Sunday’s €3.5million Super Cup Final at the GC Prague Playoffs sealed the GCL season with a spectacular win for the London Knights, led by the squad’s owner and U25 rider Emily Moffitt.

The British showjumper had excitedly rang her father on Friday after the team qualified for Sunday’s decider, saying ‘We can definitely win this on Sunday’. Her prediction came true as London Knights collected the €1.2million first prize at the third running of the Super Cup Final in the Czech Republic..

After a knockout tournament held over three days, just six teams made it through to Sunday’s decider where the London Knights really upped their game. The scarlet-coated squad were represented in this final leg by Belgian twins Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts and 23-year-old Emily, who made her senior championship debut for Great Britain at the Europeans earlier this year.

“I kept saying to everyone all year ‘Keep your heads up, I know we are going to win in Prague’,” said Emily. “The more pressure the better for me, but I owe it all to Winning Good – he is spectacular. Having this atmosphere here is the best and is what it is all about.”

GCL Super Cup Final: ‘This is what motivates us riders’

Emily’s team-mate Olivier Philippaerts added: “This show is great and makes our sport – it is what motivates us riders.”

The London Knights trio clinched the title with a hat-trick of clears in the final round of the GCL Super Cup Final – a phenomenal achievement in this three-to-a-team with all scores counting format, which mirrors the new-look Olympic Games.

Second place in the GCL Super Cup Final went to Paris Panthers, with team manager Rob Hoekstra saying: “I think what the London Knights did today was exceptional. I want to thank [co-founder] Jan Tops for being able to do all these shows in the difficult circumstances we have had over the past couple of years.”

Taking third were the Berlin Eagles, whose team member Ludger Beerbaum was riding with a broken finger.

Don’t miss more action and insight from this year’s GC Prague Playoffs in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 25 November.

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When Emily Moffitt made her British team debut at the European Showjumping Championships earlier this month, she had a secret weapon by her side – her long-term trainer, the Olympic champion Ben Maher.

Ben was instrumental in Emily’s father Neil initially buying her top ride, Winning Good, as she explains in an interview on episode 68 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

Emily says: “We’ve had ‘Winnie’ since he was eight – he’s 12 now – and I actually never tried him. Ben tried him and called my dad and said, ‘You have to have this horse, he’s amazing.’ Ben never really gets that excited about that sort of thing, so my Dad said, ‘Ok, let’s do it.’”

Ben initially produced the horse.

Emily continues: “We all knew he was quite feisty and he can throw his head around a bit and he’s very strong, but I really needed that next step up, that next gear of a horse. Ben had Explosion W at the time, so he said I could take Winnie if I wanted to. I said to him I felt it was the right time and I’d be able to ride him.

“It was right from the start a great partnership. We had to play around with bits as he is strong and we have had our bumps in the road – he’s not the easiest by any means – but we just clicked and we have such a good bond and partnership. I call him and he pokes his head out, he’s all excited to see me and he nickers. He’s my best friend.”

Emily Moffitt: ‘Anything I needed, Ben Maher was there to help’

Emily explains how Ben helped her during the week at the Europeans.

“It’s really a team effort to get Winnie to be how he is and Ben really helps me a lot. I would not have the horse I have today without Ben. I don’t have the experience to know how to calm Winnie down or to know little tips and tricks I can do in the ring to settle his head shaking, just small things that make a difference with Winnie as he’s such a sensitive horse.

“Ben helped me work him every day. It’s so nice to have somebody there you’ve had a relationship with for so long. We’ve been training together for so long that it’s just somebody to lean on. Anything I needed, Ben was there to help me and it was really great.”

Ben was by Emily’s side to give her a last-minute hand the day she jumped clear in the final team round in Riesenbeck.

“I was finishing my last vertical in the warm-up and I could feel Winnie was doing something strange with his tongue, like maybe he’d put it over bit or done something like that,” says Emily. “I was like, ‘Oh no, Ben, can you come check?’ because he does have a tendency to play with his tongue a bit.

“Anyway, he sorted it out and he was like, ‘Okay, you’ve got to go in [now]’ and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not the perfect way to go into the ring.’

“But I just took a deep breath and Di [Lampard, British performance manager] looked at me and she was like ‘You’ve got this’ and I just kind of thought, ‘You’re right, I do. This is what we do all the time and we’re so good at it and I do have this, we’ve totally got this.’

“I cantered to the first fence and Winnie was so in the zone and I just knew, I was like, ‘Oh yes, we’re jumping clear’. It was an awesome feeling.”

• Find out more about Emily’s British team debut by tuning in to episode 68 of The Horse & Hound Podcast here, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

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In our 68th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our podcast host Pippa Roome talks to British showjumper Emily Moffitt about representing Britain at her first championships with her top ride Winning Good. H&H’s dressage editor Polly Bryan and dressage Euros reporter Gemma Redrup discuss the top-class sport in Hagen, before Pippa catches up with H&H’s news team to talk about trailer test changes and a powerful video documentary released on World Suicide Prevention Day. Finally, we begin a new advice mini series with mental coach Charlie Unwin, who kicks off by talking about managing your inner game. Let us know what you think...

Episode 68 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service available every Thursday morning for our H&H digital subscribers is now live.

