting – only three riders from each of the top eight ranked nations after round one progress to round two under the new Longines League of Nations format, with every score then counting. If a jump-off is required to decide top honours after round two, just one rider from each team in contention will go against the clock.

There’s €700,000 in prize money to play for at each qualifier and €1,600,000 on offer at the Barcelona Final, so the stage is set for a very exciting year.

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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

While Great Britain’s tremendous winning form from round one couldn’t transcend to Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain (1 October), there was still plenty of reason to celebrate in a tough competition between the top eight teams.

It was instead Team Germany’s turn to triumph – but there were a few heart-stopping moments en route for the quartet in a sizzling afternoon in Barcelona.

An eight-fault opening round over Santiago Varela’s testing track from Jana Wargers (Dorette) certainly had the team sweating and anchorman Richard Vogel was almost jumped out of the saddle by an over-exuberant leap by United Touch S at fence one. But, with Christian Kukuk (Checker 47) and Hans-Dieter Dreher (Elysium) having already posted clears and Richard surviving unscathed, the quartet won the title for the first time since 2016 on a zero score.

Chef d’equipe Otto Becker said: “These guys deserve the win. I’m a lucky guy to be part of this team. We had two down, I got a bit worried, but what they did is unbelievable.”

Jana described it as the “perfect win” and Hansi agreed it had been a “good week” while Christian said the pressure had benefited him.

“I need that a bit,” he said. “I came here with a good feeling – I knew we had a really strong team because all five of us have had great seasons. I was disappointed to have one down on Thursday so I wanted to do better today.”

Nations Cup Final: ‘This course is giving me a headache – take an aspirin!’

Christian only took the ride back on Checker (Comme Il Faut x Come On), who is owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and looked after by Sofie Karlsson, when his boss Ludger Beerbaum retired earlier this year.

“He’s in great shape – I would have liked a double clear so i’m disappointed with that, but I’d be nothing without my team-mates,” said Christian. “We had a lot of fun this week and that’s really important for the team spirit.”

Richard was not required to jump on Thursday to secure the team’s third place and qualification as one of the top eight for Sunday’s final, which benefited the 11-year-old Untouched stallion, who is looked after by Felicia Wallin.

“He was very fresh,” he said. “I was hoping I could do something for the team because up to today I felt like a spectator, so I’m glad I delivered. When I saw the course it gave me a headache because the combinations are difficult for my horse – he has such a big stride. I can take out strides down lines with him but not in combinations! I told Otto that a course with two doubles and a treble was giving me a headache. Otto said take aspirin!

“He almost jumped me off at fence one – he likes to do a spectacular jump but maybe he was a bit rusty. He has pure energy, he’s so strong with so much scope.”

Olympic qualification for Brazil from Nations Cup Final

France, defending champions Belgium, and Brazil finished on eight faults in second, third and fourth respectively according to accumulated time.

The celebrations began for Brazil who secured the single qualifying spot on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympics after a tense battle with USA. Agonisingly for USA, there was only a time-fault separating the two nations.

Switzerland, who have yet to win the title, took sixth, with Great Britain and Ireland filling the bottom two placings on 12 and 13 faults respectively.

Great Britain’s hero of the day was 21-year-old Lily Attwood, who jumped the team’s sole clear on Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, owned by Emmy Freeman-Attwood and looked after by Niki Javorkova. The 13-year-old gelding has had a quieter year after suffering some mild colic relapses, so Lily was “thrilled” with his return and the gelding received huge pats of appreciation from his rider.

“We haven’t had the easiest year so to finish like that was brilliant,” she said.

Harry Charles and Aralyn Blue, who is owned by Ann Thompson and looked after by Georgia Ellwood, came home with four faults, just missing out on a share of the €100,000 double clear bonus, which was split three ways.

Robert Whitaker riding Caroline Blatchford’s King George hero Vermento, who is looked after by Louisa Taylor, and Tim Gredley with Unex Competition Yard’s Medoc De Toxandria, whose groom is Paul Drew, each had two fences down, Tim with a time-fault.

“We all had a good result on Thursday. But having got ourselves in that position, today was always going to be difficult – Lily rode fantastic today though,” reflected Robert. “My horse just showed a couple of little mistakes but this Nations Cup Final is a completely different level for him and he’s coped with it well. I think he’s got a great chance for next year.

“So on the whole, we’ll come away from here thinking there’s a lot to look forward to next year for the Nations Cups.”

‘I’ve really enjoyed this year and I’m so looking forward to next year’: Di Lampard

Great Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard said she “couldn’t have been more proud of the team on the first day – to do it in the style they did”.

“Every one of them put in their clear rounds this week,” she said. “Sunday was a proper course – 18 jumping efforts, but exactly what you expect in Barcelona.

“Lily was a bit rusty at the level on day one, because she hasn’t been competing all summer. One little error on the first day caused a domino effect down the last line. It was absolutely heartbreaking. But to come back and notch up that clear round on Sunday was fantastic. But also no surprise, she’s very capable. It’s all coming together for her.

“With Robert and Vermento we are building another partnership to look forward to next year – Vermento is very inexperienced at this level, but really exciting for next year.

“Harry is a solid member of our team and has been with us all year – it’s amazing how many appearances he’s had this year, how many clear rounds on different horses,” said Di. “He’s backed us 100%.

“Tim is improving all the time, it’s a very different sport to what he was competing in before. He’s had a terrific year.

“So it’s very exciting for next year,” said Di, when the new format Nations Cup comes into play, along with the Paris Olympics to look forward to.

“This year we’ve been short of a couple of partnerships who were good for us last year, so when we get everyone back it’ll be fantastic. It’s such a lovely squad of riders that we’ve used and integrated this year. There’s been a real mix of youth, in both horses and riders, to of course the living legend John Whitaker, who is in and out of the squad when needed. I’ve really enjoyed this year and I’m so looking forward to next year.”

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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

Great Britain has won the opening round of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain, and the team now goes through to Sunday’s (1 October) eight-way decider in pole position.

The squad have clearly bounced back from a disappointing European Showjumping Championships in Milan and they were the only nation from the 15 starters to complete on a zero score on Thursday afternoon (28 September). First-round clears came from pathfinder Tim Gredley with his championship partner Medoc De Toxandria, Robert Whitaker on his King George hero Vermento, and anchorman Harry Charles riding Ann Thompson’s 12-year-old Aralyn Blue, who is looked after by Georgia Ellwood. Lily Attwood’s 12-fault round with Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z was the day’s drop score, but chef d’equipe Di Lampard said she was “absolutely delighted with all four of them”.

“It’s shown progression from Milan – the two riders [Tim and Harry] have come out much more confident and delivered,” she said on day one of the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

“We’re getting the girls in the mix too!” she added, including fifth team rider Sienna Charles, younger sister of Harry. “Harry is masterly in anchorman position – a bit didn’t go his way in Milan, but hasn’t he bounced back? That was a near-perfect round.”

‘It’s an honour to be picked for the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona’

Tim Gredley was full of praise for his 11-year-old Medoc De Toxandria, who is looked after by groom Paul Drew. The duo with were part of the victorious Nations Cup team at Hickstead, as well as the European Showjumping Championships team last month.

“When he’s jumping like that, it’s really, really enjoyable,” said Tim. “He’s so careful and he has so much scope – he makes my job much easier.“That was probably one of the best rounds of the year. It’s all about Nations Cups and representing my country – I really enjoy the format and all the pressure that comes with it. He’s obviously jumped a lot this year and he’s been picked for the final, which is a big honour, so I’m just glad I could pull a clear out of the bag.”

Thursday’s victory puts Great Britain in a coveted final draw of the eight teams who will jump again on Sunday. Joining them in the concluding round of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona will be Brazil, Germany and Switzerland, who all finished on a team score of four.

Title-holders Belgium and USA will also be in the mix after their eight-fault tallies in Thursday’s opening round, while 12-faulters Ireland, France and Mexico had to be split by time, meaning Ireland and France were celebrating, while Mexico will instead head to Saturday night’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final Challenge Cup for the seven lower ranked nations.

They will be joined by the Netherlands, who had an uncharacteristically high-scoring day, hosts Spain, Italy, Australia, Argentina and Uzbekistan.

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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.

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With the benefit of Paris 2024 Olympic qualification already in the bag, Great Britain’s showjumping chef d’equipe Di Lampard has had the luxury of being able to field a real mix of championship debutants and seasoned pros for this year’s European Showjumping Championships in Milan, Italy (30 August-3 September). But there’s also the hope that Great Britain’s showjumpers can continue to build on the superb medal hauls of recent years. So who has been chosen for the British team for the 2023 European Showjumping Championships?

British team for the European Showjumping Championships 2023

Harry Charles and Casquo Blue

The youngest member of the British team at the European Showjumping Championships 2023, 24-year-old Harry Charles, is actually one of the most experienced riders on the British squad, certainly when it comes to championship mileage, and the world’s leading under-25 rider has been to an Olympic Games as well as winning team bronze at the world showjumping championships last year, then riding the great Romeo 88.

For his first crack at a European Championships, Harry brings the Stall Zet-owned Casquo Blue, a 13-year-old son of Chacco-Blue x Carthago Z, who was bred by Paul Schockemohle. The gelding is looked after and beautifully turned out by Harry’s groom Georgia Ellwood. The pair jumped double clear to help Great Britain win the Nations Cup at Hickstead last month – his second consecutive faultless performance in that competition – and the combination have earned plenty of five-star placings, proving their big track abilities. However, Harry also has a direct reserve horse in the 12-year-old Aralyn Blue, who is by the same sire as Casquo Blue and owned by Ann Thompson. It surely can’t be long before this young superstar makes it onto the individual podium.

Tim Gredley and Medoc De Toxandria

The king of comebacks, it’s been 17 years since 37-year-old father of two Tim Gredley last rode at a championship, having retired from the sport for several years to work in his family business. But he’s back in the British team for the European Showjumping Championships 2023 and riding in the best form of his life, already proving a real team asset in this season’s five-star Nations Cups with the 11-year-old 16.2hh gelding Medoc De Toxandria (Der Senaat III x Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle, bred by Werner Dierckx), who he’s been riding for the past year (pictured below).

