British Team triumph at Hickstead

British show jumpers secure victory in their home leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™

Di Lampard’s team of pathfinder Ben Maher (Exit Remo), Tim Gredley (Medoc de Toxandria), the legendary – soon to celebrate his 68th birthday – John Whitaker (Equine America Unick du Francport) and the youngest member of the team at just 24 years old, anchorman Harry Charles (Casquo Blue), were confident they would deliver on the day, and they did in style!

The deal was sealed in the 2nd round with third to go Whitaker’s immaculate clear that left them untouchable on only 8 faults, in front of an ecstatic home crowd. The win was all the more special as the last time there was a British win at a Hickstead Nations Cup was 13 years ago, when Harry Charles’ father Peter was on the winning team, alongside William Funnell, Tina Fletcher and John’s younger brother Michael Whitaker.

Harry did not have to jump a second round but, he went in again to produce one of the only 3 double clears of class.

An emotional Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard said: “I have to confess I shed a tear, it hit me because I wanted it so badly!”

John Whitaker summed up when he said: “today, after all these years competing, was probably the best day!”

Final results for the day left Ireland in 2nd place with 12 faults, and France in 3rd with 16. The day’s results see Britain move up from sixth to third in the Europe Division 1 rankings ahead of the final leg of the series in Dublin (IRL) in two weeks time.

Currently, Germany head the league table with Switzerland in second and Ireland fourth, The Netherlands and Belgium share fifth place, Italy lies seventh and France lies eighth and last.

Only the top seven of the eight competing nations will qualify from this series for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023. France will join Belgium, Britain, the Irish hosts, The Netherlands and Switzerland at the Dublin fixture, the Italians have used up all of their four qualifying opportunities and are likely to be overtaken for a qualifying spot.