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• View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

In our 68th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our podcast host Pippa Roome talks to British showjumper Emily Moffitt about representing Britain at her first championships with her top ride Winning Good, including the role her coach Ben Maher plays in their success and what makes “Winnie” such a great competitor.

Moving on to the European Dressage Championships, H&H’s dressage editor Polly Bryan chats to our Hagen reporter Gemma Redrup about last week’s exciting sport in Germany.

Pippa joins Eleanor Jones and Lucy Elder of the H&H news team to chat about topical news including unexpected changes to the trailer test and a powerful video that was released on World Suicide Prevention Day, in which Matthew Wright’s wife Victoria speaks frankly about her experience.

This week marks the start of a new mini series with mental coach Charlie Unwin in our advice section, which gets underway with Charlie talking about managing your inner game

• We would love to hear your feedback on all our podcasts, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

H&H Plus podcast: episode 68

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 67: Sir Lee Pearson | Bicton five-star | SJ Euros | Rider fitness by sport | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast 66: Ros Canter | Paralympic dressage | Core strength | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast 65: Working hunter producer Katy Green | Aerobic fitness | News round-up

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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

The curtain has closed on a thrilling week of action at the European Showjumping Championships in Riesenbeck. Andre Thieme claimed individual gold on home soil, while the superb Swiss riders reigned supreme in the team final. Here’s all you need to know from across the competition…

European Showjumping Championships news and results

The individual final on 5 September went down to the wire as Andre and DSP Chakaria stopped Martin Fuchs retaining his 2019 crown.

Find out how the final day of action unfolded

The team final on 4 September had Switzerland battling Germany and Belgium for the top spot.

Read what Steve Guerdat had to say about his final team round

Emily Moffitt was the sole British rider to qualify for the individual final but decided not to take part

Read why Emily decided to withdraw Winning Good

Marcus Ehning’s superstar stallion Comme Il Faut retired in an emotional ceremony

Read what Marcus had to say about the stallion’s farewell

Ireland secured two places in the medal-deciding round of Sunday’s individual final

Find out what the Irish rider’s made of Frank Rothenberger’s penultimate challenging track

Greece’s sole combination Ioli Mytillineou and Levis De Muze shone throughout the competition. While their final round did not go to plan with the pair ultimately retiring, Ioli has much to celebrate having come from jumping one-star classes just 18 months ago.

Read what Ioli had to say about their senior championship debut

You might also be interested in:

Who won medals, how Britain finished and learning for the future: today’s key stories from the European Championships

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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

Britain’s Emily Moffitt has withdrawn Winning Good from tomorrow’s individual European Showjumping Championships final, to save the horse for another day.

Emily and the 12-year-old gelding, owned by Neil and Heidi Moffitt and Poden Farms, had jumped a superb clear in the team final to finish in 22nd place, which meant they could jump in tomorrow’s individual medal decider.

Emily told H&H that given her position, she felt it best for the horse not to jump.

“He’s always in the forefront of my mind,” she said. “He’s only 12 and I’ve got big goals and dreams that I can’t do without him.

“I want to do what’s best for him, but making it through to the final at my first championship is amazing.”

Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard said that the combination had “grown” this week on their championship debut, culminating in yesterday’s superb clear.

“However, in consultation with Emily, her owners and trainer, we feel it’s best to save the horse for another day,” she said.

“I’m proud of all our riders this week; for such a young team they’ve ridden with great passion and been perfect ambassadors for the country and our sport. While we won’t have a representative in the individual final this time, I’m optimistic this group of riders will be challenging for medals for years to come.”

Tomorrow’s competition starts at 2pm local time (1pm UK time). The second round, for which the top 12 will qualify and in which the medals will be decided, starts at 4pm (3pm).

You might also be interested in:

Who won medals, how Britain finished and learning for the future: today’s key stories from the European Championships

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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’s Emily Moffitt produced a stunning clear in the final round of the team competition at the European Showjumping Championships at Riesenback, Germany, on Friday (3 September).

Emily and the 12-year-old Winning Good saved their best performance for this round over Frank Rothenberger’s demanding track. The pair gave the oxer at fence four a rub but it stayed in place, and while the gelding looked a little keen pulling to the vertical at fence eight, they completed a lovely clear inside the time. This was good enough to secure the pair a ticket to the individual final on Sunday (5 September) where the top 25 riders will compete for medals. Emily lies in 22nd on 12.12 and is the only Brit to qualify.

The 23-year-old rider was thrilled with the gelding, owned by Poden Farms and her parents Neil and Heidi Moffitt, following today’s round. The pair had a difficult start on day one during which they picked up 12 points with three fences down. Emily said at the time the opening speed round hadn’t suited the forward-going gelding, who she describes as “a tank”. The pair were more together yesterday, just picking up an unlucky four faults at the oxer immediately after the water jump.

Emily said she went into today’s competition believing she would jump clear: “Last night I said ‘tomorrow’s the day!’. I think having that mindset certainly helps. The second I started jumping him in the warm-up, I thought ‘today’s the day’.

“He felt like he really tuned in, was focusing and listening and letting me ride him. He was a bit aggressive still, which is him, but he had respect for what I was asking. I knew from one to two when he didn’t jerk his head around we were in the game.”

