Hello Win! Olli Fletcher and Hello William fly to victory in the 4* Longines Grand Prix of Avenches
Monday 07 September 2026
Olli Fletcher landed his first 4* Grand Prix win with the 4* Longines Grand Prix of Avenches in Switzerland as Brits filled two of the podium places.
“This is my first 4* Grand Prix win; I should have won in Warsaw two years ago with the fastest time but a fence down with William. This time we came back and got the win,” said Olli, who praised the venue – “The ground, facilities, support and organisation was great – it’s a pleasure to be part of a great show.”
Riders had gathered in Switzerland for the EEF Series Nations Cup Final and course-designer Gerard Lachat set fair but challenging courses all week. The 4* Longines Grand Prix of Avenches was no exception, and 50 riders faced a tough 1.55m course. Only five riders mastered all the questions to jump clear and advance to the jump-off with two riders representing Great Britain.
“The course was well built but difficult and technical from the first fence to the last; big, demanding, but jumpable – you had to be on your A game to deliver. You needed a careful horse, luckily, I was sat on an amazing horse; he’s my best friend, tries so hard and makes getting around a difficult course look easy,” said Olli.
The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager set a fast target with Mereusa and was still in the lead when Olli and Hello William entered the ring. Olli was lightning quick, and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s Walden Van Dungen x Stakkato 14-year-old Hello William matched his fervour, taking on the fences with relish to wipe 0.75 seconds off the time.
Holly Smith chased with the talented Andiamo Semilly eight-year-old Nike Van Het Singraven but four faults dropped them into third place.
“It was a nice position to be in, last but one to go and only one clear. In my head I just had to beat Marc and put pressure on Holly [Smith]. Not easy, Holly’s an incredible rider sat on amazing horse; what I can do, she can do better. I just had to hope she made a mistake and it worked out, it could have easily gone the other way – I had luck on my side,” said Olli.
Olli was full of praise for his owners: “I owe a lot to Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, without them I wouldn’t be achieving the results I am today. I also owe thanks to Silke Scheiber, owner of my Nations Cup ride Cassanova BVL Z, who has put her trust in me from day one. I’m very grateful for this incredible support.”
Next on the agenda for Olli is Ascona CSI4* followed by a couple of Longines Global Champions Tour shows.
“I have new horses and I’m building up a team,” said Olli, on a bright future ahead.
Holly claimed a win in an early Seven and Eight-year-old with the eight-year-old Sing Z. Sixty-eight competitors contended this 1.35/1.40m speed, but no-one could match Holly’s speed and prowess as she hit top gear for victory by an impressive 2.23 seconds. Max Routledge eased Crosby Ter Doorn Z into third.
Scott Brash races to a five-star win at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard
Scott Brash secured a five-star victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard in The Netherlands with Hello Chadora Lady.
Scott proved the fastest in the 34-strong first round of the Global Champions League over course-designer Uliano Vezzani’s (ITA) 5* 1.60m speed track of a substantial 13 fences and 16 efforts. Scott made short work of the course with the eager 13-year-old Hello Chadora Lady (Chacco-Blue x Nintender), flying into an unbeatable lead of 0.97 seconds.
George Whitaker scooped victory in the final day’s 2* 1.40m with Peanut, rounding off a great week for his branch of the famous Whitaker family. Fifty-two riders came forward over a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.40m track with 23 going through to the round two decider, George and Martin Wood’s 13-year-old Peanut (Barrichello x Quasimodo Z) taking a 1.16 second win.
George’s wife Michaela picked two of the top three places in the 1* 1.10m two-phase, winning by half a second on the 14-year-old Lordanos daughter Croft Lassina and third with the 12-year-old Jip B. Following in her parents footsteps, Gracie May Whitaker, aged 6, scored a hat-trick in the Vos Transport’s Super Hero 30cm Class with the ultra-consistent Phoenix.
Holly Williams topped a 2* 1.35m speed with Funisa BH, the Chintan x Chacco-Blue 13-year-old mare claiming a 0.79 second advantage over their 30 rivals. The pair went on to clinch second in the 1* 1.35m Grand Prix in a 16-horse decider 0.40 seconds behind the pace.
Mark Edwards secured a three-star win in Lier with the home-bred Tinkers Touch
Mark Edwards notched up a speedy win with the home-bred Tinkers Touch at Azelhof Horse Events in Lier, Belgium.
Twenty-five competitors tackled the T&L Sporthorses 3* 1.40m two-phase, Mark using his late round on the Tornesch 1042 x Tinkas Boy nine-year-old to gallop into a 1.11 second victory.
Chad Fellows claims two podium places at Peelbergen Equestrian
Chad Fellows guided NPS Klooney into second place in the 2* 1.45m at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, The Netherlands.
A field of 31 came forward over the two-phase track with Chad and the NPS Supernova x Toulon nine-year-old finishing 1.73 seconds off the pace.
Chad also picked up second in the 2* 1.40m two-phase as 74 competitors bid for glory, Chad the 12-year-old stallion Chianti’s Casall (Chaloubet Tailormade x Casall) slipping into the runner-up spot only 0.18 seconds behind the winner, The Netherlands’ Leopold van Asten on VDL Groep Niagara.
Image: PHOTO Bujard/Olli Fletcher Instagram
