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

You may also be interested in:

‘A new focus’: top British rider steps back to help UAE prepare for Paris 2024

‘A rollercoaster of emotions’: the ups and downs of showjumping as new team final serves up thriller

A ‘difficult’ young horse is transformed, a gentle giant wins and there’s a big milestone in a champion’s career

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

Five years of patience and long-term thinking with what was once a “difficult” young horse has really paid off for British Olympic showjumper Harry Charles as the 10-year-old secured his first grand prix victory in Belgium this week. Meanwhile, flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders claimed the overall title as Longines Global Champions Tour champion of champions for the second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Read on for our round-up of this week’s international showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: Sherlock finds all the answers

At Sentower Park, Belgium, the 1.55m CSI3* grand prix was won by Great Britain’s Harry Charles and 10-year-old rising star Sherlock. In a four-way jump-off, Harry went head-to-head with Lorenzo De Luca on F One USA, coming out over half a second faster of the two double clears to secure the 10-year-old stallion’s first grand prix success. The previous day, 24-year-old Harry also won a 1.45m two-phase with the speedy Billabong Du Roumois.

“It was Sherlock’s first grand prix win – he’s not done so many though,” Harry told H&H. “I’ve had him since the start of his five-year-old career so he’s actually the horse I’ve had the longest in the stable.

“As a six- and seven-year-old he was very difficult – he was very sensitive and thought about the job a lot. A lot of times I’ve thought ‘Where am I going with him?’ But his jump was always so amazing – he’s one of the best young horses I’ve ever seen jumping, let alone ridden – then when he put it all together, he was exceptional. So we always knew it was worth keeping going with him.”

The Belgian-bred son of Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere only jumped his first ranking class as a nine-year-old.

“He’s 10 now, but I still treat him like he’s a year behind the other horses – a lot of 10-year-olds will have been to championships,” said Harry. “But it’s all about doing things in his own time and at the last few shows the results have been amazing. He’s not had many jumps down and the big jumps are very easy to him.”

Harry felt that the track for Sentower’s three-star grand prix was “not far off a five-star”.

“They only got four clears, which says something,” he said. “Sherlock used to be quite a slow horse, but over the past year I’ve been working on trying to pick his speed up a bit. We’ve been doing a lot of turns in the indoor school and getting him to try to follow my hands. Now, he’s actually the easiest horse I ride. He went from the most difficult to the easiest horse I have! He’s so intelligent – you just have to point him at a jump and he does it. You turn him left, he goes left, you turn him right, he goes right, you say ‘Whoa’ and he comes back. He’s the perfect horse actually, very special.”

The next goal for the pair is the World Cup qualifiers of Madrid and La Coruna.

“I’m half thinking about him for the World Cup Finals, then with the Olympics next year we have Balou, but behind him he’s a great horse to have,” said Harry. “The Olympics might just come a little bit early, but he is more than capable of it.

“Then Billabong had a little win too – he’s always chipping in!” said Harry, who is in action later this week at the World Cup show in Lyon, France.

• CSI3* Sentower results

British victory in Portugal

In other showjumping news, Lily Attwood took a starring role at the CSI2* Villamoura Champions Tour in Portugal, when landing Sunday’s grand prix with her great partner Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, sealing a great week for the Brits in which Laura Renwick made a return to the winner’s enclosure and Graham Gillespie triumphed in a jump-off class with Veneno.

• CSI2* Villamoura Champions Tour results

Phillip Miller on tour

On his first competitive trip abroad for four years, Phillip Miller helped Great Britain to sixth in the Nations Cup in Vejer, Spain, going on to finish sixth in the CSIO3* Andalucia grand prix with Brendon Stud and Pennie Cornish’s Don Royale, just 2sec off the pace with an eye-catching double clear. Joining him on the British squad for Friday’s Nations Cup, led by Stanny van Paesschen, were Joe Stockdale (Ebanking), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo) and Skye Higgin (Djordania Du Tillard).

