Great Britain deliver in style with Team Gold in a high-pressure tense Nations Cup at the FEI Jumping European Championship
Friday 31 July 2026
Great Britain’s pony team celebrated with Gold at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Ponies in Le Mans, France.
“It was good, very good, but it went to the wire, and our last two riders had to jump clear to win Gold,” said Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker.
Eight teams came forward over a 1.30m Table C speed course (seconds added for a knockdown) on day one in the qualifying competition, with Great Britain in second on the leaderboard. Scores were converted to points for both team and individual competitions and, although a clear round was desired, the penalty points incurred on day one could prove crucial later. Ireland initially led the way by 6.65 penalty points.
“This is the first year they have jumped a Table C round, and with four seconds added for each knockdown, it was difficult to judge how fast we needed to be,” said Clare Whitaker. “We knew we had to be quick but not stupid quick, and a couple of our riders had an unlucky fence down. It left quite a gap between us and Ireland, we had to work for it.”
Britain dug deep in the two rounds of the Nations Cup despite the pressure to command victory.
It was a good start as three of the riders were making their debut at this level, only Sophia was the experienced one and now at her third – and final – Pony European Championship with Neil 55.
Henry Leggott was first out of the gate for Britain in the two-round Nations Cup competition, again over a 12-fence. 15-effort 1.30m track and provided a sold clear round on the 11-year-old Namelus R daughter Blossoms Big Claim.
Henry’s teammates followed suit, with Raphaela Dawson on the eight-year-old Woody Allen Van Duyversputten, Lucia Caroline aboard the 14-year-old Holly Blue (Plot Blue x Heartbreaker) and anchor Sophia Rogers on the wonderfully consistent 14-year-old Neil 55 (Otangelo x Koriander) all producing clear rounds. Their efforts paid dividends as the gap was closed and Ireland fell back on eight faults, adding to their round one score of 7.35 and putting them on 15.35 and into the Silver medal position, 1.21 points behind Britain. Belgium trailed in third on 34.50 penalty points.
Henry came out strong and sure in round two to again deliver a clear round. Raphael made just one mistake on Woody Allen to come home on four faults, but Ireland fought back hard to supply a zero score in round two.
The pressure intensified. Ireland was assured of a zero score when their first three riders jumped clear rounds. It was a nail-biting sit and wait. The final two British riders had to jump clear to win.
Lucia Caroline, 14, belied any inexperience to gallop through the finish on a zero score and the weight shifted to Sophia’s shoulders. She held up under enormous pressure despite feeling nervous to leave every fence intact on the scopey Neil to post a double clear. Great Britain owned the Team Gold medal by 1.21 points.
“Lucia is the baby of the team at just 14, and Neil is just Neil, we are so lucky to have Sophia and Neil as our anchor partnership,” said Clare, who also praised Henry and Raphaela for their riding under pressure.
FEI Jumping European Championships for Ponies, La Boulerie Jump, Le Mans, France – 31 July 2026
1st GREAT BRITAIN 14.14
Henry Leggott Blossoms Big Claim 5.86+0+0
Raphaela Dawson Woody Allen Van Duyversputten 8.25+0+4
Lucia Caroline Holly Blue 4.65+0+0
Sophia Rogers Neil 55 3.63+0+0
Reserve, Cora Dowey Armene De Costilg
2nd IRELAND 15.35
3rd BELGIUM 38.50
Image: Libby Law Photography
