Team Audevard Great Britain pick up valuable points in the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations in Abu Dhabi
Monday 17 February 2025
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished in sixth place in the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations 2025 in a strong competition held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“It was the start of the year and the league, and we were unlucky not to get a podium place, our horses jumped well, the competition was strong and our four-faulters were so unlucky,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard. “It was very hot, but the facilities are fantastic here with a big indoor school, covered warm-up and air-conditioned stabling – top class.”
Ireland, ably guided by Chef d’Equipe Michael Blake, recorded a spectacular win on a zero score in the battle for the top spot against host country the United Arab Emirates under Chef d’Equipe William Funnell.
Eleven teams came forward, nine of the highest ranked nations on the Longines Ranking List 2024 as well as the reigning LLN Final titleholders and they were joined by the UAE team, invited to compete in this leg as the host nation. They faced a 12-fence 1.60m course designed by Spain’s Santiago Varela, who challenged with his up-to-height track using a variety of fence materials and several strategically placed distance options and turns to wide oxers tight off the edge of the arena. Although the time allowed was generous, the track tested balance and obedience and required a concentrated focus from the riders. The curving line at five, six and seven of oxer to open water to the double of verticals and the final line of the Longines combination on a six-stride distance to an up-to-height vertical topped by a delicate white plank proved influential. Nonetheless, 14 partnerships provided initial clears, Ireland, France and UAE all finishing round one on a zero score.
Drawn eighth, Great Britain fielded Joe Stockdale as their pathfinder with Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s Ebanking, and the 11-year-old Etoulon x VDL Sheraton stallion looked comfortable jumping the track. A slight tap at the vertical, the middle element of the penultimate combination was their only mistake and the finished on four faults.
Next out Tim Gredley with Unex Competition Yard and Bill Gredley’s powerful 12-year-old Imperial HBF (Glasgow-W VH Merelsnest x Original VDL) gave the fences plenty of air, but the tight approach out of the corner to the oxer at five just caught them as the back rail fell to also put them on four faults.
Making his debut at this level, Robert Murphy, who is now based in Belgium with Jo Lansink, jumped a cool, confident round on Kannem JA Z, their four faults coming as the
10-year-old Kannan x Lux Z stallion ballooned over the open water and just left a foot on the tape.
It was down to Donald Whitaker to keep Britain in the hunt, and he did it in style on Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & CO.KG’s keen, exuberant Millfield Colette. The Cornet Obolensky x Clearway 12-year-old mare, bred in Britain by Sue Jagger, kept him on his toes but jumped high and wide where it counted to give Britain a crucial clear round. It put Britain in fifth at the halfway stage as the top eight teams made their way into round two to jump an identical course.
In a twist to the traditional Nations Cup format, only three riders from each of the eight teams contend the second round, creating an element of pressure as every score now counts – there is no luxury of a drop score.
As Joe and Ebanking were elected not to jump this time, Tim was first out for Britain and rode a super round, taking care second time out to cleanly jump the oxer at five, but they were caught out by the middle element of the combination towards the end of the round for four faults.
“With only three riders in round two adds a lot of pressure. It’s a different dimension and one rider having a bad round can change the whole order form top to bottom, but it does make it exciting. Joe did a sterling job in the first round, finishing on a very fast time and it gave us a good overall start; it was a good performance,” said Di.
Shadows covering two thirds of the arena proved influential in the later rounds and Robert came home on eight faults this time, Kannem tapping out the top rail over the early Liverpool water tray and putting a toe on the tape at the open water after putting in a huge, high leap.
“We continue to produce new partnerships for the future, and this was Robert’s first five-star Nations Cup and he proved himself as a cool character. His horse went a little bit green at the water second time out but hopefully it will be the first time of many appearances for him,” said Di.
With rival teams jumping clear rounds, Britain slipped down the order and it was let to Donald and his reigning Hickstead King George V champion Millfield Colette to jump a clear. Again, they came up trumps. More settled but still full of jump, the mare answered every question to supply another clean round – one of nine double clears.
Britain finished sixth on a total of 20 faults, six faults behind Italy in fifth. Ireland were in celebratory mood to take victory on a zero score with host country UAE in second on eight faults with France in third on 12.
“It was an extremely good job by Donald, the others were a little bit unlucky as the horses jumped well. I’m happy we got a few points and hope to go for the momentum and I’m looking forward to using these partnerships again,” concluded Di.
CSIO5* Longines League of Nations Abu Dhabi – 15 February 2025
1st Ireland 0
2nd UAE 8
3rd France 12
6th Great Britain 20
Joe Stockdale & Ebanking - 4/-
Tim Gredley & Imperial HBF - 4/4
Robert Murphy & Kannem JA Z - 4/8
Donald Whitaker & Millfield Colette - 0/0
Image: ©FEI
.JPG "Emma Sargeant flies to the top in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C qualifier at South View Equestrian Centre")