• CSIO3* Andalucia results

A returning LGCT champion is crowned

Stepping up to be crowned the 17th Longines Global Champions Tour champion of champions was flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders. Following up on his 2017 title, the 43-year-old clinched the crown ahead of nearest rivals Maikel van der Vleuten and Henrik von Eckermann after a battle that rumbled into the final grand prix of the season.

“I know how it feels [to win the championship] and I wanted to feel it again,” said Harrie. “To be the overall champion again is a big marker in my career. All the dedication from my team, my people and my grooms make this a big milestone for all of us.”

Showjumping news: final ticket to the Super Grand Prix is pocketed

Some breathtaking turns and a pulsating finish from last-drawn German Christian Kuker on the 13-year-old Comme Il Faut stallion Checker 47 earned a well-deserved top spot in the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Riyadh by just 0.16sec and he headed home with the hefty £150,000 first prize.

“I had flashbacks because I was last to go in Doha [at the start of the season] and lost it by 0.05sec [to Philipp Weishaupt] to finish second, so I thought, ‘That’s not going to happen today!” said Christian, stable jockey at the Ludger Beerbaum stables. “I felt a little slower over fences one, two and three – I had the strides I wanted, but they were holding strides everywhere – but then I turned very, very tight to the double, which I did yesterday with him in the GCL. He did it very well then, so I thought ‘Why not try it again?’ He did it super again.

“To bring it home and to cross the finish line and see that you’ve won is always an amazing feeling, but that was very, very special for me today.”

Riesenbeck International were crowned GCL 2023 champions, retaining the title from last year. In action in this leg were Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday and Ireland’s Eoin McMahon with Mila, but Christian Kukuk has been key to the success of the squad owned and managed by Ludger Beerbaum.

“It was six wins, leading overall from the first competition – most of the time with a comfortable margin,” said Ludger. “It got tight at the end and Paris Panthers made it really exciting, but we’ve never had a team dominating the season more than we did this year.”

• LGCT of Riyadh results

A first five-star win after a 10-year wait

And last but certainly not least in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, US rider Katie Dinan and 17-year-old “gentle giant” Brego R’n B posted their first five-star victory together in the $450,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at the Washington International Horse Show. This win came 10 years after Katie’s last five-star success.

“It’s hard not to love Brego,” she said of the Namelus R gelding owned by Grant Road Partners, who she has ridden for five years. “He’s 17 and he really, really deserves it – I’m thrilled for him. In the jump-off, he showed all of his amazing qualities – he has huge scope, quality, bravery, intelligence and he tries hard. You can’t really ask for more as a rider. I think he knew he won.”

Katie combines top-flight showjumping with a PhD programme studying circadian rhythms in a genetics lab at Rockefeller University.

“Brego has had the same groom, Lou Beudin, since we got him five years ago and he loves her so much – they’re a really great pair,” she said.

• Washington International Horse Show results

You may also like to read…

‘He’s almost asleep at the in-gate but big jumps are his forte’: meet Harry Charles’ Olympic hope

‘I’ve let the horse gain belief in himself’: patience rewarded with spectacular World Cup double

Joe Trunkfield: ‘Surely our loud appeals for change can’t fall on deaf ears?’

Scott Brash talks Hello Stud – and the young horses he has his eye on

A magical win, a missed flight and an Irish pub – this week’s showjumping action

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

One of the heroes of Great Britain’s showjumping squad in action at the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain, (28 September-1 October) was 21-year-old Lily Attwood and her 13-year-old gelding Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z.

The pair bounced back from a 12-fault performance in Thursday’s opening leg, which Great Britain won, to jump one of only nine clears over Santiago Varela’s imposing track in Sunday’s final.

Great Britain finished seventh to victors Germany in the end, but Lily was “thrilled” with her result and Cor-Leon, who is looked after by Niki Javorkova, received plenty of appreciative pats from his rider after the finish line.

“It’s great for my horse – we haven’t had the easiest year, so to finish like that was brilliant,” said Lily, who now trains in Belgium with Great Britain’s team technical expert and triple Olympian Stanny van Paesschen.