Reflecting on the “Winnie’s” forward and attacking nature, Emily said it’s what makes the gelding “so good”.

“I’ve mentioned before that we once managed to get him very calm, but he did not have the same jump at all. It gives him the extra edge and that spark,” she said.

“We’re very experienced together, but we’ve never done a championship. The next championship that I get to go to I’ll have a completely different mindset. I know what to expect now, I know what to work on such as the first day with the speed. If that day hadn’t happened the way it did, I think the whole weekend would have been more like today.”

Emily was accompanied at the European Showjumping Championships with her coach Olympic showjumping champion Ben Maher.

“I can lean on Ben. When I’m feeling like I’m a little bit in no man’s land, it’s always helpful having somebody that you trust,“ she said. “We’ve been working together for so long, he helps me ride Winnie and he knows Winnie like the back of his hand. The three of us are so great together.”

Emily was the second of Great Britain’s riders to jump in this team medal-deciding round at the European Showjumping Championships. Britain’s team of young rising stars started the day in eighth, before pathfinders Georgia Tame and Ascot Z7 retired from the competition following a refusal at fence three, leaving the remaining three rider’s scores to count.

You might also be interested in:

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The team competition at the European Showjumping Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, is to conclude today with one medal-deciding round of jumping.

The young British team is in eighth place going into this afternoon’s competition, with Switzerland, Germany and Sweden in the medal spots, and Ireland in fifth place. The class starts at 1pm local tine (12noon UK time), with those riders only competing as individuals jumping first, then a 20-minute break before the first team combination enters the arena.

European Showjumping Championships approx times: British riders in first competition

• Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot: approx 1.42pm local time; 12.42pm UK time
• Emily Moffitt and Winning Good: approx 2.02pm local time; 1.02m UK time
• Joe Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel: approx 2.42pm local time; 1.42pm UK time
• William Whitaker and Galtur: approx 3.02pm local time; 2.02pm UK time

The first Irish rider will be Daniel Coyle on Legacy, at about 1.48pm (12.48pm), with Michael Duffy and Zilton SL Z in at about 2.08pm (1.08pm). Eoin McMahon and Chacon 2 are due to jump at about 2.48pm (1.48pm) and Mark McAuley on Jasco VD Bisschop at about 3.08pm (2.08pm).

The combinations currently in the individual medal positions are all due to jump about two hours in; third-placed Swede Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, on Ermindo W, at about 2.52pm (1.52pm), Germany’s Christian Kukuk on Mumbai, who are in the silver-medal position, at about 2.54pm (1.54pm) and reigning European champion Martin Fuchs, who is in the lead in the individual competition with Leone Jei, will jump at about 2.56pm (1.56pm).

As well as deciding the team European Showjumping Championships medals, today’s scores also count towards the individual standings. The top 25 combinations at the close of play qualify for Sunday’s medal decider. Britain’s William Whitaker and Galtur are currently in 26th place.

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The British team has made it through to tomorrow’s team final at the European Showjumping Championships, after a nail-biting thriller of a competition.

All four combinations — Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot, Emily Moffitt and Winning Good, Joe Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel and William Whitaker on Galtur — had jumped far better rounds than the score sheets might indicate. And after a tense afternoon in which it was all change in the team order, the Swiss came out on top, with Germany still in silver-medal position and Sweden in third place.

Britain had been in 12th place going into this second competition of the championships but adding today’s 16-fault total to yesterday’s 17.18 gave them a total of 33.18, which was good enough for eighth place overnight.

The top 10 teams go forward to tomorrow’s (3 September) medal decider, which gets under way at 12noon UK time.

The top 25 combinations after tomorrow go through to contest the individual medals on Sunday; William is currently the highest placed British rider in 26th place.

Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard told H&H she was very proud of every member of the young British team.

“My goal was to get them through to Friday, and that’s been achieved,” she said. “I’m delighted that they’ll get another day of this wonderful experience.”

Di said giving these up-and-coming combinations championship experience is the way to build strength in depth for British showjumping in future.

“To think we’ve got three [championship] debutants here, it’s amazing,” she said. “Georgia hasn’t jumped a five-star before on that horse, and he’s a big stallion for her but she rode fantastic, and was unlucky. Joe’s 21, the youngest rider in the competition, and he’s only jumped two five-stars. Emily’s at her first championship, and William’s horse has only jumped two five-stars, and only one with him.

“I hope this is a trampoline for their careers, and I could not be prouder of them all.”

It was Switzerland’s day today though; Elian Baumann on Campari Z, Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei and Steve Guerdat on Albfuehren’s Maddox all jumped clear to give them a team total of 5.47.

Steve came to the championships in a year that has not favoured him so far; he lost his top mare Bianca in June, and had had “a bit of a downer” since.

“I thought today, if everything doesn’t feel as confident and smooth as normally, I have to at least fight and that’s one thing I have control over,” he said, “The spirit. To show the good spirit out there.

“And because I’m not having the best run, I have to fight maybe more than normally. But this is sport and this is what I’m trying to do and my hope is that with luck on my side and that together we can fight through to the best possible results.”

He added that although it is positive to be in the lead, there is still “a long way to go”.

