Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda Secure Historic World Championship Bronze
Monday 24 August 2026
.jpg "Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda Secure Historic World Championship Bronze")
The final day of competition at the FEI World Championships in Aachen delivered a spectacular conclusion to the jumping, with the individual final providing a fitting finale in front of a packed 40,000-strong crowd.
Great Britain had three combinations through to the individual final, with Ben Maher and Point Break starting third, Scott Brash and Hello Mango in 10th and Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda in 23rd. With two rounds of 1.65m jumping ahead, the challenge was simple but formidable: the top 12 after the first round would return to battle for the medals.
Harry and the relatively new partnership with the talented grey mare were first of the British combinations into the arena. Having experienced a challenging week, Harry was determined to put the disappointment behind him and produce a performance worthy of the occasion. The pair delivered exactly that, jumping a superb clear round full of confidence, power and harmony.
Scott Brash and Hello Mango followed, but an unfortunate fence down left them with four faults and an anxious wait to see whether they would remain inside the top 12. Ben Maher and Point Break then entered to a huge reception. After three faultless rounds earlier in the week, expectations were high, but an unusual stop at the planks, followed by time faults, brought their championship to an end.
At the completion of the first round, Harry had climbed to 10th on 7.17 penalties, while Scott made the cut in 12th on 8.80.
The second round proved every bit as demanding. Scott and Hello Mango jumped with their trademark determination, but a difficult moment at the treble resulted in a fall for Scott, bringing their challenge to a close.
With British hopes now resting on Harry, the pressure was immense. Yet the 26-year-old produced another exceptional performance. Freda attacked the course with confidence, leaving every fence standing as they crossed the finish line on their existing score of 7.17.
The waiting game began.
One by one, the leading combinations entered the arena, and as rails fell, Harry climbed the leaderboard. Belgium’s Thibeau Spits jumped clear to move ahead, but further faults from several of the remaining contenders confirmed that Harry had secured a place on the podium.
Only Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme remained. The Swiss partnership, who had been faultless throughout the championship, produced yet another clear to claim gold.
Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda had done it – World Championship individual bronze.
The result marked Great Britain’s first individual jumping medal at a World Championship since John Whitaker and Milton claimed silver in 1990, making Harry’s achievement all the more significant. Even more remarkable was the journey to the podium, with the pair starting the championship final in 23rd and climbing all the way into the medals.
“It’s a bit of a comeback. I don’t know if it’s ever been done from that low before!” Harry said afterwards. “The aim was to put two zeros on the board and see where we ended up. My horse is just a machine and she ate up those courses. We ended up in third place somehow, from 23rd going in, so it’s massive.”
Freda’s story is equally remarkable. Born, bred and produced in New Zealand, she only joined Harry’s string in May, with Harry paying tribute to his wife, showjumper Eve Jobs, for allowing him the opportunity to ride her.
“To even compete and try to get Britain qualified for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, which we managed to do on Friday, was already a dream,” Harry explained. “She just got better and better throughout the week. It all went into today and the result was better than anyone could have dreamed.”
The bronze was Harry’s first senior individual championship medal – something he has long aspired to achieve.
“It’s my first ever individual medal at seniors, and the first time I’ve even got close, to be honest. I’m very happy and a bit relieved because idols of mine have always been there at championships and I kind of felt like that was missing for me. I’m very proud and happy to have one already.”
Performance Manager Di Lampard was full of praise for the young rider and his new partnership.
“I’m so proud of young Harry and this new partnership. Wow, what a comeback! Two beautiful clear rounds today and they looked easily within themselves – what a performance!”
Reflecting on the demands of the Aachen arena, Di added: “It’s the World Championships and that arena doesn’t carry any prisoners whatsoever. It’s out there for the brave and you have to have a lot of luck on your side for it to come together.”
She also highlighted Harry’s ability to recover from earlier disappointment and deliver when it mattered most.
“It’s full credit to Harry that he was able to pick himself back up again. He was so cross with himself, but he gave himself a telling off and bounced right back. He works at it and he deserves what he got this afternoon in Aachen.”
Steve Guerdat took the individual World Championship title, with Thibeau Spits securing silver and Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda completing the podium.
For Harry, however, this was more than just a bronze medal. It was a remarkable comeback, the beginning of an exciting new partnership and a moment that will live long in British showjumping history.
After a week in which Harry joked that Aachen “just doesn’t love me back”, the final day proved that perhaps the feeling was mutual after all.
Image: Peter Nixon