“Cor-Leon had a couple of relapses of his colic, just mild symptoms, but he’s feeling better than ever now.

“He jumped really well on Thursday, he felt super. I just made a mistake to the oxer and the other mistakes followed as a result [for 12 faults down the final line]. So I didn’t change anything between then and Sunday because he felt fantastic. I just made sure I rode better!

“Nations Cup-wise, I’ve only done Barcelona last year and this year, so I’m thrown in the deep end! But to have a clear round is great for the whole team.”

Lily Attwood: from pony teams to Nations Cup Final

Lily is a former medalist for Great Britain while riding ponies and she made a rapid ascent into the top tier of the sport under the expert tutelage of Guy Williams. She contested her first five-star show at the age of just 19 and has landed plenty of big classes since. This was her second time representing Great Britain in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

Lily has ridden her mother Emmy’s Belgian-bred Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z (Calvaro FC x Omar) for four years, but the super gelding underwent major colic surgery a year ago. The pair returned to win their first five-star class this year, but careful management is now required after he suffered some mild relapses.

“He has a very complex diet now – everything is weighed to the gram,” said Lily. “He gets fed throughout the day, spread out in small batches, and we’ve removed the starch completely. But he’s genuinely never felt better in the four years I’ve had him. He seems to be building muscle more easily, he’s fresher and happier for it. But he’s definitely high-maintenance!”

Lily began training with Stanny at the start of the year, moving to his Belgium base in April, and credits him for being “a great trainer”. Chef d’equipe Di Lampard was full of praise for the youngest member of the British squad competing in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

“She’s very capable. It’s all coming together for her,” she said.

Lily’s string of horses are all en route to Vilamoura, Portugal, now for the start of the autumn tours but Cor-Leon will be having a well-deserved rest for the coming weeks.

“If we can get into the London International Horse Show we’ll bring him back for that, then he’ll be quiet again at the start of next year, hopefully coming back ready for some more Nations Cups,” said Lily.

“Fingers crossed 2024 is going to be a good year.”

You may also like to read…

Germany celebrates, Great Britain ‘excited for next year’ after Nations Cup Final in Barcelona

Three-man Aussie team – with Olympic eventer on side – beat the odds to be hailed Nations Cup Final heroes in Dutch conquest

‘One of the best rounds of the year’: Great Britain wins Nations Cup Final opening leg

Horse recovers from colic surgery to win first 5* for young British rider at Royal Windsor

Festive stars: Lily Attwood: ‘I decided that winning big classes was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life’

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.”

You may also like to read…

‘One of the best rounds of the year’: Great Britain wins Nations Cup Final opening leg

Three-man Aussie team – with Olympic eventer on side – beat the odds to be hailed Nations Cup Final heroes in Dutch conquest

‘No better place to win my first Nations Cup’: Harry Charles reflects on momentous home win, 13 years after watching his father

‘I’m 68, but I can still do it’: John and Michael Whitaker discuss longevity, mistaken identity and sibling rivalry

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.

You may also like to read…

The Horse & Hound Podcast 141: John & Michael Whitaker

Why ‘old school and simple’ works best for John Whitaker’s groom Kerry Finch

‘I wanted to change the bit, Dad said just ride better!’ Special horse delivers dream win in $3m grand prix

‘That was an expensive fence’: Ben Maher narrowly misses individual medal for second year in a row

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 rising star Lily Attwood claimed her first ever 5* victory when she partnered Cor-Leon Van Der Vlierbeek Z to an impressive win in a tough 1.55m jump off class at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

The 13-year-old gelding was at only his second major show since undergoing colic surgery in October last year.

“It feels great to take a 5* win, and even more so on home soil. I’ve had a lot of seconds,” said Lily, whose previous successes with the horse on home turf include the under 25s class at Royal Windsor two years ago and the runner up spot in a CSI5* class at the London Global Champions Tour last summer.

“It’s even better to have him back after such a big set back,” she added. “I didn’t care how long it took — as long as he came out the other side. He’s exactly the horse he was before, he’s such a trier.”