“Everything is still out there,” he said. “The teams are quite close, and we hope that the horses are jumping well to give it another try tomorrow.”

Germany are less than a fence behind, with 8.77 penalties. Andre Thieme on DSP Chakaria, and Christian Kukuk on his Tokyo ride Mumbai, both jumped clear, while yesterday’s winners David Will and C Vier caught the second part of the final double — the downfall of so many today — to finish on four faults.

Sweden are again less than a fence behind the Germans; Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S and Douglas Lindelow on Casquo Blue clocked up four faults apiece, while Rolf-Goran Bengtsson on Ermindo W jumped clear for a team total of 11.59 penalties.

Belgium are in fourth place on 17.34 and Ireland pulled up from seventh to fifth place with a total of 20.73.

In the individual European Showjumping Championships standings, reigning champion Martin Fuchs is in the lead on 1.31 penalties, with Christian Kukuk in second on 1.93 and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson in third on 1.96.

You might also be interested in:

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Great Britain’s Emily Moffitt returned home with just four faults to add on day two of the 2021 European Showjumping Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, on Thursday (2 September).

Riding her brilliant five-star performer Winning Good, owned by Poden Farms and her parents Neil and Heidi Moffitt, she just fell foul of the oxer immediately after the water jump.

The 12-year-old Winningmood gelding was fighting for his head round Frank Rothenberger’s 1.60m track, but Emily did well to hold him together in the lovely turf arena at Ludger Beerbaum’s Riesenbeck base. Adding four penalties to yesterday’s individual score of 8.12 gave Emily a total after day two of 12.12.

“It was such an extravagant jump at the water,” she said. “I think that was definitely going to be our difficult line and I should have maybe just spoken to him a bit or held him off — I thought I did enough but I didn’t.

“Winnie never has a day in his life that he isn’t strong. I was just speaking to Ben [Maher], we had got him into such a great system these past few shows and for some reason he came here and was like ‘party time’! He’s gone back a bit to how he used to be, so we have had to make good of what we have and make good out of a not-so-ideal situation but I think we did that today.”

Emily had said that the format of an opening speed round on the first day hadn’t suited the forward-going gelding, who “is a tank’.

“He felt better than yesterday as right from the start I could focus on the jumps and didn’t have to worry about the time and that made all the difference,” she said. “He’s already so forward that if you ask him to go more forward…well, I haven’t cracked that side of him yet!”

Emily, who is trained by the Olympic showjumping champion Ben Maher, was the second of Great Britain’s riders to jump in day two of three rounds to decide the team medals at the European Showjumping Championships.

She followed Great Britain’s pathfinder Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot, who produced a nine-fault total round. Emily was followed in to the ring by her team-mates Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) and William Whitaker (Galtur).

Great Britain’s performance manager Di Lampard has selected a relatively young and inexperienced squad for these European Showjumping Championships and her riders were up against some of the world’s leading athletes. Day two’s contest was proving particularly tricky, with clear rounds very thin on the ground, especially in the early stages.

The team medals are decided tomorrow (Friday 3 September) with the individual championships concluding on Sunday (5 September).

You may also be interested to read…

What time the Brits are in action at the Europeans today, plus how to watch

Britain and Ireland reveal teams for European Showjumping Championships

Tough start for British pathfinder at European Showjumping Championships

How to watch the European Showjumping Championships live – your full guide for 2021

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

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

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

The team competition at the European Showjumping Championships continues this afternoon (2 September), with all four British riders in action.

The Nations Cup competition, in which both team and individual riders jump, starts at 1pm German time (12pm BST) with the eight individual riders coming into the ring first. All combinations carry forward penalty points calculated from their finishing positions in yesterday’s speed class.

European Showjumping Championships approx times: British riders

• Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot: approx 1.18pm local time; 12.18pm UK time
• Emily Moffitt and Winning Good: approx 1.26pm local time; 12.26am UK time
• Joe Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel: approx 1.36pm local time; 12.36pm UK time
• William Whitaker and Galtur: approx 13.46pm local time; 12.46pm UK time

Czech rider Vladimir Tretera, on Gangster VH Noddevelt, will be the last rider of the teams in 11th-15th place, then the first rider of the teams in the top 10, Zascha Nygaard Andreasen on Quinn 33, will be in the ring at about 13.50pm (12.50pm).

The first Irish rider will be Daniel Coyle on Legacy, at about 1.56pm (12.56pm), with Michael Duffy and Zilton SL Z in at about 2.31pm (1.31pm). Eoin McMahon and Chacon 2 are due to jump at about 2.51pm (1.51pm) and Mark McAuley on Jasco VD Bisschop at about 3.11pm (2.11pm).

Defending champion Martin Fuchs, on Leone Jei, will jump at about 2.59pm (1.59pm), yesterday’s winners David Will and C Vier go second-last at about 3.21pm (2.21pm) and Olympic silver medallist Peder Fredricson, on Catch Me Not S, rounds off the class at about 3.23pm (2.23pm).

The top 10 teams after today’s competition will go through to tomorrow’s second Nations Cup round, which will decide the team medals. All faults will be carried forward.

The competition is being broadcast and we have all the details on how to watch the European Showjumping Championships live for you via this link.