Among their team highlights were victory on home soil at Hickstead and the second-placed finish in Aachen. Medoc is looked after by groom Paul Drew and is owned by the Unex Competition Yard. He was sourced for Tim by Hickstead Derby winner David Simpson, but previous riders also include Trevor Breen and Guy Williams.

“Medoc wasn’t the most obvious horse to buy, but one of the things I enjoy and maybe I’m good at, is picking horses – and maybe not choosing the most obvious ones,” says Tim. “I’d say Medoc is unique! Now I’ve got to know him, I find him easy, but he has a special way of doing things – he’s just always on his forehand. So he might be a bit unorthodox, but what he lacks there, he gives you in confidence and that’s probably why we’re a good combination. He finds it so easy and he enjoys life.”

Tim’s return to the British team fold has been his ambition since returning to the sport and he says he’s “loving every minute”.

Sam Hutton and Oak Grove’s Laith

Belgium-based British showjumper Sam Hutton will be making his senior championship debut with 12-year-old stallion Oak Grove’s Laith, owned by the Caramello Company and looked after by groom Lindsay Decottignies. Sam, 34, is originally from Surrey and started riding at the age of seven, forging a great career in the sport. He moved overseas, training with Jan Tops in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, but he has been based with Abdel Said in Belgium for the past few years.

Oak Grove’s Laith, a London x Quaprice stallion who was bred by SCEA Riverland, twice qualified for the world championships as a five-year-old and a seven-year-old before Sam started riding him year ago. The duo warmed up for Milan with two Nations Cup appearances, jumping clear rounds at both, just parting company unexpectedly in Dublin, but look just the type to excel in a championship environment.

Donald Whitaker and Di Caprio

No British showjumping team would be complete without a Whitaker on board and 30-year-old Donald will also be making his championship debut as part of the British team in Milan riding Di Caprio. This pair were part of the Nations Cup-winning squad in the UAE last year and have been in flying form since.

Like Ben Maher’s Faltic HB, the Holsteiner Diarado x Cassini I stallion, bred by Harms Carsten, was produced and previously owned by the Oakingham Stud in Great Britain, jumping to great success in young horse classes – including with Irish team member Eoin Gallagher. Germany-based Donald’s girlfriend Nicola Pohl first started riding Di Caprio in 2020 before Donald took over a year later.

“He has everything to be a very good horse,” says Donald of the stallion, who is groomed by Ally Gill.

Ben Maher and Faltic HB

The reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher has proved an integral team member, helping Great Britain to team gold at the Olympics in 2012, team bronze and individual fourth at the world championships in 2022 with Faltic HB and he already has five European medals to his name, including individual silver on Explosion W in 2019. He has returned from a serious shoulder injury and heads to Milan as one of the red hot favourites with the 13-year-old Baltic VDL x Concorde stallion, who was bred in the Netherlands by HA Brinkman and previously owned by the Oakingham Stud – again produced in the hands of Ireland’s Eoin Gallagher – and now belongs to the Hertfordshire rider’s supporters Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright.

“A lot of people have been a part of this horse’s career and they’ve done a good job with him,” says Ben.

Groom Derren Lake looks after Faltic HB and Ben has also nominated two mares, Dallas Vegas Batilly and Ginger-Blue, as his direct reserves for the British team at the European Showjumping Championships 2023.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European showjumping action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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Hooray, it’s Hickstead Nations Cup day! At 2.15pm today (Friday, 28 July), the British leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup series takes place at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead and we can’t wait.

A total of eight different countries are lining up to battle it out for top honours and a €200,000 prize pot, as well as vital points in the overall series. France are the title-holders having won the Hickstead Nations Cup event in 2022 and this year they bring an in-form squad including their star rider Olivier Robert riding Iglesias DV.

Ireland have an excellent record at Hickstead and have been drawn first in the two-round competition. Flying the flag will be Hickstead-based Shane Breen (Cuick Star Kervec), Mark McAuley (GRS Lady Amaro), Jack Ryan (BBS McGregor) and US-based Daniel Coyle on the brilliant Legacy.

Among the other leading names representing their nations are Marcus Ehning for Germany on DPS Revere and Laura Kraut of USA riding Dorado 212.

Great Britain hasn’t won on home soil since 2010, but Di Lampard has selected a red hot quartet to fly the Union flag, so who are this year’s British showjumping Hickstead Nations Cup contenders?

Hickstead Nations Cup British team riders

BEN MAHER: The Hertfordshire rider is the reigning Olympic champion and a team gold medallist from London 2012 and will act as pathfinder for this contest on home soil. He rides 14-year-old Exit Remo (San Remo x Ferro), owned by Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter. Ben, 40, has been a regular on Nations Cup teams this season, including as part of the second-placed squad in Aachen last month. Ben only started riding the gelding last year and this will be their first team appearance as a duo.

TIM GREDLEY: It has been 17 years since the Newmarket-based showjumper last contested a championship, but after a sabbatical from the sport, the 37-year-old has returned to the top tier this year and is arguably in the best form of his life. He rides his own Medoc De Toxandria, an 11-year-old by Der Senaat x Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle in the Hickstead Nations Cup.

“Medoc is unique! Now I’ve got to know him I find it easy, but he has a special way of doing things,” says Tim. “He’s got personality like I’ve never seen. After jumping one of the biggest grands prix in the world, he’ll come out like there’s no adrenaline in him whatsoever, he finds it so easy and he enjoys life.”

JOHN WHITAKER: The 68-year-old showjumping legend needs little introduction, having been a British team stalwart for the past four decades, representing his country in Olympics, World Cup Finals and world and European championships. The Yorkshireman rides his top horse Equine America Unick Du Francport, AKA Frank, a 15-year-old by Zandor with whom he competed in the Hickstead Nations Cup last year and the pair jumped a spectacular double clear in the Nations Cup of Rome recently.

“I was lucky enough to find Unick, who’s kept me going a bit longer,” John reflects. “He’s been so good for me and we just keep ticking along.”

HARRY CHARLES: At just 24, Hampshire-based Harry is the youngest member of the team representing Great Britain at Hickstead today, but he’s a veteran of an Olympic Games in Tokyo and won team bronze at last year’s world championships. His father Peter Charles won Olympic gold in London 2012 and was part of the last Nations Cup team to have won on home soil in 2010, while his two sisters Sienna and Scarlett also compete at the top of the sport. Harry has reigned as the highest ranked under-25 rider in the world for a considerable time. He has an enviable string of horses but has chosen to bring Stall Zet’s 13-year-old Casquo Blue (Chacco Blue x Carthago Z) and this classy duo will act as anchorman for the two-round Nations Cup on Friday afternoon. The pair jumped a phenomenal double clear in the recent Falsterbo Nations Cup, as well as last year’s competition here at Hickstead, where the team finished sixth.

“You can’t do better than a double clear in a Nations Cup, especially here at home,” expressed Harry – can he repeat the feat in 2023?

“Bring it on”

The team chef d’equipe Di Lampard is targeting her first Nations Cup win on home soil and says ahead of the event: “It’s really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve got a strong team with experience, so bring it on.

“I couldn’t count how many Nations Cups John Whitaker has jumped at Hickstead, but he’s got the experience, he jumped very well for us a few weeks ago [in Rome] so we are hoping he can repeat that for us,” she adds. “Young Harry Charles was double clear a couple of weeks ago [in Falsterbo], the youngest member of the team being our anchor man this week and let’s hope it works out for us.

“I’m happy with being third in the draw, and I look at it as third time lucky – we were second in Aachen, and second again in Falsterbo two weeks ago, so let’s hope the third time we’re going to get a win. You feel so proud to be walking out in front of your own team in front of a home crowd at the Nations Cup at Hickstead, and the riders feel proud as well, they want to be successful,” she says.

Stay tuned, this year’s Hickstead Nations Cup looks set to be a thriller.

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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 showjumping teams from Great Britain and Ireland are among the eight finalists for Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup Final after qualifying from a nail-biting opening round in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday (29 September).

Fourteen nations lined up for the first leg of this week’s finale and the outright winners were France, who proved unstoppable with four clear rounds. They fielded the same team of horses and riders who finished sixth at the World Championships last month.

“We were just saying how much the horses have grown since Herning,” said Simon Delestre, who rode the 10-year-old Hickstead son, Cayman Jolly Jumper. “They are super quality horses with a good mind, they are fighters and really modern horses and they proved that again today. My horse has had an amazing Nations Cup season this year.”

Tremendous start for Ireland in Nations Cup Final

Ireland showed tremendous early form in the Nations Cup Final to take second ahead of hosts Spain, equal with Belgium in third.

Irish clears came from Trevor Breen with Highland President and Jack Ryan riding BBS McGregor, both home-breds. Andrew Bourns jumped round for four faults with the Irish-bred Sea Topblue, while Mark McAuley (Jasco V Bisschop) was the drop score of eight.

Jack, 21, said: “There was a little bit of pressure because today is all about qualifying for Sunday and to get the clear round. McGregor is very special, my mother bred him and he’s been a fantastic horse. He’s a great character and everything he’s been asked to do so far he’s done it with ease. He has a big heart and every time he goes in the ring he wants to do his best and you can’t ask for more than that!”

Tying for fifth on eight penalties were Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands and squeaking through as the last of the eight teams to qualify for Sunday’s final were Great Britain, who finished with 12 faults. They posted the same team score as Brazil, however the Brits earned the coveted top eight place thanks to a marginally quicker time – just 0.4sec split the two squads.

Clear round for Joe Stockdale

The sole British clear came from Joe Stockdale riding his World Championship team bronze medal-winning partner Equine America Cacharel, whom he described as jumping “fantastic” in the opening round.

“We went in there and felt very comfortable, and I sort of knew even from jumping the first three fences that she was on good form,” said Joe, who had given the mare a break after Herning, slowly building her back up to finish fourth in a grand prix in Belgium before coming to Spain.

“For some horses switching them off for a few weeks and switching them back on is tricky but she took to it well. You can tell when she’s ready because she gets a bit bored in the field!”

