Great Britain's Team Audevard Battles to Brilliant Second in Agria Nations Cup at Hickstead

Saturday 26 July 2025

British Showjumping’s Team Audevard delivered a determined performance to claim second place in yesterday's Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain at Hickstead, held during the Agria Royal International Horse Show, narrowly missing out on a third consecutive home victory.

After back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024, the home side came into the Edward, Prince of Wales Cup with high hopes of securing the hat-trick. In a nail-biting contest, it was Germany who ultimately edged ahead to take the title, finishing on a total of eight faults, just one fence ahead of Great Britain on 12.

The British quartet — Ben Maher (Enjeu De Grisien), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse), and Georgia Tame (BE Golden) — gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. Maher produced a flawless double clear, while Whiteway impressed on his Nations Cup debut at Hickstead with a clear and a four-fault round. Mendoza bounced back strongly in the second round to add a clear, and although Tame picked up eight faults late in the course, the team’s overall performance was enough to secure the runner-up spot ahead of strong opposition.

“We had some new riders again stepping up to the team at our home Nations Cup, and I couldn’t be more delighted with how they are progressing,” said British chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “It’s fantastic to be on the podium here, and it was close in the end.”

At the halfway stage, Britain sat third with eight faults, thanks to clears from Maher and Whiteway. They continued to apply pressure in round two, keeping the title race alive until the final stages. In the end, Germany’s consistency across both rounds gave them the edge, with the Brits finishing ahead of Belgium (17 faults), Ireland (20), and France (24).

Ben Maher’s polished double clear was a highlight of the day, further cementing his role as one of Britain’s most dependable team riders. Rising star Adrian Whiteway showed his potential on the big stage, while Mendoza and Tame each made valuable contributions under pressure.

Hickstead Director Edward Bunn praised the efforts of all competitors and the continued support from title sponsor Agria. “It was a fantastic competition and a great result,” he said. “Thanks to Agria’s backing, we’re able to keep improving the facilities here and maintain Hickstead’s place at the top of the sport.”

Germany’s win — their first Nations Cup victory at Hickstead in over a decade — came without their anchor rider Marcus Ehning needing to jump a second round, after strong performances from Rene Dittmer, Marco Kutscher, and Stefan Engbers. But it was the British team who captured the hearts of the home crowd with their grit, determination, and depth of talent on display.

With new names stepping up and proven riders delivering under pressure, Great Britain’s second place proves the team remains a major force in international showjumping. 

The Agria Royal International Horse Show takes place at Hickstead in West Sussex from 23-27 July. Tickets are available at the gate or online. The action will also be shown live on ClipMyHorse.TV.

Image: Boots and Hooves Photography

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