Wednesday, 19 August 2026
After two quieter days at Allianz Park in Aachen, Germany, the FEI World Championship action resumed in style today with the three new disciplines in action. The para riders had their first competitive ride in Arena 3 – and netted two more medals for Britain – while the mammoth jumping round one competition in the Main Stadium proved to be a cracker. Over in Stadium 2, the four-in-hand drivers all successfully negotiated their first horse inspection and were declared ready to compete.
Grade 1 – Individual: Mari Duward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg
At 19 years young, Athene Lindebjerg has been there, done that and collected a host of medals along the way with three different riders. Incredibly, though, today she made her World Championship debut with Mari Durward-Akhurst, also a World Championship first timer. Together, they’ve already claimed medals at Paralympic and European level in their three-year partnership and they were certainly hoping to complete the set this week in Aachen.
Italy’s Sara Morganti set the early pace with her new horse, Bond Girl 18, on a score of 74.459%. Mari was drawn 13th to go out of 20 starters, so was aware of the benchmark she had to achieve. Her test with Athene started well, with the mare’s long, languid walk producing quality movements as her rider expertly guided her through the technical twists and turns of the test to score 74.542% – it was enough to take the lead for Britain.
However, just a few horses later, America’s Marie Vonderheyden, also a debutante, pipped the British pair with Fan Tastico H and a 76.709%, so it was an anxious wait to see if Mari and Athene could hold onto a medal. However, nobody could better the top three, so the podium remained the same – Mari had a first World Championship medal, and it was her first ever individual silver.
“Everything came together [today] and she was really up for it,” Mari said of the evergreen Danish Warmblood mare.
“It’s really special to be in Aachen with her. She’s obviously 19 now, so we’re not sure what the future holds. I’ve had so much pressure everywhere we’ve gone – we’ve always had to deliver because somebody else has – but this is our story and she’s such a unique mare. I’m so pleased that she’s now a World Championship horse, to add to all of her [accolades].”
Mari had a clear plan today; “I definitely didn't play safe – I went bold. I worked really hard with the team psychologist [Leonie Lightfoot] on going in and owning Grand Prix A because I find it harder than B. We definitely went in bold and hopefully next time we'll have a bit more to give,” she explained.
As a youngster, Mari learned her trade at the South Bucks Riding for the Disabled and discovered a love of competing. The heartbeat of the centre is Di Redfern, who owns Athene along with Romilly Hart and a share for Mari’s dad, Nick Duward-Akhurst. Di has been instrumental in many para dressage careers – both equine and human – and today was a particularly proud moment for her.
Grade 2 – Individual: Jemima Green and Fantabulous
Jemima Green discovered para dressage after a car accident left the former eventer and point-to-pointer paralysed from the waist down. Determined to prove the medics wrong, she got back into riding to help her mentally and physically recover. The competitive side in her drove her to take up the sport and she’s been hooked ever since. In 2022, Fantabulous came into her life as a young, unproven four-year-old and she set about training him into the world of para. Two years later, they made their international debut and they’ve never looked back.
A brace of bronzes at last year’s FEI European Championship – their first time in British colours – announced them to the world and, today, they opened their next chapter with a world championship debut to remember.
Drawn fourth to go, Jemima knew she’d have to be on her A game with ‘Fanta’ and throw down the gauntlet because the start list was peppered with the world’s best to follow. They absolutely did that – the only blip in the test was a miscommunication in a trot transition, when the Dutch-bred chestnut was so relaxed in the arena that he missed the signal from his rider, but they were quick to recover. A final score of 75.241% was a new personal best for the Grand Prix A for the duo – there was even an 80.345% from the judge at B, Anne Prain, which caused Jemima to gasp as she exited the arena. With the challenge declared, a tense hour and a half would follow.
Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes, triple Paralympic gold medallists in Paris, trended at a similar level to Jemima through out their test but, when the final score of 75% was delivered, it fell marginally short.
The next contender was Heidemarie Dresing for Germany and the ever-consistent Poesie 143. A huge spook at the beginning of their test looked to put play to any chance of a medal, but the 71-year-old has experience to burn and clawed the marks back in style to score 75.483% and take the lead – quite the achievement when they were trending at 16% after the first movement. There was just one further threat in the form of Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goeklintgaards Quater, who did overtake Jemima and Fanta by a whisker to snatch second place, but only by 0.069%. Therefore, it was a debut bronze for Jemima and Fanta.
“He’s still young, and the fact that he went in there today and performed and coped with the atmosphere is great,” said a delighted Jemima.