Pathfinder on Di Lampard’s young Great Britain team was Ellen Whitaker, who just picked up four faults at the treble combination on Equine America Spacecake while Jodie Hall McAteer and Salt’N Peppa came home on eight. Lily Attwood, at 20 the youngest rider in the competition, and Cor-Leon V Vlierbeek Z hit three fences and collected two time-faults.

These top eight teams go straight through to Sunday’s final where they will start again on a zero score. As well as the Nations Cup title honours, Paris 2024 Olympic qualification is at stake for either Belgium or Switzerland.

The lower placed teams now bid for victory in Saturday night’s Longines Challenge Cup.

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British showjumpers Ellen Whitaker, Joe Stockdale, Jodie Hall McAteer and Lily Attwood will be flying the flag this afternoon (Thursday 29 September) in the first round of the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain.

A total of 14 nations line up for this prestigious finale to the Nations Cup series, held at the Real Club de Barcelona, all bidding for a place in Sunday afternoon’s final when the winner will be decided.

With an average age of just 25, the British squad is packed full of young talent. Pathfinder Ellen Whitaker, 36, is the senior member of the team and rides Tilly Shaw’s 10-year-old mare Equine America Spacecake. The only rider from GB’s bronze medal-winning team at the World Showjumping Championships last month is 22-year-old Joe Stockdale with his top mare Equine America Cacharel. Jodie Hall McAteer, also 22, brings her superstar 13-year-old Salt’N Peppa and team anchor is 20-year-old Lily Attwood and the hugely consistent Cor-Leon V Vlierbeek Z. The fifth member of the British squad in Barcelona is William Whitaker, a late replacement for Harry Charles after his mount Casquo Blue wasn’t quite fit enough to compete.

“The Brits always look forward to coming to Barcelona for the Nations Cup Final and we have a group of riders who are very excited to be here,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard.

Nations Cup Final defending champions

The defending champions are the Netherlands, three-time winners of this final, who are represented by big names Maikel van der Vleuten (Beauville Z NOP), Johnny Pals (Zarkava Hero Z), Jur Vrieling (Long John Silver 3) and Harrie Smolders riding Monaco NOP with Jos Lansink at the helm.

Argentina and Brazil, who have been drawn first, will represent South America while Canada and Mexico qualified ahead of surprise absentees USA.

Hosts Spain, as well as Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland will also be in action.

France’s chef d’equpe Henk Nooren said: “We are bringing the same team as we had at the World Championships in Herning but we need to see how the form of the horses is because most of them have only jumped one show since Herning so there’s a bit of a question mark but we will see!”

Irish team ‘hope to be lucky – and good’

Ireland will be well represented by Trevor Breen (Highland President), Jack Ryan (BBS McGregor), Mark McAuley (Jasco V Bisschop) and Andrew Bourns (Sea Topblue).

“We love Barcelona and we are reasonably lucky here normally so we hope we will be lucky, and good, this year!” said Irish chef d’equipe Michael Blake. “We have a slightly less experienced team, they have experience but have never been to this final before.”

The reigning Olympic and world champions Sweden are another country bringing a younger team of riders to Barcelona – having finished bottom of the European Division 1 series alongside Norway they didn’t earn direct qualification to the Nations Cup Final, however with no participating teams from the Middle East region attending, both countries were invited to compete.

“We are excited to be here and happy to be here because we were struggling a bit, but now we are here with a team of the future I hope,” said Henrik Ankarcrona, Sweden’s chef d’equipe.

With eight of the top 18 riders in the world rankings in action, this is sure to be a hard-fought and thrilling contest.

Surprisingly, the Swiss have never won the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final title but they, along with Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Norway, will be bidding for the single qualifying spot on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from this competition.

Competition begins for all 14 nations at 1pm BST on Thursday 29 September, with the top eight finishers going straight through to Sunday’s €1,250,000 final. The remaining six countries return for Saturday night’s Challenge Cup, won last year by Great Britain. Olympic course-designer Santiago Varela will once again be setting the tracks.

• H&H will be bringing you all the latest news from the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final online and there will be a full report in next week’s magazine, on sale in shops on Thursday 6 October

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“I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a championship like it.”

British Showjumping performance manager Di Lampard, home after a wonderful week in which team bronze, and qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics was achieved at the first opportunity, spoke to H&H about the dramas of the Agria FEI World Showjumping Championships last week.

Di was on the British team that last won a medal, and Olympic qualification, at a World Championships, on her superstar Abbervail Dream in 1998.

Asked what she would have said if someone had told her then the next time this was achieved, she would be the chef d’equipe, she said: “I’d have said no chance! It’s just amazing to think it’s been 24 years.

“It was a week of highs and lows but I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a championship like it. Top competition as always, but with the excitement and drama of the last team round; it was amazing.”

The live scoring system was down during the team final on Friday night (12 August) and with so many teams in contention for medals, other than clear winners Sweden, and with faults coming everywhere, it was very hard to keep track of who was where.

“When you look at the last lines of riders; the Swedes were clear and then [Peder Fredricson] had 12, the Dutch did best to get two and clear, we had a clear, which was brilliant, but then Scott came out with eight,” Di said.

“It just went crazy. The Irish had five and then a retirement, Germany an elimination and and four, France eight and 12, Brazil nine and a withdrawal, and these are the best riders; it was drama right to the finish.

“I was trying to keep score, which isn’t easy, and I had our worst scenario down if all the final riders had gone clear – at one point, I said ‘We’re going to struggle to qualify for Paris’ to Ben Maher, and he said ‘What?’. Then I looked at what the other teams had done and we were in bronze position, and it was just elation.”

Di said the goal had always been that top-five position to secure an Olympic place, as well as a medal, and that achieving this takes away the pressure of having to qualify at the last minute, as was the case at the 2019 Europeans where Britain also won bronze.

“[In that case], throughout the year you’re sparing horses, and your heart’s in your mouth when you ride the top horses,” she said. “Now we can make proper plans into the next year, and give everyone equal opportunities. We’ve given plenty this year and can do even more next year, and hopefully give someone the chance to make their championship debut at the Europeans.”

Di said she is always trying to build more depth into the British squad, and to do so, riders and horses need to be in those top environments, adding: “With the talented riders we have, hopefully we can get some more owners to get behind them. We’ve got so many young, talented riders who we haven’t even talked about – Rob Murphy, Joe Fernyhough, Jodie Hall McAteer; super talents, Lily Atwood; this is how strong we are with the youth, and we just need to give them experience.

“We’ve no excuses now; there’s enough time to plan towards Paris.”

Di said she believes there is now more detail going into planning for championships, citing the example set by Nick Skelton, who planned Big Star’s campaign for Rio to perfection.

“When you get a top horse, you really have to look after it as they’re few and far between,” she said. “You have to compete them sparingly, make a plan and be bold enough to say ‘That’s my goal, and these are my SMART goals en route to it’, and not over-jump them.”

Di gave full credit to Ben Maher, who finished a pole off the podium in fourth, on Faltic HB who was subbed in for Explosion W at the last minute, and whom he has been riding less than a year.

“He’s been the spearhead of my teams since I’ve been in place, and when that man’s on the team it gives such a lift to everyone else,” she said. “He’s an absolutely fantastic rider; he’s Olympic champion and that’s not through luck, and Faltic was a fantastic partner. I can’t thank his owners enough for allowing him to go at such short notice.”

Di paid tribute to all the support from the British Equestrian World Class programme, as well as the support teams, at home and at the championships.

“These are exciting times for British showjumping,” she said.

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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

Great Britain finished sixth of the seven teams in Friday’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

But that final placing in no way reflects the closeness of the competition, with just one fence separating the top six teams.

With three nations tied at the top on eight faults, a jump-off decided the podium placings with France beating Germany and Brazil in a thriller against the clock, while the following three teams tied on 12 faults were split by their cumulative times, placing Belgium ahead of Ireland and Great Britain just one second adrift for sixth.

The Hickstead Nations Cup is one all the home riders particularly want to win, so the formidable British quartet of Ben Maher (Faltic HB), John Whitaker (Equine America Unick Du Francport), Hickstead team debutante Jodie Hall McAteer (Salt’n Peppa) and Harry Charles (Casquo Blue) were understandably left feeling deflated after they rallied brilliantly as a team in round two but failed to climb the leader board.

Great Britain’s performance manager Di Lampard said afterwards: “I’m a bit shell-shocked.

“We had a really good feeling about the team and thought we’d finish better than sixth. It was very close, but that’s how the sport is today; very fine margins.”

John Whitaker, who came home with eight faults in round one but returned with a clean sheet second time around, said: “We came back strong, but it was just too late.

“There’s a lot of ifs and buts in this sport and I think my first round was a bit uncharacteristic – it could have easily been a clear. Ben’s 12 faults was totally uncharacteristic, too. OK, we saved our faces by coming back with a clean sheet but it’s really disappointing.

“We weren’t cocky coming into this, but we were confident for sure, we had a good team,” added John, pictured below in Friday’s Nations Cup at Hickstead. “On paper we were really good.

“Jodie’s two rounds were very good and again just unlucky – she could have been double clear. Harry has been very, very good these past two years.

“It’s not easy to say what went wrong – the only thing that went wrong was that it didn’t go right! Things just didn’t go our way,” summed up the 66-year-old.

“It’s a difficult sport, because if you over-analyse things and start changing things, it can get worse – you just have to buckle down and keep going,” he said. “But in the end we were just one fence away from a jump-off – but that’s the sport. In front of your home crowd, all you want to do is please them and we didn’t. So it’s really disappointing for us, the public, everyone – but we have to live with it and we just have to keep going.”

John revealed that Equine America Unick Du Francport “hadn’t felt as sharp as he normally is” in the opening round.

“I wondered, ‘Is he tired, did I warm him up wrong, what did I do wrong?’ I didn’t do much different for the second round.”

Hickstead Nations Cup: ‘We thought we had a really good chance’

Harry Charles was “thrilled” with the “amazing” double clear from the Stall Zet-owned Casquo Blue.