Twenty-one-year-old Lily was the only rider in the first half of the 31-strong field to jump clear round Bernado Costa Cabral’s twisty Pearl Stakes track, where a tight optimum time presented a significant challenge.

Only eight riders did not collect time faults, of which five also left the rails intact, with most of the clears bunched towards the end of the field.

“The time was tight but I tried not to overthink it,” Lily said. “Once we have a good rhythm my horse is naturally fast but I did have to take one out to the first double.”

Jana Wargers [GER] elected not to come forward for the jump off with Limbridge, leaving Olivier Perreau [FRA], Duarte Seabra [POR] and Koen Vereecke [BEL] joining Lily in the second phase.

Riding in the difficult position of pathfinder, she delivered a quick and flowing clear, gaining advantage with a very well-judged shot to the final line that left her 0.39sec out in front.

“When I came out I didn’t think we’d done enough. I knew there were really fast combinations to come,” she said. “He’s a very good jump off horse and turns well and when he’s lit up he concentrates more.

“The turn to the final line came nicely. I didn’t know how many strides to take to the last [a new oxer introduced in the jump off, off a long run], so I just kept going.”

Lily’s win came just two weeks after she moved to a new base at the Van Paesschen’s in Belgium, having been training with Stanny Van Paesschen for just over a year.

You can read the full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show in next week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 18 May.

You may also be interested in…

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 a thrilling afternoon of world class showjumping, Belgium claimed outright victory in the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona on Sunday (2 October) as well as booking their place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It all came down to Belgium’s fourth team rider Jerome Guery riding his brilliant 16-year-old stallion Quel Homme De Hus, the silver medal-winning partnership from the World Showjumping Championships in Herning, Denmark in August.

A clear round in Barcelona would ensure victory while just one rail down would have forced a jump-off against France and Switzerland – the latter being the only other team in Sunday’s final bidding for the one Olympic qualification spot.

However, this outstanding pair soared home over the testing track set by Santiago Varela and a huge cheer erupted from supporters ringside.

“There was so much pressure beforehand as I knew I had to jump clear,” said Jerome, one of five riders to produce a double clear between Thursday’s opening leg and Sunday’s final to share the 100,000euro bonus.

“We were also here for the Olympic qualification, so it was great to come back with victory as well.”

His team-mate Gilles Thomas (Calleryama), who has enjoyed tremendous success this summer including winning the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead and at the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour, also jumped clear in his first Nations Cup Final.

“I was so happy to cross the finish line. It’s a privilege to be part of this team,” he said.

Narrow margins at the top of Nations Cup Final leaderboard

The Belgium team won the Nations Cup Final on a zero score. This was the third time the nation have won this prestigious conclusion to the series. They finished just ahead of France and Switzerland, who both posted team scores of four faults but were split by their cumulative times.

“All my riders are very strong, with very good horses – they can stand the pressure,” concluded Belgian chef d’equipe Peter Weinberg.

The Nations Cup Final defending champions, the Netherlands, finished fourth this time around on eight faults.

Having qualified as one of eight teams for Sunday’s final, Great Britain’s quartet of Ellen Whitaker (Equine America Spacecake), Lily Attwood riding Cor-Leon V Vlierbeek Z, Jodie Hall McAteer on Salt’N Peppa and anchorman Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) came home on a team score of 16. This placed them equal with Spain but the Team GB showjumpers took fifth position by finishing just three hundredths of a second faster than the hosts in sixth.

Great Britain’s young star Joe Stockdale agonisingly just tipped the back rail of the final oxer for four penalties when looking nailed for a share of the competition’s lucrative double clear bonus.

Germany took seventh, ahead of Ireland’s squad of Andrew Bourns (Sea Topblue), Trevor Breen on Highland President, Jack Ryan on BBS McGregor, with a tremendous clear round from Mikey Pender riding HHS Calais.

You can read the full report from the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 6 October.