“We had a moment of miscommunication when we were supposed to be trotting, but were still in walk, but that’s okay and we learn from it. The rest of the test felt really smooth, and he was really relaxed in there, and we can build from that.”
With thoughts turning to Friday’s team test for medals, Jemima said; “If he's still giving that relaxed vibe, I think I can definitely try and get a little bit more. All I can hope is that he goes in there with the same confidence – he should do. He's had a really, really good ride today, so I hope he remembers that. I've had a good ride too, so hopefully I remember that and we can bring home another great score for the team.”
Day one of any major jumping championships is always a nervy affair and here, at Aachen’s sixth hosting of the FEI World Championships, it was at a whole new level. One hundred and forty-five combinations from 47 countries have arrived at the Allianz Stadium, ready to do battle for team and individual honours. Today’s class, sometimes referred to as the ‘speed and handiness’ round is against the clock and the aim is a fast clear. Poles lowered add four seconds to the time and the fastest time wins. The victor is given zero penalties and everyone below them has their time multiplied by a co-efficient to give them a penalty score to take forward for the rest of the competition.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger had set an open course using the full extent of the expansive arena, incorporating three double combinations among the 13 obstacles, with 16 jumping efforts. The world’s elite would all vying for a good start, but would that mean playing safe or taking a risk? Only time would tell.
Ben Maher and Point Break
Aachen marks Ben Maher’s 14 championship appearance, collecting nine medals along the way, including four golds in both team and individual competitions. While he rides at many shows as an individual, being part of a British team is important for him – even more so when it’s a championship – and he’s made the pathfinder role his own.
This year, his championship partner is the uber-talented Point Break, owned by long-term supporters Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. ‘Bodhi’, as he’s known, comes to Germany on the back of a grand prix win at the CSI5* Rotterdam show and a couple of steady clears at Falsterbo and London Global Champions Tour. Ben has planned his season around this championship and Bodhi was his first pick, having missed out at last year's European Championships and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Drawn fifth to go, Ben had no time to assess how the flowing course was riding, so had to use his instincts to gauge the balance between speed, confidence-building and leaving the fences up. However, Ben is the master at doing just that. He kept up a super pace, using the horse’s natural large stride without overly pushing. They took the related distance at five to six in style. At the double of water trays at nine, Bodhi found himself a little short, but lost no impulsion thanks to athletic jumps over both, then Ben rode a conservative turn on the turn back from 11 to the final combination at 12 to save a bit of time. The final fence at 13 was cleared and they stopped the timer at 72.61, which put them into an early lead.
“For him, that was a 10 out of 10 – I don't say that very often. We can always do things better, but it's very important for me this week to get a rolling start with him to put us in a good start for the team today, but also so he's confident for when the jumps get bigger and wider later on in the week. Normally, a key factor with him is that he's relaxed, he's very still in is head and he's taking a great stride. That happened, which meant he was allowing me to put him exactly where I wanted to be,” said Ben.
Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda
The story of ‘when Harry met Freda’ has captivated everyone ahead of Aachen. The plucky mare, bred and produced in New Zealand, who caught the Olympic team gold medallist’s eye at the FEI World Cup Finals, was purchased for his wife Eve to ride. However, Harry fell in love with the grey and, with some negotiations, took over the reins. In their three months together, they’ve already formed a bond that for most would take years, but the demands of a championship are new to the 12-year-old mare.
The second German rider, Sophie Hinners, had pipped Ben to the top spot by the time Harry cantered into the arena, much to the delight of the home crowd. This meant that 72.28 was the new time to beat. Freda is an exceptionally athletic mare, but with such a short time together, the duo aren’t quite at the stage of thinking as one. Harry set off in determined form, with Freda’s bold canter eating up the ground. He made a brave turn back to the flimsy planks at fence four and the mare jumped it from her stride. They took the wall at seven well and she backed herself off superbly at the nine, which was the double of water trays.
They were good on the clock and Harry just opened her up a bit more at 10 and through the left-hand dog leg to 11. He made a slight gamble with the turn back to 12 and just asked a bit much, so Freda touched the front rail of part A and had it down. They were clear the rest of the way in a time of 72.93 but, when the four seconds was added for the fence down, it was a final total of 76.93. Not a perfect start, but another positive round while they continue to learn about one another.