“His owners came over especially today so it was nice in front of them to give them a double clear,” reflected Harry, 23. “He felt as though he jumped it fairly easily in the first round and obviously even easier again the second time – he’s my direct replacement for the world championships so I know I have an incredible second option.”

Harry, too, was left feeling “disappointed” with the final team standing, however.

“We thought we had a really good chance to win but that’s our sport and of course there are going to be days when things don’t go as well as you want,” he said. “We came out in the second round and jumped three fantastic clears so it was a shame not to have moved up after that actually, and what was really annoying was that we were only one fence off being in the jump-off. So it’s all down to really small margins and we ended up sixth because of the time, which is a small detail, but you live and learn.

“But you can’t do better than a double clear in a Nations Cup, especially here at home.”

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WITH the recent appointment of a new support team to assist Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard, we welcome Belgian Olympian and experienced chef d’equipe Stanny van Paesschen as a new “technical expert” – providing support to Di around team selection and preparation as well as helping the riders.

Youth team manager Tony Newbery has also been brought in to the position of EEF (European Equestrian Federation, previously Europe’s division two) Nations Cup chef d’equipe.

But bearing in mind that Di has revealed that she will be stepping down from her role after the Paris Olympics in 2024, it’s a shame there seems to be no natural progression in place for people wanting to come in and take the role.

Of course, Di is totally committed until Paris and would obviously like some team medals under her belt before she goes. But despite a few people of my generation being suitable for the position, there are very few who have the vital coaching qualifications required for the job.

The problem is that many showjumpers – myself included – have never regarded getting these coaching badges as a way of making us better trainers. But I can understand their importance for the chef d’equipe’s role as they cover everything from first aid to child protection. Even footballers need them – they’re vital for any sporting management role.

However, taking the qualification is time consuming and I expect that’s the reason why nobody younger has come through as a natural progressor to Di.

Paris is fast approaching, so hopefully her imminent departure will signal to anyone who would like to be considered for Di’s job, or want to be involved in the sport in the future, to be prepared to get these qualifications now.

Key team decisions

TONY does a very good job for our sport, and Stanny is at all the big shows and knows what is required to be a five-star team rider, so it will be a big plus for Di to have someone to bounce ideas off and check and challenge her selection decisions. But for the first time, teams will be solely Di’s choice – rather than that of three selectors with sometimes differing opinions.

Whether anyone agreed or not with the team that went to Tokyo, it wasn’t Di’s first choice. If I was in the chef d’equipe role, I’d want to be in a position to go down on my sword if the teams weren’t performing up to scratch and that’s the position Di will stand in now. No pressure then! But I’m sure it’s something she’ll relish.

Great Britain’s first “counting” Nations Cup to stay in the top league in Europe takes place in St Gallen in May, followed by Rotterdam, Falsterbo and Hickstead, then there’s the World Championships and Olympic qualification to get in the bag, so it’s going to be a tough year.

The chef d’equipe job gets harder still with the Global Champions Tour sapping the top horses and riders. But it’s looking great for the future, with young riders Jack Whitaker and Harry Charles doing so well at the World Cup Final and Joe Stockdale competing very successfully in Italy recently.

Busy, busy…

SPRING is in the air and our four-year-olds at The Billy Stud are being prepared for the first of our five auctions this year on 17 May, just after Royal Windsor. Meanwhile, my wife Pippa is competing at Kentucky this week, followed by Badminton. It’s going to be a busy month, but isn’t it great to have all these big events to look forward to once again?

• This exclusive column is also available to read in full in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 28 April

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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

Great Britain’s Nation Cup team alternate, 18-year-old Grace Debney rode to victory at the Winter Equestrian Festival today in the FEI $37,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m sporting a field of 49 riders including one of her advisors, McLain Ward.

“It was very good,” McLain said of Grace’s winning jump off round on Zarina De Vidau. “She was actually very unlucky not to win the WEF [Challenge Round] yesterday – a very unlucky four faults at the end of the course. She’s really doing great. She is young, but she’s got a great brain and a lot of talent to go with it and a great team behind her in Sam Schaefer and her stable Shadow Ridge. With support and guidance from our experience – it’s a great combination.”

Grace, who has also a two-star grand prix win and an under 25 grand prix win this season, is well aware that she is now competing against riders like McLain, whom she admired growing up. “It’s a little intimidating for sure,” she said. “But it makes me hungry for it. It kind of fuels us. I know my horse so well, I have a lot of confidence in her and she has a lot of confidence in herself. That relationship really helps me get it all done.”

Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard selected Grace – whose family hails from Buckinghamshire, England – as first alternate for Saturday’s Nations Cup team at the Winter Equestrian Festival. “It was a great performance,” Di said, having been there to witness the victory today. “She’s just so confident. She rode in the ring as though she owned it.”

“This is definitely one of the biggest steps up for me this weekend,” said Grace. “To be an alternate for the Nations Cup is an unbelievable experience. I’m so glad that I’m able to be a part of it all and then to have this ranking class win, really just tops it off.”

Grace’s bravado early in the jump off could have sealed the win as her time of 56.1 was shadowed closely by Mexico’s Tanimara Maria Macari Currillo, who finished on 56.76.

“I was really proud of my turn from one to two. I think that’s where I won the class,”she said.

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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

Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard has selected a mix of youth and experience for the British team in Saturday’s FEI $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO 4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

“This year we have 10 riders out here in Florida, which is absolutely fantastic,” Di said. “It isn’t really surprising that it’s increased in number. Covid has changed the landscape of everything in the world, let alone showjumping. And there are a lot of tours going on and riders are going in all directions to take opportunities. It’s fantastic for them to come out here and experience this.”

Ben Maher and Faltic HB are to anchor the team, which also includes debutant Matthew Boddy, who rides for Georgina Bloomberg and has been based in the USA for some years.

“Matthew’s a great character and a great rider,” said Di. “And he’s worked very hard to get this super horse [Balotelli 5] and to have this chance to represent his country. He fully deserved his position in the team, because he’s had consistent placings and it’s really nice for him to get the reward of the Nations Cup and I hope it’s a trampoline for him going forward.”

Jessica Mendoza, also based stateside, a previous Nations Cup team rider, and Sam Hutton make up the team, with reserves 18-year-old Grace Debney and Amanda Derbyshire.

Di has been focusing on the team spirit and a get-together took place for all the riders to convene amid the whirlwind that is the Winter Equestrian Festival.

“It’s quite difficult here at Wellington because they all have their barns very close and a lot of them are working on a lot of horses for their owners so they compete and then they’re gone again,” said Di. “But we did have a nice get together just outside the international stables and they all had a good chat and a little bit of banter – they know the programme leading up to Saturday night and they’re all focused. Prior to this week the riders have been helping each other as well, they’ve been communicating so that’s good. We’re all looking forward to it.”

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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

Male and female riders may now compete as equals, but a few skilled horsewomen paved the way in a historically masculine sport, finds Jennifer Donald

Since a lady first chose to ride astride instead of side-saddle, female riders have been breaking the glass ceiling in the equestrian world. Equestrianism is the only Olympic sport other than sailing in which men and women can compete on equal terms, but the playing field hasn’t always been level and we are still waiting for a female showjumper or eventer to win individual gold at the Games.

In 1984, the all-conquering Ginny Elliot, then Holgate, and Karen Stives of the USA became the first female eventers to win individual medals at the Los Angeles Olympics. Despite it not being recorded in the record books, Torrance Watkins had won an individual bronze four years previously at the alternative Olympics in Fontainebleau, but it would be Ginny and Priceless who made official history when they won bronze in the year Mark Todd took gold on Charisma, with Karen in silver on Ben Arthur.

“I’m not sure a big deal was made of it at the time and I suppose the fact I won a medal, and a team one as well, was so overwhelming that you didn’t really think about being the first woman,” says Ginny. “It wasn’t until someone mentioned it not long after that I realised no woman had won an individual medal until I rocked up. So that was a great thrill.

“I suppose, having been brought up from the get-go that you are competing on level terms with men, it just seems normal, but there’s always competitive banter when the girls win and the boys don’t! But it is surprising that a woman has yet to win the Olympics.”

Ginny followed in the wake of some trailblazing horsewomen. Due to the military history behind Olympic equestrian events, women were not allowed to ride at the Games until 1964 in Tokyo, when US rider Lana Du Pont was the first woman on an eventing team, helping her team to clinch silver in the process.

Margaret Hough is remembered as the first woman to triumph at Badminton, taking the title in 1954 with Bambi V (pictured).

“It was ground-breaking for a woman to win it,” says her son Peter Gleave. “Especially as one or two of the men at the time looked down at women having a go and doing well. But although she knew what she’d achieved, she never made a big deal out of it. My father was always dead proud of her; he’d always be telling people about it and she’d look at him almost as though she was telling him off!”

Later that decade, the supremely gifted Sheila Willcox became the first rider to win the event three times in succession, from 1957 to 1959, an achievement yet to be matched. Her first victory came at the age of just 21, at a time when women were still prohibited from competing in the Olympics, meaning her first team call-up came in the 1957 European Championships when she rode High And Mighty to become the first female champion.

As Mary King says, she was “one of the first really successful female riders in a male-dominated sport”.

In a golden era for the fairer sex, while Sheila was soaring round Badminton, Pat Smythe was carving a name for herself in showjumping. She became the first British female showjumper to ride at, let alone win a medal from, the Olympics, in 1956, helping the team win bronze. In a career full of fine accolades, Pat was also the first woman to win the Hickstead Derby, in 1962 on Flanagan.

It would be Marion Coakes who became the first female showjumper to win an individual medal at the Olympics, riding the great Stroller to silver in Mexico City in 1968, while the pioneering Liz Edgar finally beat her male rivals to take the title at the world-famous Aachen grand prix in 1980.

On home soil, the historic King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International dates back to 1911, but was men-only until being opened up to women – somewhat controversially at the time – in 2009. Five years later, US rider Beezie Madden lifted the solid gold trophy for the first time, returning for a second successive victory on the flying Cortes C.

“We girls were always a bit jealous we didn’t get to jump in this class, so it was a great feeling to win it,” says Beezie.

