More International Success for British Riders in this week's Round-Up
Monday 29 September 2025
Longines Global Champions Tour - Vienna
In the first round of the Global Champions League in Vienna, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, riding Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Folie, claimed victory for the New York Empire in a blistering 71.38 seconds. Sweden’s Peder Fredricson on Alcapone des Carmille finished second in 71.97 seconds, while third place went to Britain’s Ben Maher aboard Jane Forbes-Clark’s Ginger-Blue for the Shanghai Swans in 72.19 seconds. Brash returned to top the standings again in the second round, this time partnering Hello Jefferson to another decisive win in 75.61 seconds.
The CSI1* classes on the LGCT saw tight competition. In the Small Tour presented by HD Equestrian, Czech rider Lucie Pavleckova and Charlotte de la Votte Z snatched victory, narrowly beating Britain’s Isabella Beecroft-Luckett with Claire Beecroft’s Naldo K by just 0.01 seconds. The Medium Tour saw Britain’s Tess Carmichael, riding her own Bangle SR, secured third in 59.66 seconds finishing just behind Austrian rider Jolina Moser-Spitzenstätter and Staphael II who took the win ahead of Josefina Goess-Saurau and Marvantos. In the Small Tour presented by Pink & Orange, Britain’s Imogen Beecroft with her own Chablis picked up third in 60.72 seconds, just behind Austria’s Theresa Singer and Espri 4, followed by Switzerland’s Peter Aregger on Nadal Z. The CSI1* Grand Prix presented by HD Equestrian was won by Isabella Beecroft-Luckett on Clarie Beecroft’s Exception in 44.27 seconds. Austria again filled the podium with Theresa Singer in second riding Kleons Cruising and Chiara-Fiorina Moser in third on Quasi Blue.
British combinations featured in the age consolation classes at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium.
In the five-year-old consolation final, Britain’s Nicole Pavitt finished third on Amber Bundock’s Umberto II van het Geninsteinde (Arezzo VDL x Carthano I - Breeder: Bethy Noens).
188 combinations came forward over this 1.25m class and 47 managed to clear the technical round. With a clear round in 58.39 seconds, Nicole secured a well-deserved podium finish and a fine finale to their championship. Ireland’s Tabitha Kyle secured the victory with Ottani Z in 52.36 seconds, ahead of Italy’s Guido Franchi with Bijou van’t Klavertje Vier Z, while. The top four was completed by Great Britain's Pippa Goddard who rode the Oldenburg gelding Thomas Williams’ Convio PS (Conthargos x Vivant - Breeder: Gestüt Lewitz) to fourth place in 60.16 seconds
Earlier in the week, Britain’s Sandy McLean took top honours in the first six-year-old qualifier with Thomas Williams’ Miss Contoulonia PS. Of a field of 253 participants, 85 combinations managed to clear both 1.35m phases, but none could match the performance of British rider Sandy McLean. Together with the Oldenburg mare Miss Contoulonia PS (Messenger x Conthargos), where the letters PS refer to her breeder Paul Schockemöhle, McLean put down an extraordinary ride, storming through the finish in 24.45 seconds. McLean’s compatriot Thomas Pritchard placed fifth on the AES mare Princess SW, owned by Marta Rocha Lima (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Caretino - Breeder: Sophie Wallace). McLean again impressed by finishing second in the six-year-old second qualifier with Miss Contoulonia PS.
The five-year-old qualifier saw seven British riders jump clear and were amongst those who took joint first — including Harry Wood on Boleybawn Alexa, BP Athena II and BP Paloma, William Rekert with Corinio Z, Matt Buckland on Meacham Cepheus, Louis Cunningham with Ashdale Lockdown, Sandy McLean on both Diora PS and Cool Cinsey PS, and Rachel Proudley with NFS Super Freak.
The five-year-old second qualifier produced another strong British showing with multiple clear round performances, including Harry Wood(BP Paloma, BP Athena II and Boleybawn Alexa), Leo Lamb (Commeet van hed Dingenshof Z), Louis Cunningham (Ashdale Lockdown), Matt Buckland (Meacham Cepheus), Sandy McLean (Diora PS), Nicole Pavitt (Umberto II van het Geninsteinde), William Rekert (Corinio Z), Rachel Proudley (NFS Super Freak) and Pippa Goddard (Conbella Blue PS).
In the opening class of the FEI Zangersheide Sires of the World for approved stallions, Nicole Pavitt guided the eight-year-old Rhodos Van de Kiekenboer (Emerald x Oklund, bred by A. Van Bijsterveld and owned by Matthew Pike) to a faultless finish in 29.44 seconds.
The St Tropez Autumn Tour delivered more British success.
Matthew Sampson had a bumper week as he placed second with Rachel Evison and his own Ebolensky in the CSI4* Small Tour at 1.40m, finishing just behind France’s Luca Fournier on Cyranan Z. Sampson then went one better in the CSI2* Big Tour at 1.40m, winning with HMF Equestrian’s Latte Macchiato in 63.29 seconds, and followed up with another victory in the CSI2* Big Tour at 1.45m riding Pretty Pi’que de’luxe, owned by Janne Friederike Myer-Zummermann and Beeke Vogeler, in 66.05 seconds.
Britain’s Adrian Whiteway added to the tally with a win in the CSI2* Big Tour at 1.45m, clocking 45.34 seconds with Charlotte Hughes’ Lana Del Ray. In the CSI1* Big Tour at 1.30m, Emily Sage rode her own I Am A Harley to second place, narrowly behind France’s Evann Dilasser. In the CSI1* Small Tour at 1.15m, Britain’s Georgia Sykes, riding her own Claudine Z, also secured second place, with French riders taking first and third.
The Six Bar competition on Saturday night provided a dramatic finale, with Mark Edwards and the eight-year-old gelding, Tinkers Touch, owned by Mark’s father Martyn Edwards, sharing top honours after clearing 1.80m final fence. Edwards withdrew alongside France’s Luca Fournier and Celia Poittevin after three demanding rounds, with the trio splitting the win.
Image: Nicole Pavitt and Umberto II van het Geninsteinde. Credit: Sportfot
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