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Great Britain’s Emily Moffitt and Winning Good finished on a score of 87.90 in the opening leg of the European Showjumping Championships at Riesenbeck, Germany.

The pair, who were shortlisted for the Tokyo Olympics last month, followed Georgia Tame’s solid opening round for Team GB. The Poden Farms-owned 12-year-old Winningmood gelding Winning Good, known at home as “Winnie”, looked full of beans and never quite settled into the job in hand. The gelding hit three fences in all, adding 12 points to the pair’s time to produce a score of 87.90. The pair currently sit in 32nd position individually.

“He is very eager to get to the job!” said Emily. “I knew going in that it wasn’t going to be the easiest day. In fact, today was probably my most difficult day – just trying to manage him. He’s extremely difficult when you try and go a bit quicker. We try and keep him in a box, and the second you allow him to get out of that box, it’s difficult to put him back in.”

This is 23-year-old Emily’s debut at a senior championship, but she was part of the winning Nations Cup team that lifted the Aga Khan trophy in Dublin in 2019 and has shown good form this year.

“I thought it was a nice course for the first day,” said Emily. “Tomorrow, we’ll try our best and hopefully we can get two clear rounds in and we can do well for the team.

“Every day, he gets a bit easier and this was the worst possible format for us. We had to try and do the best with what we had and it didn’t go our way. But tomorrow and the following day, I can focus more on the jumps rather than the time and hopefully we can do what we do best and jump some clear rounds.”

The early leader in the individual standings for the European Showjumping Championships was the Netherlands’ Frank Schuttert riding Lyonel D with a score of 74.28. However just before the break, Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow flew straight to the top of the standings riding Casquo Blue on a score of 73.99 to take the lead at the halfway point in Wednesday’s opening competition.

In the team standings for the European Showjumping Championships, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany are looking strongest at the halfway point. The team competition continues on Thursday, with the medals being decided on Friday. The individual championships conclude on Sunday (5 September).

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Britain will be first into the arena in the first competition of the European Showjumping Championships this morning.

Today’s competition is a speed class, in which scores and times are converted to penalties.

European Showjumping Championships approx times: British riders in first competition

• Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot: 11am local time; 10am UK time
• Emily Moffitt and Winning Good: approx 11.24am local time; 10.24am UK time
• Joe Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel: approx 12noon local time; 11am UK time
• William Whitaker and Galtur: approx 12.36pm local time; 11.36am UK time

Georgia Tame and Z7 Ascot (pictured) will kick off the first qualifying competition in the main arena of Riesenbeck International at 11am European time (10am BST). Breen Equestrian, Shane Breen and Team Z7’s 10-year-old gelding makes his senior championship debut here, as does Georgia, but the pair are no strangers to this venue, having finished second in the grand prix here last year.

Next in for Britain will be Emily Moffitt on Poden Farms and Neil and Heidi Moffitt’s Winning Good; the pair are also both at their first senior championships but were shortlisted for this summer’s Olympics, and have twice been on winning British Nations Cup teams. Emily and “Winnie” will be 13th in, at about 11.24am (10.24am BST).

Joe Stockdale and Joy Cocklin’s Equine America Cacharel continue the campaign as the 31st combination into the arena, at approximately 12pm (11am BST). This is another combination of senior championship debutants but they jumped clear, with just a single time-fault, in the five-star Rolex grand prix at Royal Windsor in July, and double clear in the three-star Nations Cup in Denmark in June.

William Whitaker and Philip Tuckwell’s Galtur will be last to go for Britain, as the 49th combination into the arena at about 12.36pm (11.36am BST). William has competed at two senior championships; the 2017 Europeans and 2018 World Equestrian Games, and he and Galtur are seasoned Nations Cup performers.

Daniel Coyle and his own and Ariel Grange’s Legacy are first in for Ireland at about 11.20am (10.20am), followed by Michael Duffy on Katherine Duffy and HMF Equestrian’s Zilton SL Z, at about 11.54am (10.54am). Eoin McMahon and Madeleine Winter’ Schulze’s Chacon 2 jump at about 12.28pm (11.28am) and Mark McAuley on his own and Scea la Tuiliere’s Jasco VD Bisschop conclude the Irish campaign for today at about 1.04pm (12.04pm).

Defending European champion Martin Fuchs, and Adolfo Juri’s Leone Jei will be jumping at about 12.20pm (11.20am) and Olympic silver medallist Peder Fredricson, on Ebba Berglof’s Catch Me Not S, at about 12.46pm (11.46am).

Tomorrow is the first of two days of team competition; the top 10 at the close of play tomorrow will progress to Friday’s medal decider.

You might also be interested in:

How to watch the European Showjumping Championships live – your full guide for 2021

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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

The British and Irish riders selected for the European Showjumping Championships teams have been revealed.

The riders who will be carrying British hopes while competing at former Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum’s base in Riesenbeck, Germany (1-5 September) are:

• Emily Moffitt, 22, with Poden Farms and Neil and Heidi Moffitt’s Winning Good
• Joe Stockdale, 21, with Joy Cocklin’s Equine America Cacharel
• Georgia Tame, 23, with Breen Equestrian Ltd, Shane Breen and Team Z7’s Z7 Ascot
• William Whitaker, 31, with Philip Tuckwell’s Galtur

Emily, Joe and Georgia – and all four horses – are making their senior team debut. William rode at the World Equestrian Games in 2018, and the Europeans in 2017.