Behind the scenes, too, women have been paving their way. Di Lampard, a hugely successful international showjumper in her own right, became the first female chef d’equipe in British equestrian sport when appointed to the role in 2015.

“I wasn’t aware of that when I took the role but when it was brought to my attention, I did think, ‘Gosh, yes, that’s pretty special,’” says Di. “It just felt normal for me, having competed so much against the men – equestrianism is very much a sport where men and women go toe to toe. But you do see a bit more balance behind the scenes in other sports now, with more female referees and so on.”

Di has been credited for championing female talent on her teams but, she says, that’s more about how the sport has evolved.

“You take the best partnerships available at the time, but it has slowly changed,” she says. “But we’ve had some great role models over the years – I certainly followed Caroline Bradley, Liz Edgar and had many pictures of Pat Smythe in scrap books.”

Canada’s Gail Greenough became the first world champion in 1986 but it was only as recently as 2018 that Germany’s Simone Blum riding DSP Alice equalled her feat, herself becoming the first woman to win a title at a World Equestrian Games (WEG). Then, 16 years ago, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum earned the number one spot in the world rankings, the first woman to do so; no woman had ever ridden on the German team before the US-born rider earnt her place, either.

Dressage is one discipline in which women have often reached the top. Germany’s Isabell Werth holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any rider, while among Charlotte Dujardin’s astounding list of achievements is to have been the first British woman to retain an individual Olympic title.

But it was 20 years after women were admitted to the Olympic dressage competition – previously it had been open only to commissioned military officers – that Liselott Linsenhoff became the first lady to win gold, with the team medal in 1968 and the individual crown in 1972.

The remarkable dressage rider Lis Hartel, from Denmark, was one of the first women to compete head-to-head with men in an equestrian sport at the Olympics in 1952, and her ground-breaking silver medal was even more remarkable as in 1944, at the age of 23, she had contracted polio and was left paralysed below the knees and with limited mobility in her arms. Seeing her struggle to dismount, the gold medallist, Henri Saint Cyr from Sweden, helped her to the podium to stand side-by-side with her male counterparts. Her success was a defining moment for equality in our sports.

On the racecourse, Meriel Tufnell paved the way as the first female jockey to win a race under Jockey Club rules in 1972. But it is only very recently that the voices have finally been heard calling for all jockeys to be classed as such, rather than defining the accomplishments of women on the racetrack by their gender. This change has been driven in part by Great British Racing’s #JustJockeys initiative. Since 2015, the number of winners from female jockeys has risen by a huge 76% thanks to skilled riders such as 24-year-old Hollie Doyle, who broke her own record for Flat winners in a season (116) last year.

“I have made the point many times that I think gender is irrelevant when it comes to jockeys,” says ITV Racing presenter Francesca Cumani. “For too long, female riders have not had the same opportunities as their male counterparts and have not had the chance to show the extent of their skills. “Hollie has proved that, when given an opening, she is just as capable, if not more so, as any of her colleagues.”

Charlotte Brew was the first woman to ride in the Grand National, in 1977, raising the tape on the race to find a female winner of Aintree’s legendary steeplechase. The strike rate has been much higher at the Cheltenham Festival, both in the saddle and from the training ranks. In March 1987, 21-year-old Gee Armytage became the first female jockey to win against the professionals, when landing the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, doubling up in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup the next day on a horse aptly named Gee-A.

“I actually had five rides at Cheltenham that year and that in itself was a big story at the time,” says Gee. “My first ride in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle didn’t go to plan though, and I was carried out by a loose horse at the second obstacle. As I cantered back up the straight, people were throwing plastic bottles at me and shouting, ‘Useless girl.’ I just had to keep my head held high. But of course after I’d ridden those two winners, I was the hero again.

“I do look back and think how lucky I was, but it all happened so easily for me then; I was riding lots of big winners. I was so confident in those days and would push trainers to be allowed to come and ride out. If I hadn’t done that, undoubtedly I wouldn’t have had nearly as many opportunities.

“Being singled out as a woman jockey actually helped me, because people were so anti them then that you got a lot of attention when you did well. Some trainers would never have put a girl up, but almost in desperation I did get the ride on horses that weren’t going well.”

Three years earlier, Jenny Pitman, a phenomenal trailblazer for women, sent out Burrough Hill Lad and became the first woman to train the winner of the Gold Cup – a year after she trained her first Grand National winner, Corbiere.

These days, the likes of Bryony Frost, the first female to win a Grade One at the Festival, Hayley Turner, Bridget Andrews and Rachael Blackmore have made finishing first past the post a far more frequent occurrence. We also saw Khadijah Mellah hit the headlines last year as the first hijab-wearing jockey, winning the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood.

Success and opportunity have not always come easily for women. Fortunately, long gone are the days when US polo player Sue Sally Hale had to disguise herself as a man when she first rode in the 1950s. There is still work to do, but let’s celebrate these pioneers who paved the way for the next generation to enjoy this wonderful sport on their terms.

Ref: 7 January 2021

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William Whitaker

“After this year, it may seem like we’re a million miles away but we’re actually not — I’m full of confidence,” said William. “Di is doing a great job and Great Britain has always had some of the best riders in the world, so I think it’s just a matter of time before it clicks again and we’re away.

“We do just need a bit of luck now to get everything together on the right days. We’re back in division one, which was the main aim for this year, so if you look at it like that, we’ve achieved what was asked of us.”

Team performance manager, Di Lampard

“It’s a relief to get to the end of the season heading for division one — life in the second division of the Nations Cup was harder work than we thought it would be,” said Di. “We’ve always gone well as a team at the division two shows, but this year we finished third in the first round in Linz and that was where we peaked. Right through to Barcelona, we’ve had setbacks every time — Dublin was the only show where we competed with the team we originally intended to send.

“Every nation has its ups and downs, but we were so thin on the ground this year — we had 24 combinations and we gave every single one a chance. So one big disappointment is that nobody came out and shouted, ‘Look at me’. The door was open and that’s what the division two shows should have been about — but nobody fresh came through it.

“The positive is that we’ve got some very nice young horses, we’ve given them all some experience and WEG [World Equestrian Games] is now the target. Thank goodness we’ve been able to save them this year. We also have great owners, we just need many more new ones and for young riders to attract them, too.

“Most definitely we’ve had a disappointing end in Barcelona. The riders were gutted and asked: ‘What more can we do?’

“There’s plenty of homework to do but it’s time to regroup and look forward and we can at least make a clean start next year in division one. It’s the start of the Olympic cycle so that will put more guidelines on us but the aim is just to get qualified.”

Ref: Horse & Hound; 5 October 2017

Di Lampard is bullish about Britain's ambitions at the Nations Cup final in Barcelona, after not fielding a team at the recent European Championships

Great Britain’s performance manager Di Lampard is “aiming for the top of the podium” with five of the country’s leading riders at the Nations Cup final in Barcelona at the end of this month (28 September – 1 October).

She has chosen Scott Brash, Ben Maher, Michael Whitaker, William Whitaker and Guy Williams to represent Great Britain at the season finale, four of whom will jump as part of the team.

*Updated 28 Sept* The British team has been confirmed as:

• Scott Brash with Ursula XII 
• Guy Williams with Rouge de Ravel 
• William Whitaker with Utamaro d’Ecaussines
• Ben Maher with Quilata

The quartet just need to “complete” the two-round competition, held over three days, in order to gain promotion into division one of the 2018 series. But with huge prize-money on offer, not to mention team honour at stake, there’s plenty to play for at the four-day show.

“We send out the strongest possible team wherever we are and this is the strongest team available to us at this time,” Di Lampard told H&H. “We go to Barcelona with a mix of very experienced riders and combinations, and some new horses as we don’t want to overdo some of the younger horses we have.

“We’re going out there to give our best possible performance — the podium is certainly the aim and we’ve been second there for the past two years so to go one better would be fantastic. It’s always a very exciting competition.”

Nations Cup final: British riders

World number 5 Scott Brash looks set to make his second Team GB appearance of the season, bringing either his London GCT grand prix winner 11-year-old Hello Forever or the 16-year-old Ursula XII, both of whom are owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham. The Scotsman jumped clear for Great Britain in last year’s final on Ursula.

Ben Maher, who was part of the GB team that finished runner-up in 2015, takes Poden Farms’ 13-year-old Quilata, who only came to his stable at the start of the year and is more often seen under his student Emily Moffitt.

Michael Whitaker, who missed out on the European Championships in Sweden last month after his intended ride Viking suffered a foot injury at the 11th hour, also teams up with a relatively new ride in Barcelona, the 10-year-old Calisto Blue.

Michael’s nephew William Whitaker, Great Britain’s individual representative at the European Championships with Ludwig Criel’s 13-year-old stallion Utamaro D’Ecaussines, will team up once again under the Union flag for the Nations Cup final.

And Guy Williams heads to Barcelona with the 12-year-old stallion Rouge De Ravel, another new ride with whom he has achieved some outstanding results on the international circuit since April.

Continued below…

Britain down to one showjumper at European Championships

‘I knew he wasn’t right to jump him today so we had to withdraw — obviously I’m gutted’

No British riders in European individual final as William Whitaker withdraws

The solo British rider at the European Championships will not compete despite making top 25

Graham Fletcher: I would have sent a team to the Europeans *H&H VIP*

Graham Fletcher ponders not sending a squad to the Europeans

Eighteen teams from Europe, North and Central America, South America, Middle East, Asia/Australia and Africa have qualified for the Nations Cup final in Barcelona, the first round of which takes place on Thursday 28 September.

The top eight teams progress straight to Saturday night’s final decider while the bottom 10 teams compete in the consolation Challenge Cup the following day. This is the fifth year that the CSIO Barcelona will host the Nations Cup final.

You can follow all the action with horseandhound.co.uk and read the full story in the following week’s magazine, out Thursday 5 October.

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 British team clinched victory in Rome for the second year running at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup.

Performance manager Di Lampard’s team comprising John Whitaker (Ornellaia), Ben Maher (Tic Tac), Jessica Mendoza and her mare Spirit T and Michael Whitaker and Cassionato finished on a four-fault score after two rounds.

