Great Britain’s Team Audevard claims second place at the CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Nations Cup in Lier
Saturday 19 April 2025
Great Britain’s Team Audevard gave a good account of themselves in the CSIO3* Nations Cup EEF Series powered by Longines in Lier, Belgium, taking second place on the podium.
It was a closely fought contest all the way and the British team had to draw on their strengths in round two to take a podium spot, eventually finishing in the runner-up position two fences behind Portugal, who remained steadfastly ahead on a zero score.
“I was delighted with the young team, they rode like seasoned pros – all came through ponies together and it was like a very normal day at the office; they knew the job in hand and had a little bad luck, but it was pleasure [to manage the team],” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Starting in seventh draw of 12 teams over course-designer Henk Linders’ (NED) 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track, 2020 Tokyo Olympian Harry Charles led the way for Team Audevard. Riding Even Strides LLC’s Kannandillo, a ride picked up two months ago while competing in Wellington, USA, Harry skilfully guided the Kannan x Candillo 3 nine-year-old around the course, the pair making just one error lowering the centre element of the combination for four faults.
Jodie Hall McAteer took her turn next with the 12-year-old stallion Kingsborough Kasper, another by Kannan and this time out of a Revenge mare and provided a vital clear to keep the team in the hunt.
Sienna fell foul of the middle element of the combination as did older brother Harry with Tara Charles and Stall Zet’s game 15-year-old mare Stardust (Chacco-Blue x Con Air 7) as the back rail fell to also finish on four faults.
Anchor rider Robert Murphy was under pressure to produce a clear round to keep Great Britain’s Team Audevard in touch with the leaders, but this talented young man has a growing reputation of staying cool and calm in tense situations, and delivered a much-needed clear on Catch-Me Van Berkenbroeck, a Cicero Z Van Paemel x Nonstop 11-year-old stallion jointly owned by Robert with Jos Lansink Horse BV and breeder Michael Spaas.
The pressure was on in round two as only one fence separated six teams and all members of every team again jumped the full course, as per the rules in this EEF series. Portugal sat at the top on a zero score alongside Sweden and France carrying a zero score with Great Britain bunched together in fourth with Ireland, Spain and Brazil on four faults.
Harry and Kannandillo were again caught out by the second element of the combination to finish on four faults, but ‘Girl Power’ came into play as Jodie posted another superb clear, Kingsborough Kasper again giving the fences plenty of air, to be one of only five in the entire competition of 48 riders to ride double clear.
Sienna also came up trumps for a foot-perfect round on Stardust for the team to sit on a total of eight faults with just the final riders to participate. Ireland was still on level-pegging on four while Spain, Brazil and France fell by the wayside and Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands added to their round one scores. Portugal proved the only team to stay strong and out in front.
A clear round from Robert with Catch-Me Van Berkenbroeck would still have earned second spot as Portugal could not be caught, but it was not to be, and the pair came home on eight faults. Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished second on eight faults behind Portugal on a zero score with Ireland also on eight but in a slower time for third.
“Jodie was outstanding to jump a double clear. “It was a proper, big 1.50m track but fairly designed and not overly technical. We entered in the spirit of the EEF series with all four riders under 25 and yet some very experienced riders fell apart in round two, I’m very proud of our riders,” said Di Lampard. “It’s a fantastic result to pick up league points so early on. Hopefully, we will make it through all the way to the final as we did last year and gain valuable experience in the semi-finals and the Final.”
CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Nations Cup
Azelhof Events, Lier, Belgium – 18 April 2025
1st PORTUGAL – 0
2nd GREAT BRITAIN TEAM AUDEVARD – 8
Harry Charles & Kannandillo – 4/4
Jodie Hall-McAteer & Kingsborough Kasper – 0/0
Sienna Charles & Stardust – 4/0
Robert Murphy & Catch-Me Van Berkenbroeck – 0/8
3rd IRELAND - 8
Photo: © Peagsus Photography
.JPG "Sophia Rogers makes a winning return and Rachel Proudley claims a championship double at Pony of the Year Show")