British Equestrian showjumping performance manager Di Lampard said having the “additional bonus” of the European Championships this year after the Olympics had given the selectors the opportunity to field an “exciting young team”.

“Championship experience is vital for any rider in their career and Emily, Joe, Georgia and William certainly have the potential to become mainstays of the British team for years to come,” said Di.

“I’m really looking forward to leading them in Germany and beyond.”

The selected Irish riders are:

• Daniel Coyle, 27, with Ariel Grange & Daniel Coyle’s Legacy
• Michael Duffy, 27, with HMF Equestrian & Katherine Duffy’s Zilton SL Z
• Mark McAuley, 24, with Scea La Tuiliere & Mark’s Jasco VD Bisschop
• Eoin McMahon, 26, with Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s Chacon 2

The reserve is Bertram Allen, 26, with Ballywalter Farm’s Harley VD Bisschop

“We are really looking forward to competing at these championships,” said Irish showjumping team manager Michael Blake.

“We have some exciting new combinations who have been in impressive form in recent months and this is a great opportunity for them to jump at a European Championships where the competition will be intense and the squad also includes a nice balance of experienced riders.”

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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

Young British showjumper Emily Moffitt enjoyed a successful trip to the five-star show at La Baule, France, last weekend (10-13 June), jumping double clear for her country in the Nations Cup as well as making her debut in a Derby – an experience that made her feel “so nervous”.

“I said to [my trainer] Ben Maher that I felt as though I was about to go in and jump-off for the Olympic gold medal, I was so nervous!” Emily told H&H. “He replied that I was supposed to go in and have fun, but I said ‘No seriously, I’m so nervous’. 

“He was laughing so much about it!”

Emily was riding her great campaigner, the Poden Farms-owned 16-year-old stallion Copain Du Perchet CH, and the pair looked absolute naturals over La Baule’s legendary Derby track which includes a bank, water splash, open water (pictured above) and some coloured poles round the 22-fence course. The pair returned home with just four faults, finishing fourth to the British winner Holly Smith on Fruselli.

“I’d put my sticky spray on all over my saddle and just went in thinking that as long as I stayed on it would be ok!” revealed Emily. “But it was so fun and Copain was amazing – he had his ears forward and it was like he was asking ‘Where are we going, what’s next? Let’s do it!’”

Making her debut in a Derby certainly wasn’t Plan A for the Olympic nominated rider but Copain had all the credentials, having done the Fasterbo Derby, finishing third, and won the Aachen equivalent with previous rider Cian O’Connor. 

“We’ve never trained for it, we’ve never done anything,” said Emily. “But Ben walked me up and down the bank and explained what I needed to do – ‘Just lean back, squeeze and cluck!’”

Another of Emily’s concerns was remembering the course, which snakes the length and breadth of La Baule’s huge turf arena, but she also credits her team-mate Holly Smith for giving her plenty of pep talks.

“She said to me, ‘It’s fine! You’re going to have fun, just go in there and enjoy it’,” said Emily.

So could we see her coming down the renowned banks at Hickstead and Hamburg in the future?

“If there was a show that had another Derby I’d certainly bring Copain because he loved it so much,” enthused Emily. “He’s 16 now and it’s important to let him have a bit of fun; we don’t bring him out as often as we used to. But it was a lot of fun, so I’d definitely do another one on him.”

Article continues below…

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The previous day, Emily had jumped a double clear on the 12-year-old Winning Good to help Great Britain finish fourth in the Nations Cup.

“It was awesome. Winnie couldn’t have jumped any better and it was definitely the day to be jumping out of his skin,” said Emily. “Even in the warm up he was incredible and Ben said to me ‘Emily, you’re not trying to win the warm-up you know’!

“But Winnie just gives me confidence that he’ll jump anything you put in front of him, which is amazing because I know on other horses you can go in thinking, ‘Gosh this is going to be difficult’. We made a plan and I knew what I had to do to nail the plan and that if I gave him a solid ride, he would try his best. It ended up working out perfectly.”

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 out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

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Some of Britain’s nominated entries for the showjumping at the Tokyo Olympics will be making their final UK appearance before the Games at Royal Windsor Horse Show (1-4 July) — which can go ahead despite delays to the full lifting of the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Four of the nine longlisted Tokyo combinations will be in attendance; Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson, Harry Charles and Romeo 88, Emily Moffitt and Winning Good, and Holly Smith and Denver. William Funnell and Ben Maher will also compete but have yet to name on which horses.

The other British entries for Windsor include Guy Williams and John, Robert and Jack Whitaker, who will be taking on the likes of reigning Rolex grand prix champion Henrick von Eckermann, world number two Steve Guerdat, European champion Martin Fuchs, and three-time Olympic gold medallist McLain Ward.

A Royal Windsor spokesman said the CSI5* showjumping (2-4 July) is once again set to feature the top horse and rider combinations in the world as they make their final preparations for the Tokyo Games, three weeks later.