France and the USA settled for the runner-up spot, with both nations completing on 12 faults.

Exemplifying why at 60 years old he is still at the top of the sport, John’s second-round clear sealed the result even though he and Ornellaia had one fence in hand.

“This was Ornellaia’s first Nations Cup and she showed what she can do. She has done some good things already,” said John. “She’s really careful and she’s the one for Rio if I am needed. I’m definitely keen to go — the Olympics are the Olympics and there’s nothing like them.

“I don’t feel the pressure any more, I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted to do so now I just go out and enjoy myself — I’ve got nothing to prove,” added John, who also confirmed Argento won’t be available for Rio selection.

“Argento is a great horse, he’s a real fighter but he has his limits and I don’t want to push him beyond them,” he explained.

Michael’s enigmatic Cassionato was “a bit too fresh” in the first round and was the team’s discount score with nine faults. However, the pair pulled it back in the second round with a foot-perfect display that was pivotal to the end result.

The quartet’s win in Rome will certainly be food for thought for Di ahead of the Rio Olympics — perhaps making the team selection all the more difficult. “It’s a really good problem to have,” she said following the triumph.

Ben Maher was pleased with his new ride Tic Tac. They left all the poles up in the first round but, along with Jessica Mendoza, made minor errors in the second round. Ben knocking two fences and Jessica having one down.

“I started riding Tic Tac in January — I’m still getting to know him but he has a lot of experience and I’m looking forward to the future with him,” said Ben.

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Showjumper Abbervail Dream, who won team bronze for Great Britain at the 1998 World Equestrian Games, has died aged 28.

The horse was ridden during his career by Di Lampard, who is now the performance manager of the British showjumping team.

Mac, as the popular showjumper was known, was voted horse of the year by H&H readers in 1999.

He died of old age last week.

By Chairlift and out of Killea Beauty, Mac had a long and successful career with British team rider Di.

Di told H&H: “Old age caught up with him. It was a tough decision, but he was going downhill so quickly. After a wonderful life and retirement, we lost a family member who had been with us at Spring Farm for 24 years.”

The liver chestnut was bought in 1990 in Ireland by Robert and Dina Verburgt as a three-year-old from Dr Noel Cawley.

As a six-year-old the gelding qualified for three young horse finals at the 1993 Horse of the Year Show, but a collecting ring accident left Di with a broken leg and the pair were unable to compete.

He won the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Hickstead when he was seven before going on to compete in his first World Cup at Olympia in London that same year.

Di and Mac made their British team debut at the CSIO Rotterdam when he was eight. This was followed by more than 40 appearances representing Team GBR.

His last appearance in the ring was at CSIO St Gallen in 2003, signing off a Nations Cup career that spanned a decade.

In 2004, Mac was officially retired at Hickstead. He spent his retirement and Di Lampard and Dietmar Ackermann’s Spring Farm in Oakham, Leicestershire.

Di and Mac went to two FEI European Championships (Hickstead and Arnhem) and two FEI World Equestrian Games (Rome and Jerez).

“Mac was a tough, brave yet careful blood horse with unlimited scope — he was a fighter who excelled in representing Great Britain in Nations Cups around the world,” said owners Robert and Dina.

“All of us will treasure our memories of him forever.”

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The British squad for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona at the end of this month (24-27 September) has been revealed.

The squad is made up of the four combinations who competed at the FEI European Showjumping Championships last month (18-23 August).

Joe Clee and 11-year-old stallion Utamaro D’Ecaussines, Ben Maher and 10-year-old mare Diva II, Jessica Mendoza and 14-year-old mare Spirit T and Michael Whitaker and 10-year-old stallion Cassionato all head to Spain.

The fifth rider is Laura Renwick with nine-year-old gelding Bintang II.

Fresh from his Rolex Grand Slam win at Spruce Meadows (Sunday, 13 September) World number one Scott Brash and his partner Hello Sanctos will not feature on the team.

However, the horse’s owner Lord Harris was quick to dispel any rumours telling H&H that the horse had been put up for selection.

“We made Hello Sanctos available, but he was not chosen,” he said.

Ahead of the FEI European Championships last month the rider came in for criticism from fellow showjumpers after he made Hello Sanctos unavailable for the competition, to save the horse for Spruce Meadows, which fell just a month later.

At the time he told H&H he hoped winning the grand slam and the publicity it would generate would be of benefit for showjumping, but riders frowned upon choosing the Canadian grand prix over jumping for his country.

However, Dan Hughes of the British Equestrian Federation told H&H that the team heading to Barcelona had been initially selected before Hello Sanctos was made available.

“Based on the assumption that given the very long flight and demanding competition programme in Calgary, it would not be in the horse’s best interests to travel and compete again so soon,” he added.

“Now that we have successfully qualified a showjumping team for Rio, performance manager Di Lampard also wished to use the final in Barcelona to test a range of horse and rider combinations at the highest level to ensure we have the broadest choice of horses and athletes available for selection in 2016”.

The final of the Nations Cup series takes place at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona.

A total of 18 teams plus the home team if not already qualified will all be eligible to compete. Teams from within Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Asia/Australasia and Africa will all be competing.

The final consists of three competitions. The top eight teams from Thursday’s opening class will go forward to the third and final competition on Saturday while the remainder will compete in the Challenge Cup which will be held on the Friday.

Live footage will be shown on www.feitv.org

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British showjumping team manager Di Lampard has told H&H she is “extremely excited” about this afternoon’s (Friday 31 July) Nations Cup at Hickstead.

The competition will hopefully reveal vital clues as to who might be representing Great Britain at this summer’s FEI European Showjumping Championships.

The Europeans team is expected to be revealed after Dublin Horse Show — giving team selector Di time to assess riders at both the Hickstead (31 July) and Dublin (7 August) legs of the Nations Cup series.

And the pressure is on as the Europeans are the final chance Britain has to qualify for Rio 2016, after injury and dismal performances at last year’s World Equestrian Games left the country without a spot.

“I’m starting to get very excited now, we have a good squad of riders to select the team from,” Di told H&H.

However, the British showjumping team for the European Championships suffered a further blow at the weekend after John Whitaker revealed that he would not be making his top ride Argento available for selection.

“Argento is a fantastic horse, but he loves smaller arenas and isn’t quite as competent in a big grass arena,” he said. “Aachen is a unique place. He always tries his best and I don’t want to break his heart in something he’s not comfortable in.”

World Class performance manager Di Lampard told H&H she was “not surprised” but naturally “disappointed” by the news.

John’s form this year had suggested him as a strong contender for the Europeans, with Nations Cup team victories and solid performances on the GCT.

“It is disappointing that we don’t have John on a long-list for the Europeans, but I very much respect all the riders’ opinions on their horses,” Di told H&H. “It’s the old phrase ‘horses for courses’, Argento is 13 and still improving and John knows what arenas will suit this horse.

“Aachen is a very daunting arena, you need to have bold horses to compete there and I have to respect his decision.”

Earlier this month Scott Brash revealed to H&H that he would not be jumping his top ride Hello Sanctos, should he be selected for the team, but that he was putting nine-year-olds Hello M’Lady and Hello Forever forward.

It was not in the horse’s “best interests” to contest both the Europeans and the final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam in Calgary (9-13 September) — where the pair stand to win a €1m (£710,000) bonus.

Scott will be taking part in the King George V Cup at Hickstead and will also be making this season’s Nations Cup debut at Dublin, so is still very much on Di’s radar for the championships.

The riders named for the Hickstead Nations Cup team are Holly Gillott (Dougie Douglas), Ben Maher (Diva II), Jessica Mendoza (Spirit T); Michael Whitaker (Cassionato) and Guy Williams (Titus II).

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The Great Britain team of John Whitaker (Argento), Michael Whitaker (Cassionato), Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV) and Holly Gillott (Dougie Douglas) won the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at Piazza di Siena in Rome, Italy on Friday (22 May). This comes on the back of another outstanding Team GB success in the Nations Cup of La Baule, France, the week before.

“It was absolutely fantastic. My job is made very easy by having a fantastic squad of riders, who were fabulous last week in La Baule and were fabulous today,” said the team performance manager Di Lampard.

The win was all the more important as Rome marked the first of Great Britain’s chosen point-scoring rounds in the series and a maximum score sets them up for their remaining three challenges in Rotterdam, Hickstead and Dublin.

The three Whitakers produced impeccable clear rounds in the first round, with Holly Gillott’s 12 penalties being the discard score after her 10-year-old chestnut gelding resented a little the exceptionally wet, sloppy ground following torrential rain and hail in the hours preceding the class.

The Leicestershire-based 25-year-old came back for the second round with a much better performance: increased confidence in the fast-improving ground conditions meant a fluid, flawless round allowing Britain to keep reigning Furusiyya champions, the Netherlands, at a distance. Robert Whitaker’s otherwise perfect round was marred by an unlucky mistake at the very last fence, while Michael produced a very careful round with one time penalty.

This meant that the nail-biting finale was down to the last combination, that of John Whitaker and Argento. Because of his brother’s single time fault, one fence down on John’s part would have meant a Dutch win.

In a classic last-to-go performance, the 59-year-old kept his cool and, with one of only four double clears over the Uliano Vezzani-designed course, produced a perfect round to seal the win for Britain.

“I was very pleased — it is a great one to win, as it is a counting one for us,” said John.

Don’t miss the full report from Rome in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 28 May.

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Former GB team manager Derek Ricketts has been appointed as co-selector alongside World Class showjumping performance manager Di Lampard for the 2015-16 senior championship teams.

Derek, a former international showjumper, was team manager from 2002-2010. He was sacked following the team’s “disappointing” results in 2009, which he said were due to a lack of horse power.

Important decisions need to be made this year to ensure GB have the best chance of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics at the European Championships this summer.

“This is a crucial year for us and I am really pleased that Derek will be working alongside me in this way,” said Di, who took on the role as performance manager at the start of the year.

“Derek is both knowledgeable and objective and having ridden and worked alongside him for a considerable number of years I have nothing but the utmost respect for his opinions.”