“Freda was amazing. It’s a big atmosphere to step into when the partnership’s not super-experienced together, but she’s got plenty of experience and I’ve got a little bit, too. It’s great to get that one out of the way. I would’ve loved to be clear, but that’s my own fault. On a normal horse, as you come round to the oxer, your natural instinct is to put on a bit of leg – I did and just maybe rode into the front rail a bit. I should have just sat quiet and let her do the work, but those things come down to experience and partnership. I'm a little disappointed in myself but, as a whole, I'm very, very happy,” declared Harry.
Scott Brash and Hello Mango
Like his contemporary Ben Maher, Scott Brash is a master at selecting and preparing horses for championships. It’s taken 16 years of team call-ups to build that skill and knowledge, and last year’s incredible team and individual silver performance with Hello Folie at the FEI European Championship was further proof that Scott delivers when it matters most.
Scott and Hello Mango came together when the Untouchable-sired mare was just seven – he knew the first time he sat on her she’d make a championship horse. Now aged 11, his feeling for the mare was justified as she cantered into the foreboding Aachen arena.
Scott kicked off into a forward canter and set sail over the first. As they approached the double at three, Mango fought for her head a little, keen to get on with the job at hand, but was clear. Scott made a tight turn back to the wavy plank at four, but met it perfectly and they were clear. For the line from five, six and seven across the arena, Scott really let her motor and she answered in style. The little mare naturally backed off at nine, the double of water trays, and made every effort to clear them. Scott was his economical best in the turn back from 11 to 12, and they cruised home clear in a time of 72.19 to take the lead.
“I'm just delighted with Mango. She's jumped phenomenal and it's always good to get your first round under your belt at a championship,” stated Scott.
“She's got a great stride, so I actually planned to do one less stride after the double ditches to the Mercedes, but just the way we landed, I improvised a bit at the time and changed my mind, waited on one more, but I think it was the right plan there. One or two may go faster, but I'm just delighted with how she's jumped and where we're at,” he said.
Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo
A little over 12 months ago, Adrian Whiteway was part of the Nations Cup Team who headed to Aachen – it was his first trip to the iconic venue and what made it even more special was it was with Chacco Volo, a horse he’s partnered since the stallion was a four-year-old. That was just their second five-star show together and they jumped some impressive rounds, which put them on the radar as future team potential.
Fast forward a year, after a number of five-star starts and some heroic double clears in Nation Cup teams, the eventer-turned-jumper from the West Country found himself on the end of a phone call from Di Lampard to say he’d been selected for the squad for the World Championships.
Adrian gave Chacco a good canter round the arena to get him thinking forward. The stallion isn’t a naturally quick horse – he’s more a clear round jumper, ideal of the Nations Cups, but today’s class was a different proposition. They were clear over one and two, in a forward but not fast rhythm. As they approached the double at three, Chacco naturally backed off to get a good take off. They got a good turn back to four and were super down the line five, six and seven. The double of water trays at 9 had claimed a number of victims throughout the day and, sadly, Chacco just rolled the first part. However, they kept their cool to finish well, with a time of 79.51 – with four seconds added for the rail, it was 83.51 in total.
Afterwards, Adrian said; “I'm very happy with the horse today. I’m in a very fortunate position that the guys in front of me have all done amazing, so it took the pressure off me. He's not a fast horse and we know that – he's more important for tomorrow and Friday.
“Today was just about putting in a good performance, showing him the ring, and keeping him happy and ready to go tomorrow.”
Scott held the lead for 37 rounds, but Harrie Smolders shaved 0.23 off his time with Mr Tac for the Dutch. Some seven horses later, the ever-quick Julien Epaillard and Fringan de Vesquerie for France were simply sublime to cruise round in 70.60 and take the lead. That time couldn’t be beaten, so victory on day one went the way of La Tricolore.
In the all-important team standings, hosts Germany lead the way with three riders in the top 20 to finish on a score of 3.48. Belgium is in second with 3.69 and the United States complete the podium after day one on 4.85. Britain is just 0.13 adrift in fourth.
Individual
British placings
Team standings
Team tactics
Thursday’s jumping round focuses largely on the team honours, but is still a vital part of qualifying for Sunday’s individual final. All team riders will jump in the ‘standard’ jumping format, where faults are added for exceeding the time, knockdowns and refusals. All team riders will complete one round, with scores being carried over to the team final under the lights on Friday.
The four-in-hand driving competitors got their FEI World Championship underway this morning with the first horse inspection and all British horses passed without question. The horses the drivers are competing have been confirmed as:
They get under way with dressage tomorrow, with Karen the first of the Brits 11:03 and Dan second to go at 12:56. Peter and Robert will contest their dressage on Friday.
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