“Under the latest [Government] announcements we can confirm we’re going ahead with the show, which has already been planned to meet the Government’s stage three regulations. Working closely with Public Health England and the royal borough we have made changes including limiting our audience to enable social distancing of one metre plus, incorporating track and trace, facemasks where applicable and extra sanitiser and signage to keep all our attendees safe.

“Visitors will also be sent a pre-event screening declaration. We are very lucky that the outdoor space of the show lends itself to adapting for Covid. It’s looking to be a great – if unusual – year at Royal Windsor Horse Show and we’re delighted to see you there soon.”

Also on the Royal Windsor Horse Show entries list to take on international course-designer Bernardo Costa Cabral’s tracks are Olympic silver medallist Peder Fredricson, Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, Billy Twomey, Shane Breen and Michael Duffy, and US riders Beezie Madden, Kent Farrington and Jessica Springsteen.

“Confidence will be high within Ben Maher’s camp as the world number four will come to Windsor fresh from an outstanding CSI5* grand prix victory in Valkenswaard earlier this month aboard his outstanding gelding, Explosion W,” said the spokesman.

“Jessica is sure to capture the attention of the sell-out crowd. The daughter of rock legend Bruce Springsteen is a former winner at Royal Windsor and returns to the show in top form.”

Scott Brash, who took second last weekend in the St Gallen grand prix on Hello Vincent, said Royal Windsor is one of his favourite shows of the year.

“It’s an amazing setting with top-class competition, and to have the support of the home crowd, especially after a year without fans at events, is going to be very special indeed,” he said.

The spokesman said the CAIO4* driving promises to be equally high-level competition with world number one Boyd Exell “the man to beat”.

“The five-time world four-in-hand champion and nine-time World Cup driving champion, who is based in the Netherlands, spent lockdown creating new obstacles on his marathon course in Valkenswaard, so will come to Windsor well prepared,” he said.

Brits Dan Naprous, Karen Bassett and Mark Carruthers are among the Brits to take on the likes of Belgians Dries Degriek, Glen Geerts, and youngest competitor in the driving field Sam Gees, 20. From the Netherlands, multiple world champion Ijsbrand Chardon, his son Bram, and Koose De Ronda and Han Heus will be in attendance.

Continued below…

Britain names top combinations as nominated entries for Olympic showjumping

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“His ears were forward and he was really enjoying his job. It was a lot of fun”

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Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said to have such a high calibre of equestrian athletes competing at the show this year is a testament to Royal Windsor’s status as one of the “best in the world”.

“With the Olympics just around the corner, we will be seeing the horses and riders in peak condition and we can’t wait to watch the action unfold,” he said.

Tickets are limited in order to adhere to current Government guidelines, but those unable to attend can watch the Castle Arena via live streaming on the show’s website. For more information and to book tickets visit: www.rwhs.co.uk

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

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 has named a stellar list from which the British Olympic showjumping team for Tokyo will be drawn.

British Equestrian (BEF) and British Showjumping selectors have today (3 June) confirmed the nine combinations and three reserves who will be submitted to the FEI as the nominated entries for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Only those who appear on this list may be put forward for selection.

Showjumping performance manager Di Lampard told H&H: “I’m absolutely delighted with the 12 combinations we’re putting forward at nominated entry stage. My fellow selectors and I were in total agreement when putting the list together and I’m excited for the next phase as we count down to final selection and the Games.”

In alphabetical order by rider surname, the entries are:

• Scott Brash, with Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s 12-year-old gelding Hello Jefferson (breeder: Bernard Mols)
• Harry Charles, with his own and Ann Thompson’s 12-year-old gelding Romeo 88 (breeder: Picobello Horses)
• William Funnell, with the Billy Stud’s 11-year-old gelding Equine America Billy Diamo (breeders: William Funnell and Donal Barnwell)
• Ben Maher, with his own, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 12-year-old gelding Explosion W (breeder: W Wijnen)
• Emily Moffitt, with Poden Farms and Neil and Heidi Moffitt’s 12-year-old gelding Winning Good (breeder: WFM van Gestel)
• Holly Smith, with Ian Dowie’s 13-year-old gelding Denver (breeder: MG and AA Woertman)
• Alexandra Thornton, with Dunwalke Ltd’s 15-year-old gelding Cornetto K (breeder: Johann Krull NED)
• Ellen Whitaker, with Norman Oley’s 12-year-old gelding Arena UK Winston (breeder: Brenda Morelli)
• James Wilson, with Heather Larson and Susan Larson’s 13-year-old mare Imagine de Muze (breeder: Joris De Brabander)

Scott Brash and Harry Charles also have horses as direct reserves: Scott with Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s 12-year-old gelding Hello Senator (breeder: Henstra and Henstra) and as second reserve, Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s 12-year-old gelding Hello Vincent (breeder: Raphael Dulin and Annick Dulin Legoupil)

Harry’s reserve, subject to successfully completing a minimum eligibility requirement competition, is Princess Haya Bint A Hussein and Peter Charles’s 13-year-old mare Irenice Horta (breeder: Wim Van Rossem)

Continues below…

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Selection decisions are subject to rider and horse maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any point up to 21 June. The squad of four combinations to travel to Tokyo, plus non-travelling reserves, will be announced on 28 June.