You may also like to read…

Great Britain and Ireland qualify for final eight in Nations Cup Final thriller in Barcelona

From cricketer to world championship medallist, with Olympics in his sights: Joe Stockdale reflects on a whirlwind four years

Young British squad lines up for all-star Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona

Adam Cromarty: ‘The most difficult news I have ever had to deliver’

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 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.

You may also like to read…

The Horse & Hound Podcast 122: Joe Stockdale | Hoof abscesses | News round-up

Young British squad lines up for all-star Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona

Joe Stockdale takes the reins on talented young stallion: ‘He’s such an exciting horse’

Want to go to the Paris 2024 Olympics? Here’s how to be in the draw for tickets

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

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

You may also like to read…

Nations Cup Final, JL Dublin’s first international run with new rider and more events to watch this week

‘When you come so close, it’s disappointing’: Ireland narrowly miss out to dominant Dutch in Nations Cup Final

Jubilant Irish and a mare’s miraculous comeback – who won showjumping ribbons this week?

‘All you want to do is please your home crowd and we didn’t’: Team GB reflections after Nations Cup ‘disappointment’

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 closing competition at the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) resulted in a five-way thriller against the clock and, with two British riders in the mix, the home crowd had plenty to cheer about.

But the evening belonged to Dutch showjumper Maikel van der Vleuten and a third-generation home-bred Elwikke, a 10-year-old mare who oozes class.

“She’s a real winner,” said Maikel, fresh from his bronze medal-winning performance at the World Showjumping Championships last week riding Beauville Z, where he was also part of the Dutch squad which claimed team silver.

“It’s important she believes in herself and she does at the moment,” said Maikel of the mare, whose great grand-dam Jikke was a top horse for his father Eric van der Vleuten.

Elwikke is by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek TN and her dam Wikke is by Quick Star. She made her five-star debut with Maikel last year and won a two-star grand prix at Kronenburg in the Netherlands earlier this season.

“She’s very competitive at this level – she’s done a few 1.60m classes but isn’t very experienced yet,” said Maikel.

London LGCT concluding class: five-way jump-off

Just five riders in the opening round of Sunday evening’s Champagne Piaff 1.55m jump-off class produced clear rounds, Uliano Vezzani’s track catching riders out everywhere.

“Uliano produced a very delicate class again and the double of verticals at the end was difficult for horses to jump clear with a difficult distance going into it,” said Maikel. “We had a good jump-off, but it was a tricky class again today.

“I didn’t expect to win, it was my day today. This is a beautiful show, great location and brilliant atmosphere.”

Finishing in the runner-up spot was British rider Lily Attwood with her great partner Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, with whom she won a CSI2* class at the London LGCT last year. But with only half a second separating her and the winner on Sunday, the 20-year-old rider was left ruing her choice of striding to the second fence.

“I’m pleased, but I know I could have won it today. My horse is so naturally fast and I should have done one less stride there,” explained Lily, one of Great Britain’s rising stars. “Turning back on the left rein is his weakness, but I should have ridden that turn better. I threw it away at the turn from two to three.

“It was my mistake – my horse jumped fantastically. But it’s great to have a placing in front of your home crowd.”

Lily began riding the gelding three years ago and joined GCL team Stockholm Hearts as their under-25 rider this season. She recently represented Great Britain as part of the young rider team at the European Championships.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know if he’d have enough scope for a five-star grand prix,” revealed Lily. “But he really stepped up at the end of last year with some World Cups then this year doing some of the Globals; he’s just so brave and takes it in his stride.

“It was a tough course today – lots of tricky lines, especially at the end those four long strides to the double of verticals caught a lot out. At the beginning some were adding to make five, some were doing four and neither one was working, so you just had to go off your own plan.”

The remaining three jump-off riders all faulted, with another young talent, Belgium’s Zoe Conter finishing third riding Dawa De Greenbay Z. They produced the fastest time, but the final fence fell. Fourth went to pathfinder Daniel Deusser on Jasmien VD Bisschop, while the other British contender Harry Charles took fifth on Borsato.

