Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish sixth in the Longines League of Nations in Ocala
Monday 24 March 2025
Unlucky four faults in the rounds of Great Britain’s Team Audevard in the Longines League of Nations at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, USA, meant they didn’t make a podium place, and the team finished sixth. It went to the wire, but The USA won the day on home ground with a spectacular performance from McLain Ward.
The 10 teams faced a fitting test designed by Alan Wade, going in reverse order of merit of their finishing positions from the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in February, Britain drawn sixth in the order. Faults were spread around the 12-fence 1.60m course but the Longines combination over vertical-oxer-vertical at fence six proved more challenging than originally anticipated and the penultimate vertical-oxer double also required careful negotiation.
Shadows influenced some rounds and only seven of the forty competitors answered every question in round one, three belonging to The USA while Britain’s Harry Charles was also one of the elite on Casquo Blue.
First out for Britain Ben Maher with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 12-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly came home on eight faults, caught out by the back rail of an oxer preceding the Longines combination and the vertical after the open water.
Charlie Jones was making a big step up to this level with Morning Star Sporthorses’ 14-year-old Capitale 6 in a last-minute call-up and gave a very good account of himself. The pair tapped out the front rail of the oxer at two, but Charlie kept his cool to make no further error, coming home on just four faults.
Jess Mendoza and the eager 12-year-old mare In The Air also made only one mistake as the 12-year-old mare was a little strong after the water jump and the following vertical claimed another victim, but they finished strongly without further penalty to finish on four faults.
Paris 2024 Team Gold medallist Harry Charles showed his experience with a magical clear on the Chacco-Blue 15-year-old Casquo Blue, conjuring up a magical, much-needed clear for the team to finish round one on eight faults for sixth place and making the cut of eight teams going forward into round two. However, it was tight at the top with The USA on a zero score, only one fault ahead of Germany.
The LLN’s unique format sees only three competitors from each of the eight teams in round two with the pressure of no discard score adding suspense. Adding another element to the atmosphere, round two was run over an identical track but staged under floodlights, although several improved on their first rounds and 12 produced clear rounds second time out.
Ben was back on his usual expected form in round two, riding a smooth, immaculate clear round on Dallas Vegas Batilly to move Britain up to a temporary third place. Jess was determined to ride a good round but again, In The Air found there wasn’t quite enough room in the six strides to the vertical after the water and the top rail fell to put them on four faults.
It was all down to Harry but despite Harry keeping Casquo Blue balanced, they stroked out the top pole of the first element of the Longines combination. They remained clear over the rest of the course to put Britain on a total score of 16 and in sixth place.
“It was a tough competition with strong teams and a strong course but everyone handled it well. The team were so unlucky, we were four faults away from third place, a clear from Jess or Harry in the second round would have clinched it,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard, who had special praise for Charlie Jones on his five-star debut. “He was unbelievable, he had an early rail at fence two but kept it together to come home on four faults, all credit to him, he was outstanding. It is a shame with this format he couldn’t go again
At the top, Germany kept the pressure on the host nation, both teams scoring a clear and four in round two, The USA staying ahead on three faults with one rider each to go. Germany’s Sophie Hinners kept up the pressure with a clear on Iron Dames Singclair, leaving McLain Ward no margin of error. Only a clear round would seal victory for The USA and McLain – a mainstay of the American team – delivered on Ilex.
Great Britain currently stand in seventh on the Longines League of Nations Standings 2025, with Ireland and Germany tying in first place at the top.
World Equestrian Center, Ocala, USA – 22 March 2025
CSIO5* Longines League of Nations Ocala
1st USA – 4
2nd Germany – 5
3rd Belgium – 13
6th Great Britain Team Audevard – 16
Ben Maher & Dallas Vegas Batilly (8)+0
Jess Mendoza & In The Air – 4+4
Harry Charles & Casquo Blue 0+4
Charlie Jones & Capitale 6 4+/
Image Credit: FEI / Shannon Brinkmann
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