The dressage nominated list, and that for the squad for the Paralympics, will be announced on or around 18 June.

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

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

A top showjumper who used the services of an animal communicator for a “quirky” horse said the mare has jumped clear in every competition since.

Young British rider Emily Moffitt was contacted by Joanna Bornowski, of The Wild Thread, to ask whether she could work with one of Emily’s horses. Emily told H&H 10-year-old mare Kalinka De Kalvarie came to mind straight away.

“She isn’t very straightforward like some of the others I have; she reminds me more of a human, with a more complex personality than a horse!” Emily said. “She wants to spend time with you but likes her own space, wants you to go in her stable and pet her, then it’s ears back and ‘never mind, go away’. She gets frustrated with things quite often and I was struggling to find a pattern to what was triggering that frustration.

“I thought I would figure it out, like I have with the others, but when Joanna messaged me, I thought it was a great opportunity to learn more about Kalinka.”

Emily sent Joanna photographs of Kalinka, and shared some basic details about the mare.

The communicator then called her back.

“She was so insightful,” Emily said. “It was a long conversation about Kalinka’s likes and dislikes, but she mentioned that Kalinka finds everyone very kind to her in the barn but that she gets very frustrated with herself; she knows she is talented but isn’t getting where she wants to be.”

Joanna said Kalinka had reported liking her red treat ball, and said she wanted to be read to.

“That was really funny as I used to sit with another horse and read my book, and Kalinka’s two stables down from him so would have seen that; and there’s no way Joanne would have known it,” Emily said.

She added that the mare is always thinking one step ahead rather than what is being asked of her in the present moment, which Emily said made sense from her perspective.

Emily’s trainer, Irish showjumper Cameron Hanley, who is riding the mare at the moment, changed his way of riding her as a result, trying to be even more patient than usual, and being very exact in how he asked questions of her, and Emily said he “felt a real breakthrough, and that she was much more focused”.

The call was mid-July, and the mare jumped clear with Cameron on 23, 24 and 25 July, at a show in Lier.

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“I’m very open-minded,” Emily said. “I don’t know if it would help every horse, but for the likes of Kalinka, who’s got a very complicated personality; any help is something, and there’s no downside to doing it.

“All our horses get cuddles and treats, but I’ve tried to focus more on her since this and I think Cameron’s noticed the difference most in riding her.

“I asked Joanna to tell her not to worry and that she was a part of our team and not going anywhere so I hope that helps her find peace and relax a little!”

Have you used an animal communicator? Email hhletters@ti-media.com including your name and nearest town for the chance to be featured in the letters page of a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine…

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British showjumper Emily Moffitt has brought in renowned Irish rider and producer Cameron Hanley as her new trainer.

The 21-year-old Team GB rider has been trained by Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher since they first teamed up in 2016. However, with Ben’s heavy competition schedule, the Moffitt family have decided to recruit 46-year-old Cameron as a second rider and trainer to work alongside the world number five under the Poden Farms banner.

“I am very happy to have Cameron join the team,” said Neil Moffitt, Emily’s father and owner of Poden Farms.

“He has exemplary qualities that we have been looking for, not limited to his riding skills, but also his ability to assist in the training of my daughter Emily. We have a vast array of fantastic horses and look forward to what the future holds for all of us.”

A statement said: “Poden Farms has achieved great success with Ben Maher both as a rider and a trainer. Under his tutelage, Emily has accomplished incredible things, from the GB team win in Dublin to multiple wins for the London Knights [in the Global Champions League (GCL)]. Cameron will work closely with Ben to help Emily continue to achieve her goals for the 2020 season and to develop top grand prix horses for Poden Farms. We look forward to this new partnership and the expanding success of Poden Farms.”

Emily’s new partnership with Cameron, who is based in Germany, has already proved profitable as Emily won the CSI2* grand prix in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday (3 November) riding her “trusty steed”, the 14-year-old stallion Copain Du Perchet CH.

“I think even just in these few weeks, having Cameron here has made a big difference in my riding,” Emily told H&H from the Autumn Tour in Spain where she’s still competing.

“Ben’s really great at coming to shows with me, but he’s so busy so it’s hard for him to be with me all the time so now, between the two of them, we have a good system going.

“Obviously you need a fantastic team behind you to be able to achieve what I want to achieve,” added Emily, who was part of the Aga Khan-winning Nations Cup team in Dublin this year, rode for the title-winning London Knights squad on the GCL and has long had the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as her goal.

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Emily will continue to be based from her Worcestershire stables.

“Ben and Cameron are both quite amazing, I’m very lucky to have them,” she said.

Emily is spending another week competing in Valencia, where she has also been getting to know new ride Kasper Van Het Hellehof, one of a very exciting string of horses owned and produced by Poden Farms.

“I’m taking it easy with him as he’s quite big and chunky and he thinks I’m a little fly on him at the moment! He keeps asking ‘Where’s my rider?’” she said. “We just need to work together a bit more but he’s super talented.”

She then heads to the CSI5* World Cup show in Stuttgart, Germany, before returning to the familiar scarlet colours of the London Knights for the GC Prague Playoffs, where LGCT victor Ben is set to ride Poden Farms’ incredible gelding Explosion W, his European silver medal-winning ride.

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