Britain got here so near profitable a 3rd consecutive Agria Nations Cup on house soil on the Agria Royal Worldwide Horse Present – however ultimately took a hard-fought second-place end to Germany.
The workforce of Ben Maher (Enjeu De Grisien), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse) and Georgia Tame (Be Golden) completed on a complete of 12 faults, a single pole behind winners Germany, and 5 faults forward of Belgium, finishing the identical workforce podium as on the European Championships per week beforehand – simply with the primary and third swapping locations.
“It’s implausible to be on the rostrum,” mentioned British Equestrian showjumping efficiency supervisor Di Lampard. “It was shut ultimately, and we had new riders once more; it’s even larger after they step up in a workforce for his or her house Nations Cup, and I couldn’t be extra delighted with how they’re progressing.”
Britain had ended spherical one in third place on eight faults; first and second in respectively, Ben and Adrian had jumped very good clears however Jessica and Summerhouse’s eight for a foot within the water and a rail down needed to rely because the luck was not with Georgia, who completed on 16. Germany was on a workforce complete of 4; dropping Marcus Ehning’s (Priam Du Roset) eight, that they had clears from Rene Dittmer (Corsica X) and Marco Kutscher (Catelly), so solely needed to rely Stefan Engbers’ (Baju NRW) 4 for clipping final component of the triple mixture.
Eire had additionally gone into spherical two on 4 faults, because of clears from David Simpson and his 2023 Hickstead Derby winner Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve and Sean Monaghan and Toyger. Cian O’Connor (Canbella Blue PS) and Jordan Coyle (Chaccolino) had a rail every however with a kind of the discard rating, and Belgium in fourth on 9 faults, it was all to play for in spherical two.
Ever the last word horseman, Ben jumped one other clear with the tremendous 11-year-old gelding owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. Adrian, making his five-star Nations Cup debut with Deborah Cox’s big-striding scopey stallion whom he has produced since he was 4, got here again in flying kind however was unfortunate to clip the slender Uffington White Horse vertical for 4.
“I’m thrilled,” Adrian mentioned. “I believe we had been unfortunate; we did precisely the identical as within the first spherical, however that’s showjumping, and for our first try, I’m over the moon. Ten years in the past this present, I went in that ring for the primary time and received the winter novice closing, final 12 months I scraped into the five-star lessons, this 12 months I’m on the workforce. It’s been a hell of a 12 months.
“I’m fairly level-headed however that is actually particular; I’ve watched this competitors since I used to be a child and to be on the workforce, and never mess it up, is a bit surreal. He’s an unimaginable horse; I’m so pleased with him, pleased with the end result and so grateful to Deborah for all her assist.”
Rene and Stefan had clocked up one other clear and 4 for Germany respectively so Jessica knew she needed to go clear. And he or she and her personal 10-year-old gelding got here again in prime kind to leap a faultless spherical and preserve Britain within the combine. There was the temporary prospect of a jump-off – which Jess would have been the one to contest – as Marco and Catelly once more jumped clear for Germany, however though Georgia rode fantastically, the FGH Deckers and RE Deckers-Blom’s 10-year-old trying stuffed with soar and sophistication, she clocked up eight faults to seal second, which meant Marcus Ehning didn’t have to leap once more.
Di paid tribute once more to the energy in depth in British showjumping, after two silver medals – and 4 riders within the prime 12 – on the Europeans, and this end result per week later.
“We’re steadily getting stronger,” she mentioned. “Ben was masterly, Jess got here again to leap a wonderful clear and saved us within the hunt, and I couldn’t be extra happy with Adrian. That is encouraging – the long run is trying shiny!”
A particular second
German chef d’equipe Otto Becker mentioned the workforce was delighted.
“However first I wish to thank the Bunn household,” he mentioned. “For us Germans, Hickstead is at all times particular, and it means quite a bit to win right here.
“And essentially the most congratulations and thanks to my workforce. They did a tremendous job immediately, and rode beautiful rounds. It’s powerful to win right here; final week we had been third and we had been pleased with that, however we’re extra completely happy to win right here immediately.”
Marco mentioned it had not been the plan to leap Catelly within the Nations Cup, however he had had a nasty fall from Aventador S within the opening worldwide class, so swapped rides.
“So we modified the plan, and I’m very glad with my horse,” he mentioned. “He’d by no means jumped an open water, so I used to be a bit uncertain, and now very completely happy being double clear and profitable this Nations Cup with my teammates.”
Belgium added eight to their first-round rating to complete on 17; Niels Bruynseels and Origi VD Vosberg jumped the one clear so though the workforce may drop Annelies Vorsselmans’ (Trezeguet) eight faults, they needed to rely 4 apiece for Roy van Beek (Cavoiro) and Frederic Vernaet (Paulus-L). However this was sufficient for them to climb from fourth to 3rd, because the luck was not with Eire in spherical two. Cian and David had two rails every and Sean and Jordan one apiece, which meant a complete of 20, and fourth place.
“Our best supporters”
Hickstead director Edward Bunn added his congratulations to the German workforce.
“It’s been 9 years since they final received right here, however they’ve been right here for each Nations Cup; they’re our best supporters, so it’s good to see them win.
“Congratulations to Kelvin Bywater and Ben Townley on their course; I believed it was a very reasonable course and produced an important end result, and importantly, Vicki Wentworth from Agria for his or her continued assist of this fabulous competitors. With out sponsors like Agria, we wouldn’t be capable of spend money on Hickstead, preserve placing cash into the services and making it probably the greatest venues on the earth.”
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Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future
H&H information editor
Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Enthusiastic about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, during which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by way of to worldwide championships.