“The European Championships which take place in Aachen, Germany, during August will be the last opportunity for Great Britain to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games where we hope to defend our team gold title.”

Meanwhile Matthew Lanni has been announced as the pony team chef d’equip, Alan Fazakerley takes charge of the children and junior team, while Tony Newbery is young rider team chef d’equipe.

Alan Fazakerley will be supported by Philippa Curry who will act as deputy chef d’equipe for both the children and junior teams. Tony Newbery will also assist Di Lampard by acting as chef d’equipe at CSIO3/4* Nations Cup team events if required.

Youth team manager Clare Whitaker said: “Across the team appointed we have a nice mix of resource and experience to tap into. On a personal level I am looking forward to working alongside them and am also confident that our youth riders will all feel the same”.

Di added: “I am looking forward to working with the newly appointed team. Their extensive enthusiasm for the task ahead mirrors their commitment and knowledge of the sport and I feel positive that all riders competing within their age groups will not only build a great rapport with their new chef d’equipes but also benefit from them individually.”

Corinne Bracken investigation continues

Corinne voluntarily stepped down from her role as chef d’equipe, trainer and selector for the youth teams following allegations received by British Showjumping (BS) last May. She also stepped down from the international and national sport committee until an investigation has been completed. BS has not released any details about what the allegations relate to.

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‘We have a strong team of riders and horses — it’s just about harnessing that power,” Di Lampard told H&H, following the news that she was to become the first woman to lead British showjumping.

Since 2011 the sport has been on a rollercoaster of results and performances.

For years showjumping was the poor relation to eventing, in terms of success, in British horse sport but then a dramatic change occurred in 2011. At the European Championships in Madrid Britain took team bronze, and Nick Skelton individual bronze.

Britain then thrilled and surprised fans further by taking Olympic gold in 2012, and this high continued into 2013 as the team clinched the top spot at the Europeans.

However, in 2014 the team experienced a dip in form — despite being Olympic champions the country is yet to qualify for Rio 2016.

For two years running Britain clawed its way into the final of the Nations Cup, after poor performances throughout the year and the threat of relegation. And at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) Britain finished 18th and out of contention for Rio qualification.

Can British riders turn it around in 2015?

After much speculation, Di Lampard was revealed as Rob Hoekstra’s successor as performance manager last week (5 February), and takes on the role immediately.

She will step up from her current role as Team GBR co-selector and deputy chef d’equipe for Nations Cup jumping teams, a position she has held since 2010.

Di, 57, is no stranger to top-level competition. During her career she was Britain’s leading lady rider for eight years, represented her country in two WEGs, two European Championships and around 50 Nations Cups.

“My aim is to get the team in harmony and bring back the popularity of the sport,” said Di. “I want to reignite the fire we had after London 2012. If we can do all this I believe we can get back that enthusiasm we had in 2012.

“It’s very exciting, but we always need more horses. There’s pressure on me as we haven’t qualified for Rio yet, but I’m confident that the riders can do it.”

Moving forward

Rob Hoekstra was credited as revolutionising British showjumping when he took up the position in 2010.

However, he came under criticism after WEG 2014 — Britain’s worst-ever WEG performance.

It also emerged in September that two formal complaints had been made against Rob in the run-up to WEG. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) told H&H that it had ordered an independent review, but neither of the complaints were upheld.

However, in October Rob announced his plans to step down on 1 January to “take up new challenges elsewhere in the sport”, and the search was on to find a new leader.

“Rob put some very good foundations in place and I’ve learnt a lot from him. My approach will be slightly different, but then everyone has their own opinion,” said Di.

“There will be emphasis on a squad of riders.The public might see those that are winning gold, but there are many good jumpers pushing them to get to that level.”

Di also pledges to support young showjumpers, giving them the chance to be part of the Team GBR squad.

“The older riders’ experience and mentoring is crucial,” said Di. “Developing younger riders is so important. They are coming to fruition so much earlier now and are making the championship teams, like Spencer Roe at WEG.”

Q & A

What are your main aims?

To qualify for Rio. There’s a lot of work to be done as I’m so late into the role [it being February now], and I’m sure the other nations all have their plans secure. We need to be in the top three of the non-qualified nations at the Europeans in Aachen this summer to qualify, so I will discuss with the riders what their ideas are for the spring and what horsepower they have.

So this year is all about the Europeans?

Yes, that is the main plan, but we need to focus on the Nations Cup series, too. We have four counting shows — Rome, Rotterdam, Hickstead and Dublin — and it is paramount that we stay in the top league. To do this we need the strongest teams. Nations Cup and Championships go hand-in-hand.

Who have you got your eye on?

Ben Maher is producing a string of new horses over in Florida. He was second recently in the World Cup qualifier with Diva (report, 5 February) so I’m definitely keeping an eye on him. Nick Skelton is also getting himself fit, and his experience is paramount. Tim Gredley is a good championship rider also producing horses in Florida. Over in Europe Scott is strengthening his team; Sanctos has been invaluable and Scott’s a fantastic rider. William Whitaker has had a great season so far, Robert Whitaker is getting on well with Catwalk and Michael [Whitaker] is also building up a new team — there are lots of names in the hat.

Are we still lacking horsepower?

We’re not a massive breeding nation like Germany or Holland, but we have extremely good owners and riders. It was bad luck losing horses [to injury] pre-WEG, but we want everyone to remember the excitement of London 2012.

How will you make a difference?

I’m a good listener and every decision will be well communicated, and I will be very transparent with every athlete and owner.

Ref: H&H 12 February, 2015

We heard today that Di Lampard is to be showjumping’s new performance manager, taking over the role from Rob Hoekstra.

Her appointment is great news for the sport and, according to the overwhelming majority of riders I’ve spoken to, an inspired decision by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).

Di is the veteran of 50 Nations Cups, she’s won two Queen’s Cups and been to two World and European championships. She’s also been chef d’equipe for the pony and young rider teams, helping riders like Robert and William Whitaker from the beginning. She understands what it takes to bridge the gap so she’ll be a great champion for our up-and-coming riders, which is what a large part of the job entails — it’s not just about what we see at the top of the sport.

Since London she’s been the number two chef behind Rob. She actually helped pick the gold medal-winning Olympic and European teams — so she’s already been part of Great Britain’s success. But above all, she loves the sport and nobody could question her integrity.

All this has ensured she’s already earned huge respect from the riders. This is a crunch year for showjumping. It’s our last chance for Olympic 2016 qualification, making the European championships in August a tough, yet critical result — so we needed someone able to hit the ground running. She ticks all the right boxes.

She didn’t want to take the job unless she had the full support of the riders. I believe she will have that from the start — if we’d been able to pick the new manager ourselves, she’d have been the riders’ choice. She’ll be fair to everyone, give young riders ample opportunities and will be great for owners, too. We can all fight for this together.

New championship is a step in the right direction

The new national showjumping championships to be held in mid-August are a great bonus for the domestic circuit and come at a good point in the calendar towards the end of the county shows.

Besides providing a final for the valued International Stairway series, there will be three legs with decent money and the winner will be crowned the national champion.

Congratulations to those who’ve made this happen. Of course, they will need a bit of tweaking as we go but, clashes permitting, most national riders will want to be there and it’s great to see Stoneleigh being used as a show venue once again.

There will be three wild-cards on offer for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) from this show and two invitations to the top riders of the new national gold league. Of course, this means that it makes it more difficult for us international riders to get a place at HOYS but we saw last year the benefits this could have.

At the time, we all asked if these national riders should be qualified? Did they deserve a place at HOYS? But Kerry Brennan, who qualified via the gold league, showed she could thoroughly hold her own and jumped brilliantly. She then went on to win the young riders’ final at Olympia. It really was the making of her.

A different Funnell rising up the rankings

Pippa and I have headed down to Spain this week with 13 horses for the start of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour at Oliva Nova. It’s been a bit windy but, judging by the snow and ice back home, we’ve been lucky to be able to keep working our horses with some consistency. Pippa finished seventh in her first ever showjumping grand prix on Sunday, riding Billy Grand, picking up her first world ranking points.

At this rate, she’ll soon officially be a better showjumper than me. Perhaps I should try eventing.

H&H 5 February 2014

Congratulations to former international showjumper Di Lampard, who has been appointed as British showjumping’s new performance manager.

Word in the equestrian world is that she is a well-liked choice for the job. As popular, that is, as anyone new to a role can be.

Despite having leading rider Scott Brash on our side, the sport has appeared in a muddle of late, with outgoing manager Rob Hoekstra being backed by the British Equestrian Federation for the remainder of his contract — shortly before vacating it prematurely.

We cannot forget Rob led the team to glory in London 2012, but it is nerve-racking that we are yet to qualify for Rio 2016.

Di’s credentials as a sportswoman leave many feeling confident that if anyone can turn the team’s fortunes back to the glory days it is perhaps she. Being respected at all levels, I hope Di’s leadership will also help enthuse the public once more.

With an overview of H&H magazine and website, I see Scott Brash’s wins do not elicit the same enthusiasm as Charlotte Dujardin’s — which is puzzling given that both are top of their sports.

I wonder if the increasing sums of sponsorship being poured into prize money for showjumping — no doubt a great thing for those making their living from the circuit — is alienating it from the equestrian masses, though Formula One doesn’t seem to suffer the same way.

Whatever the cause, I would hope Di’s willingness to work with the media and her ability to talk to all equestrians would see renewed support to match further success — a win, win for all.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 5 February 2015

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Former international rider Di Lampard is the new leader for British showjumpers — and has said it is now full steam ahead to qualify the team for Rio 2016.

After much speculation, Di was revealed as Rob Hoekstra’s successor as performance manager today (Thursday 5 February), and takes on the role immediately.

She will step up from her current role as Team GBR co-selector and deputy chef d’equipe for Nations Cup jumping teams — a position she has held since 2010.

Di also becomes the first female performance manager in British equestrian sport. She will now lead, develop and manage the jumping within the World Class programme.

“I feel proud and honoured,” said Di.

“I want to ignite the fire and passion of London 2012 to achieve success, our immediate goal being qualification for Rio in 2016.

“We will only do this with a no compromise approach and by creating a strong team spirit through open communication and transparency with riders, owners and support staff.”

