Jess Mendoza is on Cloud Nine with a magnificent victory double at the CSIO5* LLN Barcelona Final with In The Air
Monday 05 October 2026
Jess Mendoza and the eager mare In The Air put on a superlative performance to claim a winning five-star double at the LLN Barcelona Final, including the top individual competition, the Grand Prix of the City of Barcelona for the Calvet 75th Anniversary Trophy.
“It was an incredible week and one of the biggest wins I’ve had, and to have it at such a prestigious show makes it that extra bit special. “She flew, she was amazing – I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Jess. “I will remember this weekend for a very long time.”
Jess had started the show on a high with victory in day one’s Estrella Damm Trophy 5* 1.50m, firing a warning shot over the bows as to what was to come. Thirty-eight competitors contended this speed class, Jess outpacing the lot on the Air Jordan x Indoctro 13-year-old by 0.80 seconds.
“Normally, when she’s on form and winning, she carries it on for the rest of the week and this was a great starting point,” said Jess, who describes her winning mare as “a bit like a cat, she likes people, but she doesn’t like them to come to her or touch her., and jumping under lights doesn’t bother her, she’s jumped plenty of competitions under lights, in fact, it almost makes her jump better.”
There was more to come. Thirty-seven riders came forward to face Spanish course-designer Santiago Varela’s 14-fence, 17-effort 1.60m track under lights, with 12 of the best advancing to the jump-off carrying their faults. The nine clears were joined by two on one time fault (including Jack Whitaker’s Jack JL) and Germany’s Richard Vogel scraping through on four faults.
“The course was tough and careful in lots of places, but I think they got the right amount of clear rounds, and the jump-off was a tough one,” said Jess.
Rodrigo Pessoa set an ultra-quick target at the midway stage with Major Tom – who started competitive life in Britain as a young horse with Alex Hempleman – and still held the lead despite a strong challenge from Ireland’s Cian O’Connor with Kentucky TN.
It didn’t daunt Jess, and she set out with determination matched by her exuberant partner. They were on a winning streak. The mare didn’t hesitate as Jess set an optimum pace, galloping at the enormous fences and executing the tightest, breath-taking turns under Jess’s guidance. It was tight, but they wiped 0.12 seconds off the time to take the top of the leaderboard.
“I was near the end, so I knew what I had to do to win. “I watched Rodrigo and he was fast, I knew his was the round to beat. I went in and rode my plan and it paid off,” said Jess. “Fly is so quick when she lands and so long on her feet, she’s naturally speedy, I don’t feel like I have to chase her. She really fought for the win and I felt her there with me every stride. She’s truly an incredible horse with the biggest heart. To go into a jump-off with her is a nice feeling, I have every bit of trust in her and her in me.”
The wait wasn’t over, however, with another three fast riders to follow, and it wasn’t until last to go, Germany’s Sophie Hinners lowered a rail, that Jess knew she’d won.
“It did get a little hairy out there, but there was a lot more fight and jump. She’s amazing, I couldn’t do it without her – she’s the best horse I have and probably will have,” added an emotional Jess.
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish in sixth place in the Longines League of Nations Final at CSIO Barcelona
Defending champions Team Audevard of Great Britain came out fighting but had to settle for sixth place in the Longines League of Nations [LLN] Final at CSIO Barcelona.
The entire competition was delayed as the Spanish authorities cancelled all sport from 8pm on Saturday to 2pm on Sunday. Nonetheless, course-designer Santiago Varela (ESP) set a tough 12-fence, 15-effort 1.60m track with relentless questions demanding scope and rideability for the nine teams forward. A restrictive time witnessed several riders taking a short turn to the open water – including all four Brits – but this didn’t appear to cause any problems.
Jess Mendoza set out as pathfinder, but anxiety for Team Audevard set in when the 11-year-old Summerhouse (Guidam Sohn x Indoctro) lowered a rail at the first fence. Their teammates watched with bated breath, but Jess kept her cool and remained clear for the rest of the round.
Jack Whitaker and the big-striding 12-year-old Jack JL (Quasimodo Z x Astrello) were next up with a round they’d rather forget to return 16 faults, including two elements of the problematic penultimate combination.
The midway plank oxer and the combination accounted for Tim Gredley and the Der Senaat 14-year-old Medoc De Toxandria’s eight faults, while Scott Brash was also another victim of the combination when the middle element fell for the 11-year-old mare Hello Mango (Untouchable x Numero Uno).
Great Britain stood in eighth place on 16 faults at the halfway mark with Germany leading the way on a zero score just ahead of Belgium on one time fault and Brazil and THE USA on four faults apiece.
Second time out, Jess cleared the first fence no problem but the plank oxer caught Summerhouse this time around to return on four faults. However, Tim and Scott made a tremendous effort to come home with clear rounds. Their efforts pulled Team Audevard up two places into sixth on a score of 20.
Germany added four faults in round two while Brazil touted a zero score second time out to force a jump-off situation, Richard Vogel posting a clear round on Cloudio to counter Rodrigo Pessoa’s four faults with Major Tom to hand Germany victory. Belgium stood third on the podium on five faults.
“It was a disappointing day. Jess was unlucky to have four faults in each round; Jack’s horse lost his steam after jumping two rounds in the Grand Prix on Friday. Tim and Scott pulled it back with two very good clear rounds. It was one of those things, it wasn’t for the want of trying,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Longines League of Nations Final CSIO Barcelona – 4 October 2026
1st Germany – 4/0 40.85sec
2nd Brazil – 4/4 39.48sec
3rd Belgium – 5
4th USA – 12
5th Italy – 16
6th Great Britain – 20
Jess Mendoza & Summerhouse – 4/4
Jack Whitaker & Jack JL – (16)/-
Tim Gredley & Medoc De Toxandria – 8/0
Scott Brash & Hello Mango – 4/0
Image: Longines League of Nations
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