Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish fourth in the 5* Nations Cup of La Baule
Saturday 13 June 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard claimed fourth place in the CSIO5* Coupe De Nations Barriere of La Baule in France, after leading with Germany at the halfway stage in an exciting competition.
“It was another nearly after a cracking start against some very strong teams trying out for Aachen over a very clever course. It was a bit chilly but brilliant weather for the horses in ideal jumping conditions, we were a just little unfortunate in the second round,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Ten teams faced course-designer Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) 12-fence, 15-effort 1.60m track with subtle, resourceful lines making the most of the arena. Jess Mendoza was pathfinder for the British Team and supplied a solid clear round on Dutch-bred 11-year-old Summerhouse (Induparts Guidam Sohn x VDL Indoctro). Second out Joe Stockdale with Joy Cocklin and Laura Stockdale’s 15-year-old mare Cacharel (Cachas x Quinar Z) followed suit, and Team Audevard looked in a strong position.
Harry Charles and Peter Charles and Stall Zet’s 16-year-old Casquo Blue (Chacco-Blue x Carthago) clipped the back bar coming out of the penultimate double. It was down to last man Scott Brash, one of the best in the anchor position with his ice-cool demeanour. He duly produced a clear round aboard Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s 11-year-old Hello Mango (Untouchable 27 x Numero Uno) to put Britian at the top of the leaderboard alongside Germany on a zero score. But the teams were huddled at the top, with France hot on their heels on one fault and Sweden close behind on four. It was all to play for in round two. The pressure was on.
Jess was aiming for another perfect zero, but Summerhouse proved strong and they clipped the Rolex oxer before the open water and the front rail of the penultimate double also fell for eight faults. Joe Stockdale and Cacharel made only one mistake, hitting the back rail the third element of the combination to finish on four.
“Jess has a young horse who is coming on well at this level but just got a bit forward second time around, and it was lovely to see Joe and Cacharel back jumping in a five-star Nations Cup,” assessed Di.
Harry also made one mistake as the top rail of an early vertical over the water tray fell but remained composed to come home without further error to finish on four faults. A podium place depended on Scott going clear, but Hello Mango tapped the top rail of the vertical following the open water, and Team Audevard dropped to fourth on a 12-fault total.
France posted a zero score in round two to stay on their one time fault to take victory while Germany added just four faults to their zero round one score to finish second with Ireland in third on a total of nine faults.
“Harry did a sterling job on Casquo Blue, he was so unlucky in the second round; it would have changed the result. Scott’s horse just made a mistake over the water, but young horses have to learn. All the Nations Cup competitions are different and unique and this was a good competition, we knew France would come back strong, and there were strong teams with their focus on Aachen,” added Di.
CSIO5* Coupe De Nations Barriere of La Baule – 12 June
1st France – 1
2nd Germany – 4
3rd Ireland – 9
4th Great Britain – 12
Jess Mendoza & Summerhouse – 0/(8)
Joe Stockdale & Cacharel – 0/4
Harry Charles & Casquo Blue – (4)/4
Scott Brash & Hello Mango – 0/4
Image: MDB Photography