You may also be interested in…

Barefoot and bootless chestnut mare wins London LGCT grand prix

World Championship bronze medallist is top Brit in London LGCT thriller, on horse bred by David Broome

Impressive black stallion (and H&H’s latest horse crush) wins at London LGCT

‘She’s just an absolute legend’: top mare makes winning return at London LGCT

From nervous beginnings to London LGCT success: British rider continues phenomenal winning streak

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

At the age of just 19, Lily Attwood has already made a glittering name for herself on the international showjumping circuit, following her five-star debut at La Coruna World Cup show in December.

She is trained by Guy Williams and earlier this year, Lily was part of the bronze medal-winning young riders team at the European Championships.

Unfortunately a bad fall at Vilamoura, Portugal, in November resulted in a broken collar bone and put her out of action for a few weeks before she made her comeback in December and jumped in the five-star classes at the London International Horse Show for the first time. Lily is now raring to go again in 2022 – with plenty of big ambitions.

“Recently, I have been climbing up in the rankings, but due to my injury I think I will drop back down,” she says. “My main aims for 2022 are to compete in a few World Cups and step up to five-star level. It has been difficult to move up to five-star level this year due to Covid-19 and all the other riders trying to compete at that level, as well.

“I am also aiming to build up my string of horses; I have a few young ones coming up who I think are very exciting. I have three older horses, with whom I have had great success in the last few years, so I would love to move up to the next level with them.”

Lily has enjoyed some big wins with horses such as Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, her London GCT winner, Karibou Horta (pictured below) and Calvaro’s Up To Date. But she is particularly excited about the six-year-old Lee May (Lavagon x Rocket Star), who came from Irish showjumper Richard Howley.

“I took her to Vilamoura and she jumped eight out of nine clear rounds so I was really pleased with her, especially as she is still very green,” says Lily. “She learnt a lot at the show; she is very careful and has a great brain. I plan to take her slowly to let her progress, and hopefully have a successful seven-year-old year.”

‘A senior European or Olympic medal would be my goal’

Lily has the Aachen grand prix on her bucket list – as well as to represent Great Britain on championship teams.

“I love representing my country and riding on a team, so a senior European medal and an Olympic medal would be my other goals,” she says.

Lily’s breakthrough victory came in 2019 a young riders class at Amsterdam, soon after she’d come off ponies.

“I had only had the horse [Karibou Horta] for a month and I won the grand prix,” she says. “It was the start of my career, when I decided that winning the big classes in front of a crowd is what I want to do for the rest of my life – it was amazing.

“Winning my first ranking class was also amazing. I won quite a lot when I first came off ponies; I definitely could not have done it without the help of my trainer, Guy Williams. Lastly, my final proudest moment is being selected for the senior Nations Cup team at 18 years old.”

What has Lily Attwood learned from her mentor Guy Williams?

Lily pays tribute to all the help she’s received from Guy Williams.

“As a young rider you don’t know it all, and you can’t do it on your own – you need a very good team around you,” she says. “I have excelled more than I thought I would do by this age because of Guy. It is not just about being good on the horse, it is about being a great horseman on the ground. He has taught me how to manage my horses, from their feet to their feed, what I have learnt from him and his groom, Nat, has been invaluable. It is more than just riding; the horses have to be properly managed if you want to do well.

“You need to know that 99.9% of the time it is not the horse’s fault and you cannot get angry with them,” she adds. “You cannot get frustrated after a bad round, you have to just breathe and come out the ring, trot them off, then come back to see how you can improve. They are not machines and they can only do what you say. On ponies I was quite hot headed and Guy has really taught me to calm down, and I have a lot. You can’t get angry with the horses after a bad round, even if you are frustrated.”

‘John and Michael Whitaker are true horsemen’

Lily has also been inspired by John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker.

“They are true horsemen and I always watch their rounds,” she says. “I watched John at a show last week, and it was like watching poetry in motion; he makes it look so effortless – like he is doing nothing!”

