Great Britain’s Team Audevard land a spectacular victory in the CSIO4* Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines
Monday 03 February 2025
Great Britain’s Team Audevard got the Nations Cup 2025 season off to a flying start with a spectacular victory in the CSIO4* Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines in the United Arab Emirates, but it was hard-fought and went to the wire.
Seven teams faced celebrated German course-designer Frank Rothenberger’s strong 12-fence, 15-effort 1.55m track, with the first four fences luring riders in with open distances before becoming more technical with tighter lines.
“The first fence was a big oxer followed by a big wall and the technical questions started at the double on a related distance to the water while the triple combination towards the end was also big,” said Chef d’Equipe Stanny van Paesschen.
Britain didn’t make the most auspicious of starts. Britain was drawn third in round one, but in reality started second as three of the teams only fielded three riders – thus all three scores counted. British pathfinder Joe Stockdale made just one mistake, tapping the final element of the combination, to complete on four faults on Billy Santorini. Second out Georgia Tame jumped a round she’d rather forget to finish on 16 faults with BE Golden.
However, Lily Attwood riding Johnnie Walker and anchor William Funnell with Equine America Billy Picador both jumped clear to bounce the team back up the order at the halfway stage on a round one total of four to lie second on time, only 0.14 seconds behind the leaders United Arab Emirates, also on four faults. The next best were Ireland and Belgium on 12 faults apiece, but our riders didn’t rest on their laurels – a lot can happen in round two.
Joe and the nine-year-old Billy Santorini (Billy Mexico x Billy Congo) made no such error second time out and put the team on a good footing with a clear round. Georgia came out fighting and greatly improved the performance of the 10-year-old BE Golden (Golden Hawk x Namelus R) and left every fence intact but picked up one frustrating time fault 0.57 seconds over the time allowed.
Unfortunately, Lily and Johnnie Walker couldn’t maintain their clear round status and the Harley VDL x Numero Uno 11-year-old returned home on a score of eight faults. With the United Arab Emirates still ahead at this stage, it was all down the final riders.
“Joe just touched the rail coming out of the combination first time out but rode a marvellous round in the second half, while Lily jumped an amazing first round on a horse that is not yet at the level of his counterparts. In round two, she just had a foot on the tape at the water and lost a little rhythm at the final fence. Everyone wants to do their best and Georgie really pulled it together in round two – I was very happy for the girls, they jumped fantastic,” said Stanny,
With the United Arab Emirates still ahead at this stage, it was all down the final riders. With his vast experience and calm demeanor, William guided the 13-year-old Billy Mexico x Animo mare Equine America Billy Picador into another clear round – one of only four in the whole competition – to pile the pressure on the UAE’s final rider. The team and all their connections could only wait with bated breath.
It didn’t go according to plan for Abdullah Mohd Al Marri on BBS McGregor, a horse originally produced in Britain by Irish rider Jack Ryan, and the pair retired, leaving Britain at the top of the podium on a total of five.
The UAE stood second on an eight-fault total with Belgium sitting in third on 16, 0.70 seconds ahead of Ireland, also on 16 faults.
“The Brits all work hard, and it is good for the future. I’m very positive for the full season ahead, we have more riders and more horses providing depth for the British teams,” concluded Stanny.
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, United Arab Emirates
CSIO4* - Sharjah Nations Cup presented by Longines – 2 February 2025
1st Great Britain Team Audevard 5 (4+1)
Joe Stockdale & Billy Santorini – 4+0
Georgia Tame & BE Golden – (16)+1
Lily Attwood & Johnnie Walker – 0+(8)
William Funnell & Equine America Billy Picador – 0+0
2nd United Arab Emirates 8 (4+4)
3rd Belgium 16 (12+4)
Image: Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club
