Great Britain’s Team Audevard stand third on the podium in Rome’s five-star Nations Cup
Saturday 30 May 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard claimed third in the Nations Cup Intesa Sanpaolo at the Rome CSIO5* in Italy, in a tense battle for a podium finish.
“I was delighted with the team, there was great team spirit and overall, a great performance,” said Chef d Equipe Di Lampard.
A team of course-designers led by Uliano Vezzani built a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.60m track for the 10 teams and used the gradients of the Piazza di Siena arena to ask technical questions. A skinny plank topping a dark green vertical on a dog-leg after the open water and running slightly downhill to the double caught several and the wide Rolex oxer filled by a pole topped dark green gate, with shadows creating an optical illusion, in the latter half of the course asked another question, while the final tall vertical, again topped by a skinny plank, waited at the end.
“It was a big, tough course,” assessed Di Lampard.
Jess Mendoza was first out for Team Audevard on Summerhouse, an Induparts Guidam Sohn x VDL Indoctro 11-year-old she acquired two and a half years ago. They looked calm and controlled but the tricky skinny plank following the water claimed them as one of its victims, and they returned on four faults.
The next two British riders gave the team a boost. Adrian Whiteway with Deborah Cox’s German-bred 13-year-old stallion Chacco Volo (Chacco-Blue x Carthago) and Jack Whitaker aboard Candice Reilly’s 12-year-old Jack JL (Quasimodo Z x Astrello) both posted clear rounds. A zero score at the halfway stage was on the cards, and it all rested on anchor Joe Stockdale’s shoulders.
He gave it his all with Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s 12-year-old stallion Ebanking (Etoulon VDL x VDL Sheraton), but they were another pair caught out by the plank after the water for the discard score.
The four faults put Great Britain on a score of four at the halfway stage and in fifth place. But it was tight at the top. Mexico led the way on zero with Germany, The USA and Ireland bunched on four faults apiece with Italy and Belgium one fence behind on eight and Brazil with 12 as eight teams made the cut and headed into round two.
Team Audevard came out fighting as a determined Jess came home clear on Summerhouse. Adrian was the star of the team as he coolly supplied the first double clear of the day on Chacco Volo – one of only five in the entire competition.
“Jess rode a confident round as our first out, it was an unfortunate four faults in the first round,” said Di. “Adrian jumped fabulous rounds. They were a bit keen to the Rolex oxer first time and took a stride out, but the horse showed his talent. Round two was calmer and well ridden.”
Jack Whitaker looked to be following suit, and a clear at this stage would put them on a two-round total of four. Joe Stockdale wouldn’t be required to jump, and Britain could force a jump-off situation. Victory wasn’t out of the question. But Jack JL clipped the vertical out of the double to finish on four, and again the pressure was on Joe.
“Jack was so unlucky, but his horse has come on a long way; it’s a very exciting partnership,” added Di.
It didn’t go according to plan. A toe on the tape at the open water, the back rail going into the double falling and the final fence also hit the floor to put them on a total of 12.
Team Audevard finished on an eight-fault total but moved up the order to a podium position in third.
“Joe jumped a good first round but in round two, the horse just wasn’t concentrating. Overall, it was a good team performance,” said Di.
Mexico added only four faults to their round one zero score while Germany improved on their halfway four faults to jump clear in round two, forcing a jump-off. Germany’s Richard Vogel powered round on Gangster Montdesir but a rail fell to leave them vulnerable on four faults. Mexico’s Fernando Martinez Sommer posted an easy clear with Chakkalou PS to hand Mexico the win.
Rome CSIO5*Piazza di Siena, Italy
29 May 2026
1st Mexico – 0/4/0 45.91
2nd Germany – 4/0/4 39.99
3rd Great Britain – 4/4
Jess Mendoza & Summerhouse – 4/0
Adrian Whiteway & Chacco Volo – 0/0
Jack Whitaker & Jack JL – 0/4
Joe Stockdale & Ebanking – (4)/(12)
Image: Morella Media/Jack Whitaker Instagram