Climbing up the world rankings – she’s currently 127th – Lily has come close to jumping at her first five-star shows, just missing out on a spot at Royal Windsor and the London International, while the Rolex Grand Slam is another goal.

“They are such great shows, and especially being in my home country, makes me motivated to be consistent and climb up the rankings so I can compete there next year,” she says.

“The Rolex Grand Slam is something that all riders dream of winning; I think that it has brought showjumping to the next level. I also think that the Rolex Grand Slam has made the sport more accessible to the general public and more globally friendly, as people want to watch top level sport that has high stakes. The Rolex Grand Slam has the best grands prix in the world.”

With thanks to Rolex Grand Slam.

You might also be interested in:

‘I can imagine what she called me!’ mentor and mentee take super HOYS one-two

Why lungeing is like equine yoga for Lily Attwood’s ‘stressy’ London Global Champions Tour winner

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

Championship debutante strikes gold for Britain at FEI CH/J/YR European Jumping Championships

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

Two British riders have received a late-call up to compete in the CSI5* showjumping classes at the London International Horse Show at ExCeL London this week (16-20 December) – 19-year-old Lily Attwood and the former Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan.

Seven years ago, 12-year-old Lily was representing the Tanatside Hunt branch of the Pony Club in the mini-major class at the show, then held at Olympia, where she was teamed up with pro rider Guy Williams.

But fast-forward seven years and this teenage showjumping sensation is about to make her debut in the five-star classes at the London International Horse Show, under the tutelage of her trainer… Guy Williams.

It’s the fairy tale that every young Pony Clubber dreams of coming true.

“I remember, even before I jumped in the mini-major, watching the 12.2s at Olympia and thinking just to jump in that class would be amazing;” Lily told H&H. “So it’s quite cool to be doing the five-star now!”

Her Olympia debut came in 2014 riding the 12.2hh Kitty (pictured below).

“I actually fell off!” she said. “She was just a naughty 12.2hh. Hopefully that won’t happen again, though.”

Lily only received the call-up to the CSI5* classes at this year’s London Horse Show at ExCeL London after a late withdrawal meant she moved up the waiting list — Sameh El Dahan, who recently switched nationalities to adopt the British flag, is another rider to have benefited and will make his debut in front of his new home crowd.

Lily had only jumped at her first five-star show at La Coruna, Spain, the week before, where she produced an impressive four-fault performance in her first World Cup qualifier with the 11-year-old Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z.

“Leon has only just stepped up as well, so it was new for both of us,” she said. “He was seventh the first day in a 1.55m then had just one down in the World Cup, so I was really pleased because it was difficult.

“You don’t realise just how much of a step up it is from four-star to five-star level. It’s like a whole different sport. The margins are so small — one tiny mistake which might not make a difference at a lower level, really does at that level. But that definitely would have given me a huge confidence boost going into London.”

All this comes barely a month after she broke her collarbone in a fall in Vilamoura, Portugal.

“It happened four weeks before La Coruna and I got a late call-up for that show too — the week before,” she said. “I couldn’t say no! So it was quite soon but the collarbone felt fine; it wasn’t painful at all.”

Lily brings her two top horses to London Horse Show — Leon and the British-bred mare Calvaro’s Up To Date — and she will be joined by her trainer and mentor, Guy Williams, plus a host of other showjumping stars.

“I’m so pleased – it was one of my aims this year, so I’m really glad to be going,” she said.

You might also be interested in:

Why lungeing is like equine yoga for Lily Attwood’s ‘stressy’ London Global Champions Tour winner

‘I can imagine what she called me!’ mentor and mentee take super HOYS one-two

Olympic champion Ben Maher headlines stellar London International Horse Show entries

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

Prolific winner Lily Attwood made it a Great Britain hat-trick in the CSI2* showjumping classes on the opening day of the Longines London Global Champions Tour at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London on Friday (13 August).

The 19-year-old rode a cracking round with her super consistent partner Cor-Leon V. Vlierbeek Z to head the 1.40m two-phase presented by GCTV. But while their round was an absolute masterclass in speed jumping and precision, behind the scenes the 11-year-old son of Calvaro Z requires careful management to temper his “stressy” attributes.