She added that she will also support the World Class Development programme riders to give young showjumpers the chance to be part of the Team GBR squad.

“We will look to contribute a wider foundation of new horses and involve a larger pool of owners in developing the all-important horsepower we need to achieve success. Rob [Hoekstra] has left the position in great shape having seen British showjumping through one of their most successful periods and I am delighted to take over the reins,” she added.

Continued below…

Read reaction to Di Lampard’s appointment

William Funnell: The riders’ choice for the job [H&H VIP]

H&H's showjumping columnist praises the decision by the British Equestrian Federation to appoint DI Lampard as the new showjumping performace

Sarah Jenkins: A win-win for all?

H&H's Content Director takes a look at the potential new British showjumping performance manager and what the future holds

Rob Hoekstra left the role on 1 January after four years at the helm, in which he led the team to gold medal-winning victory in London 2012.

However, there were tensions of late, and he came under criticism after the World Equestrian Games (WEG) when the team failed to reach the final round — Britain’s worst ever WEG performance.

In October he said he was standing down to “take up new challenges elsewhere in the sport”

“This will provide the final opportunity for the jumping team to achieve Olympic qualification for the 2016 Games,” said performance director Dan Hughes.

“It was therefore essential we found a new performance manager as quickly as possible to provide a smooth transition.

“Di’s credentials as a showjumping rider, coach, selector and chef d’equipe, coupled with her extensive knowledge of the sport, made a compelling case.

“Her reputation is second to none and her attitude and approach make her exactly the right person for the job. We know she’ll be able to hit the ground running and focus quickly on the immediate challenges of Olympic qualification and achieving podium places for Team GBR in 2016. I warmly congratulate her on her appointment and welcome her to Team GBR and the World Class fold with open arms.”

For more from Di, exclusive comment from William Funnell and what the future for British showjumping holds don’t miss next week’s issue of H&H magazine, out Thursday 12 February.

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Di Lampard has retired from competition to concentrate on her new role as a British Showjumping (BS) selector and assistant chef d’equipe.

“It’s been increasingly difficult to compete alongside my coaching commitments,” said Di, 54, who is expanding training facilities at her Spring Farm, Leics, base.

“I’m a perfectionist and doing both was impossible.”

Successful as a young rider team coach and chef d’equipe at the 2008 Youth Olympics in Australia and as BS consultant head of training, Di’s new role as assistant chef d’equipe arose from a phone call with performance manager Rob Hoekstra and began 12 months ago.

Nominated by Rob, Di is now a selector for senior British teams and will share more chef d’equipe duties with him.

“Di makes an ideal team manager,” said BS performance development chairman Clare Whitaker. “She’s ridden at championship level, is full of knowledge, a great communicator and knows what is required.”

Former team-mate Geoff Billington agreed: “Di was a solid team member who could always be relied upon,” he said.

“As selector, she’ll know exactly what’s going on and her judgement will not be swayed.”

Di is selling all her top horses, including 2010 H&H Foxhunter finalist Puck and the exciting 10-year-old stallion Curtis.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (2 June, 2011)

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We received an impressive response when we invited HHO users to contact Di about jumping queries or difficulties they may be experiencing. Although Di has done her best to help, she also stresses: “It’s almost impossible to help people from afar, so the first thing I’d suggest is going for training. I don’t mean only when things go wrong or once every three weeks, but as often as you can afford.

“The love the people who contacted me had for their horses really shone through and I can imagine that their animals have the best of everything, but it’s vital to budget for regular help, too.”

Di received several pleas for help from riders who are trying to turn ex-racehorses into show jumpers.

“You have to be clear in your mind that you couldn’t have two more different disciplines”, she points out. “And a less experienced rider taking on such a horse is not the best equation. The horse is being asked to change from going as fast as he can in a herd situation to competing alone in a sport where control and obedience is vital.”

So can such a horse be retrained for another discipline?

“It’s certainly possible up to a low level, but if a rider is serious about going up the grades, I would suggest buying a schoolmaster. After all, it’s about enjoying competitions,” says Di. “The old adage of horses for courses applies here — you wouldn’t play golf with a hockey stick.”

A recurring problem was that the horses enjoyed taking on fences.

“Many people said that their horses love cross-country, which they presumably relate to racing, but isn’t the ideal preparation for facing coloured poles,” says Di.

So if you believe that your former racehorse has talent, what can you do to stop him doing everything at speed?

“Try cutting down the amount of jumping you do at home,” suggests Di. “Instead of jumping every time, which means that your horse associates schooling with excitement, trot over poles on the ground as part of your daily routine. If you put the poles between wings, your horse will learn that wings don’t necessarily relate to jumping.

“Once he’s accepted that poles and wings aren’t a big deal and remains calm, build up to two or three very small single fences per session — but do remember that removing tension from your horse will take time and be prepared to go back a step at any stage.”

Transitions are also important.

“Do lots of transitions and school in and around fences,” says Di. “You could also jump on a circle, which gives you a shorter approach and stops the horse from anticipating the fence. If you manage a balanced approach and landing, you should continue the circle, then the horse can’t set itself and take you to the end of the arena.”

How do you judge when your horse is ready to compete?

“If you can jump a small course at home and keep your horse calm, you’ve got somewhere,” explains Di. “But I wouldn’t necessarily take him show jumping straight away. Try a low-grade dressage class, which will make him realise that going somewhere new doesn’t always mean galloping and jumping.”

• For lots more expert advice from Di Lampard on how to tackle common jumping problems see the current issue of Horse & Hound (6 November).

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

Abbervail Dream

Abbervail Dream, or Mac as he is known at home, is Di’s top horse. Having won the Queen’s Cup at the age of seven, the Irish-bred gelding is now, aged 16, a veteran of more than 30 British teams, and has recently come back into work after being sidelined earlier in the season.

“Mac has been my top horse for so long now that it would be difficult to imagine life without him,” says Di. “He’s a real showman and loves the big atmosphere. He does have a very sharp character and that works against him indoors, as the people close to the ring excite him.

“He hasn’t been easy to produce, but he does have tremendous scope and is extremely brave — in another life, although his movement isn’t the best, he could well have made an eventer. Because of his scope and bravery, he can sometimes find technical courses quite difficult. He’s at his best in rings such as Hickstead’s International Arena.

“He’s a big horse at 17hh, but his conformation isn’t ideal. Although he’s an attractive horse, he is sway backed and as a young horse, all the muscle was underneath his neck. This has improved through consistent schooling, though. He also doesn’t have the best hocks, but he’s all heart and has coped his best with these shortcomings.”

William’s Spirit

William’s Spirit is 10 years old and British-bred. He suffered a leg injury in 2001 that put him out for 18 months and has only recently returned to the ring, finishing second in the Rexton Power and Speed Championship at HOYS.

“The first time I sat on William, I was convinced that I’d found my superstar,” says Di. “We knew he was talented, so we did nothing with him until he was five and then produced him carefully.

“I strongly believe that we ask horses to do too much too young and that four-year-olds shouldn’t be jumping at shows. If you end up with an international prospect, no one ever asks what it did at the age of four or five.

“William had it all — the temperament and fantastic ability. He was placed in his novice finals at HOYS and then was going well internationally.

“Since he came back, he isn’t the same horse and, although he’s had a 100% bill of health, I can’t help wondering if he will ever return to his former level. But he definitely could have been anything, a top-class eventer or even a show horse.”

Don’t miss the second part of Di Lampard’s new series on training the show jumper in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (16 October). The first article in the series can be found in the current issue of Horse & Hound (9 October).

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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

Britain’s leading lady show jumper, Di Lampard, has been appointed BSJA consultative head of coaching, taking over from Lars Sederholm, who established the system.

There are currently nine BSJA accredited coaches – Di, Matthew Lanni, Tony Newbery, Andy Austin, Tina Fletcher, Peter Murphy, Alan Fazakerley, Tina Goosen and Susie Gibson, while Johnny Harris and Tim Stockdale are just finishing their accreditation.

The scheme runs using a “mentor” system, whereby accredited coaches supervise those joining the scheme, with the aim of standardising the training available to BSJA members at every level.

BSJA chief executive Jacky Wood said: “We’re delighted that Di has accepted this position.

“The BSJA is fully aware of the need to find and train young show jumping riders using the best practices. Di knows first-hand the skills required to make it to the top in international competition.”

Di commented: “It’s an honour to follow in Lars’s footsteps and build on the foundations he has put in place. We have evaluated the training schemes used in other countries and believe that we have taken the best of these to establish our own system.”

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

Di Lampard and Abbervail Dream clinch their first Ladies Championship title at Royal Windsor

Di Lampard and her veteran partner Abbervail Dream pulled out the stops to win the prestigious Samsung Royal Windsor Ladies Jumping Championship in copybook style.

Twelve riders came forward to tackle the challenge held in the Castle Arena, which this year has been transformed into a massive all-weather arena, complete with stage scenery to accommodate the evening performances of All The Queen’s Horses equine extravaganza.

Seven combinations made it through to the final jump off, but no one could touch the magic of a combination on top form.

Corrine Collins and Robert Lickley’s Libra K set off at a cracking pace producing a round which looked like the winning one until clipping a pole at the last in a good time of 44.22 to finish in runner up position.

Amanda Edwards and Bit More Candy, formerly ridden by husband Carl, took third place with just four faults in 50.11 secs.

Abbervail Dream’s challenge was judged to perfection, never appearing to hurry, he ate up the arena and shaved precious seconds en route to a double clear in a winning time of 46.16secs.

“I’ve been second four times in this competition, but today everything seemed to go right for us,” said Di afterwards. “Although the course wasn’t big, that doesn’t mean it was easy because it was hard to keep the horse’s concentration between the fences as they were much more spread out than usual.

Di also paid tribute to her veteran partner.

“Although he’s 15 now, I’m lucky because the ownersdon’t put pressure on us and he’s not jumped week in week out. Touch wood he’s in fine fettle.”

Read more about Di Lampard:

• Di is best of the British in France
• Di claims top SJ title at HOYS
• Meet Abbervail Dream

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