Monday, 31 July 2023
Double victory on home ground at Hickstead for Great Britain, with top scores across the competition.
The British squad of Ben Maher (Exit Remo), Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria), John Whitaker (Equine America Unick de Francport) and Harry Charles (Casquo Blue) were on top form to lift the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy, finishing on a team total of just four faults.
Harry Charles delivered the third double clear of the day with Casquo Blue, repeating his success last year. The last time Britain won the Hickstead Nations Cup in 2010, Harry's father Peter Charles had been on the winning team, and he was there to witness his son match his feat. "It’s my first Nations Cup win, and I’m so happy for all the boys, and for Di," said Harry. "I think for months this has been our goal, so when a plan comes together like it did today, it’s a real sense of achievement. It's a really special day.”
Harry's team mates were on equally strong form, with Ben going clear in the first round, and John and Tim delivering clears in the second. “I think we’ve had good vibes all week, and we felt quietly confident," said John, 67. "The first time I came to Hickstead was in 1970 or ’71 with a pony. But today was – after all those years – probably the best day.”
Chef d'equipe, Di Lampard shed a tear after the emotional win, “It’s ideal when you get this combination of experience and youth."
For Ben Maher, a regular at Hickstead, having won many of Hickstead's feature classes including the Longines King George V Gold Cup and the Hickstead Derby, this ticked off another of his career goals. "It was an amazing team to be part of, and an amazing day," he said.
It was the first time Tim Gredley had been on a team at Hickstead. "I used to come here when I was doing working hunter classes – and one of the reasons I got into showjumping is because of watching the likes of John riding on the team here when I was 13 or 14. To actually be here jumping on a team with him, Ben and Harry was a bit of a surreal experience.”
The competition had remained tight throughout the first round, with France, Great Britain and Ireland sharing the lead at the half-way stage on just four faults apiece. Ireland’s hopes were delivered a blow in round two when Shane Breen picked up eight faults on Cuick Star Kervec and second rider Mark McAuley was eliminated following his round, though two clears from Jack Ryan (BBS McGregor) and Daniel Coyle (Legacy) meant the team finished in the runner up spot on 12 faults. France slipped down the leaderboard to third with 16 faults, with Sweden fourth, the USA in fifth and Germany, Brazil and Italy completing the line-up.
Following their win, Great Britain has leapt up the European Division One leaderboard to sit in third place, behind Germany and Switzerland, with another opportunity to pick up points at the next leg of the Nations Cup™ series in Dublin in August.
The final day at Hickstead saw the competition for the Longines King George V Gold Cup take place, after delivering the only double clear of the competition on Vermento, Robert Whitaker took the title.
The win came two days after Robert's father John was part of that winning team for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup, crowning an amazing week for the home nation at the Longines Royal International Horse Show.
Nine of the 45 starters produced a clear first round after Kelvin Bywater’s tricky course caught many of the competitors out. But in round two things got even tougher, with all but Robert collecting faults in the jump-off. Brazil's Pedro Veniss produced the fastest time of the day, finishing on 56.48sec, but he was one of several riders to pick up penalties at the white gate at 8B.
Robert is the third member of his family to lift the iconic gold trophy, following in the footsteps of Dad John, a three-time winner, and Uncle Michael, who has won four times. John bred Robert’s winning ride, the 10-year-old stallion Vermento, who was sired by the great Argento with whom John enjoyed so much success.
“It’s just amazing, my dad bred the horse, and we’ve put a lot of work in him. I’ve probably nurtured him the last couple of years, saving him and jumping 1.50m classes. I’ve never jumped a five-star with him before – that was his first,” said Robert. “I just think today he was feeling very good in himself, he jumped amazing in the first round and in the jump off he still had a lot of energy left, and I think that showed today."
With so many of his rivals picking up faults in the jump-off, Robert wanted to keep up the pace while avoiding making any mistakes. “I wanted to get in a good rhythm and not be too slow; to get a good time but not to overcook it. The way he was jumping, he jumped so safe everywhere. I ended up quite a lot quicker than people with one down.”
Watching his son win the premier Grand Prix at the showground where Robert has been competing since the age of three was an emotional moment for John Whitaker. "It’s a special competition. Following on from the Nations Cup, which was an unbelievable win the other day, for Robert to win that it’s very special,” said John. “It’s unbelievably good. When I’m riding, I’m not at all nervous but watching the kids, especially Robert today, I was very nervous.”
The Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead drew to a close on Sunday after six days of top-class equestrian action. Click here for all results.