“He’s very sharp and hot-headed and he gets lunged quite a lot because he’s the kind of horse that even if you work him for an hour, he won’t calm down,” explained Lily. “Lungeing really helps with his brain, it really mentally calms him down, so I tend to lunge him every morning – not too much, just low and long and nice. Then in the warm-up it’s all about keeping him calm and not jumping him too big, not doing too much.

“He’s stressy in the stable too, he cribs and he whinnies a lot – he never really just relaxes himself. But that’s what makes him such a fighter in the ring.”

Cor-Leon has been an outstanding winning ride for Lily since they first teamed up two years ago. The gelding had previously been ridden by Belgian showjumper Jos Verlooy.

“He’s a prolific winner, his record is amazing, and I can always bring him out to a show and know I can win at least one class, because he’s so careful and so fast,” said Lily, who also rode at the London Global Champions Tour in 2019.

“That was also really fast – there’s always very good people and horses here,” said Lily. “It’s a beautiful venue so it always attracts the best, even for the two-star, so it’s always going to be a difficult competition to win. It was a very fast class but he’s a seriously fast horse.

“He’s so cool,” added Lily. “I was early to go on my first horse [Calvaro’s Up To Date, with whom she took the lead but finished fourth] and a few people were faster in the end, but naturally he [Cor-Leon] is a bit quicker than her, so I knew that if I just stuck to my same lines he’d be a bit quicker. In the air and across the ground, he’s naturally very fast.

“He jumped fantastic and I’m so pleased – that’s a great first day.”

Lily will jump Cor-Leon again in Sunday’s two-star grand prix on the final day of the London Global Champions Tour.

“My trainer Guy Williams doesn’t like going slow so he’ll probably just tell me to go for it again!” she said.

You may also be interested to read…

How to keep the father-in-law happy! George Whitaker wins at London GCT with horse belonging to his fiancée’s dad

New Olympic champion Ben Maher heads entries for Global Champions Tour in London

Find out which British teenager you should be keeping your eye on in 2019

Britain and Ireland reveal teams for European Showjumping Championships

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

Sixteen-year-old Lily Freeman-Attwood is on a roll. She and the nine-year-old Karibou Horta have only been together for six weeks, but they have already racked up two consecutive international wins, making them a very exciting British combination for the year ahead.

Lily and “Horton” came out on top of a 40-strong two-star class at the Glock Horse Performance Centre in Treffen, Austria, today (2 February) after a smooth, fast round provided a time nobody else was able to catch.

“He was amazing — he’s so naturally careful, and fast, and I can trust him to jump anything,” said Lily, whose win followed victory in the under-25 grand prix at Amsterdam last weekend.

“This is only our third show together — our first one was just two weeks ago. I’m slowly learning what buttons to push and how he goes; how forward I need to be and when to hold him.”

A former medallist for Britain in pony ranks, Lily made the move to base herself out in Normandy, France, with her trainer Guy Williams at the beginning of this year.

“I’ve finished school now and I’m liking it out in France, although mum’s a bit upset!” joked Lily.

“When I stopped ponies at the end of last year we started looking for horses and I tried about 15. Horton is perfect for me and we knew he was the one straight away,” she added of the Belgian warmblood gelding who was previously competed by Belgium’s Jos Verlooy.

“We struggled a little with him right at the beginning as he is very spooky at home, but at shows he’s completely different and just does his job really well.”

This year is the first time the Glock Horse Performance Centre has held its indoor show at five-star level, and the line-up for the top classes includes Britain’s John Whitaker (Casantos and JB’s Hot Stuff), Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV, El Wee Widge and Major Delacour), Guy Williams (Cicero II and Native Warrior), Laura Renwick (Bintang II and Dublin V) and Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson, Hello Senator and Hello M’Lord).

For the full report from Glock’s, don’t miss the next issue of Horse & Hound, out on 7 February.

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