Team GB lift the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time in 13 years in a magnificent Nations Cup win at the Royal International Horse Show
Friday 28 July 2023
For the first time since 2010, Great Britain took the home win in the Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Longines Royal International Horse Show to keep the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy on home soil.
And the boys did it in some style. Cool-headed as ever, John Whitaker – representing his country at his 180th Nations Cup, the first in Poland in 1975 – delivered a magnificent clear as third man out in round two to secure the win – no-one else could beat them. To underscore the win, anchor Harry Charles – who was not required to jump – nonetheless he brought Casquo Blue forward to produce a foot-perfect round and post a double clear; one of only three to share the £50,000 double clear bonus prize. The achievement was even more poignant as it is 13 years since his father Peter jumped a double clear on the 2010 team with Pom D’Ami to win in 2010. Harry was just 10 at the time.
“I remember that day well, I was with Jack Whitaker and Will Fletcher and what an achievement is was,” he said.
Kelvin Bywater set a strong 12-fence 1.60m track, challenging with an early downhill line towards the in gate of tall white gate to the open water followed by a square oxer which caught out several early riders, although overall, the water jumped well. A later line of vertical to the combination and the famous Hickstead planks to the penultimate double and a sharp left-hand turn to final oxer also tested.
First out Ben Maher boosted the spirits with a clean, beautifully judged round on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 14-year-old Exit Remo. Tim Gredley just tipped the vertical off the in gate with Medoc De Toxandria while the mega experienced ‘old boy’ John clipped the famous Hickstead planks on Equine America Unick Du Francport. It all lay on young Harry’s shoulders as anchor. Ireland led the way on a four-fault score. To keep at level pegging, Harry had to jump clear aboard Casquo Blue. There shouldn’t have been any doubts, the pair didn’t put a foot wrong. Britain stood at the top of the leaderboard with Ireland and France at the halfway stage.
It was tight and it was all to play for.
But the spectators were on tenterhooks as Ben tipped the top rail on the water tray – “Round one went to plan but in the second round I let him cut in a bit [on the approach],” he said.
Tim kept us in the running with a superbly judged clear round on Unex Competition Yard’s 11-year-old Medoc De Toxandria.
John came into his own and, although the audience held a collective breath over every fence, mentally jumping every last one with him, ‘Frank’ rose to the occasion and never looked like touching a fence and soaring over the water with ease.
Ireland, however, were also on two clears out of three. But it was announced Mark McCauley and GRS Lady Amaro had been eliminated and Shane Breen’s eight faults came into play. John’s clear round had clinched the win for Britain.
It was later confirmed Mark’s horse was eliminated under the blood rule. The ground jury stated it was accidental, but blood was found on the flank.
Ireland’s final man Daniel Coyle posted a final clear on Legacy to put his team into second on a team total of 12 faults. France’s anchor Olivier Robert also jumped a clean round aboard Iglesias V.D. for third place on 16 faults.
The celebrations rang out for Great Britain!
Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard: "It’s an unbelievable achievement, I woke several times in the night and was up at 5am. These riders, the squad behind them, the support team and UK Sport Lottery Funding put us on the podium. I did shed a tear – I’m not usually emotional but I wanted this so badly. I’m looking forward to returning and praying Hickstead retain the Nations Cup,” said Di, referring to the change of format the FEI has implemented.
“Ben leading us out gave us a great step forward, it is fabulous to have him on the team. Tim has come to the top this year and has contributed to the team result. John’s reputation goes before him and he clinched the win as third team member. Harry: I’m so proud of him; twice he’s been our anchor and delivered, he shows so much maturity for his age. We have the widest age range on our team but youth and experience works.”
For Olympic champion Ben, winner of the Kinge George V Gold Cup and the Hickstead Derby, winning the Nations Cup here was another accolade achieved: “It was an amazing team to be part of and an amazing day. I was a bit apprehensive as Exit Remo hasn’t been out so much lately, but I’ve built him up slowly from 2* shows and Di and Stanny [van Paesschen] put their trust in us.”
It was the first time Tim had been on a team at Hickstead: “Driving into the showground on Wednesday was a bit surreal; I used to come here when I was 13 or 14 for the working hunters. One of the reasons I got into showjumping was watching John riding on the team here and to be on a team with him, Ben and Harry is a surreal experience. I admit I was nervous, but the team met up and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. I felt a bit of pressure in the second round but there was a relaxed feeling in the team, and I knew if I rode him properly, I could jump clear.”
John: (Who was late to the press conference as he had to jump a 1.30m in the back ring!) “They’re still waiting for me – hurry up,” he jested.
“There were good vibes all week and this morning we were quietly confident – and every round counted. I was disappointed with my first round to have the planks as my horse jumped a very good round. The first time I jumped here was in 1970/’71 and it was very daunting. After all these years, this was the best day,” said an unusually emotional John.
Harry: “It’s amazing, my first Nations Cup win. For months this has been our plan and goal – to bring back the Prince of Wales Cup and it’s a real sense of achievement. A very special day. It is such a privilege to be put in the anchor position for the home Nations Cup.
“In the second round the boys had done all the hard work – I just had to go in a smile a bit!” he joked. “I sincerely hope the FEI will support Hickstead’s bid for 2024 – thank you to the Hickstead team for running a fantastic, traditional Nations Cup.”
Edward Bunn explained: “The FEI is changing the Nations Cup format in 2024. It will be called the League of Nations and it will go down to five venues – three in Europe, two elsewhere in the world and a final. We have bid in with the rest [of the nations] and invested heavily in new stabling. The prize money has upped considerably and we hope the FEI does the right thing and votes for a traditional, historic venue. Another Nations Cup series will run but at a lower level.”
Following their win in this point-scoring leg, Britain leapt up the European Division One leaderboard to sit in third place with another opportunity to pick up pointd in Dublin in August.
The British riders have picked up a slew of second placings so far in the five-star international classes, and the Agria 1.45m Royal International Stakes was no different. This time it was Matt Sampson who finished in the runner-up spot with the 13-year-old Fabrice DN.
Richard Vogel was more three seconds faster, the German rider – who is competing at the Longines Royal International Horse Show for the first time to make his debut a winning one – took victory in dominant fashion from third draw on Evermeta. Joe Stockdale slipped Equine Rescue Services Kandleford into third.
Tickets for the Longines Royal International Horse Show (25-30 July) are available at the gate or can be bought online from www.hickstead.co.uk. The action will be livestreamed throughout on ClipMyHorse.TV and Hickstead.TV, with additional coverage on Sky Sports and FEI.TV on Friday and Sunday.
