Great Britain’s Team Audevard claim a podium place over a big, technical track in the Range Rover Nations Cup of Switzerland
Sunday 07 June 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished third on the podium in the Range Rover Nations Cup of Switzerland in St Gallen.
“I’m delighted, another podium place, the same as Rome and we beat the rain. The forecast was awful and it did rain overnight and the ground was on the soft side but OK,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Ten teams came forward over course-designer Gerard Lachat’s (SUI) 12-fence, 15-effort course in the beautiful green turf arena with Team Audevard claiming second place at the halfway stage.
The team didn’t get off to the most auspicious of starts as one mistake from pathfinder Ben Maher on a brand-new ride. Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 14-year-old Catelly (Catalido x Ephebe For Ever), a former ride of Marco Kutscher, jumped the majority of the round clear, but towards the end of the round a decision cost them dear. An unusual looking wall with red and white striped coving and large letters below giving a ‘peek-a-boo’ vibe shocked Catelly into a run-out as Ben, conscious of the time allowed, turned in on a short three strides. Four faults for the run out plus 15 time faults proved the discard score.
Adrian Whiteway pulled it back with a clear jumping with two time faults on Deborah Cox’s 13-year-old Chacco Volo (Chacco-Blue x Carthago) and Harry Charles jumped a super clear round inside the time on the big, scopey yet inexperienced Fighting nine-year-old Phil (Cornet Obolensky x Contender). Anchor Jack Whitaker and Jack JL gave the fences plenty of air but the big-striding Quasimodo Z x Astrello 12-year-old made up room in the penultimate two-stride double, catching the vertical coming out for four faults.
Britain sat in second place at the halfway stage on six faults, two faults behind Belgium on four as eight teams made the cut to go into round two. Three teams bunched together on eight faults, The USA, Switzerland and Austria, and all were within a chance of victory. It was all to play for.
Ben safely negotiated the wall second time out, but the extra time given to Catelly incurred two time faults. Adrian and Chacco Volo upped the pace slightly to come home with one time fault while Fighting Phil, still young, inexperienced and a big horse, made green mistakes to complete the round on 13 faults over this technical course despite Harry’s careful guidance, but this horse is packing in the experience.
A clear from Jack would force Switzerland on nine faults into a jump-off situation, with Team Audevard still holding the chance of the first St Gallen Nations Cup victory for 12 years. Jack JL looked to be jumping a flawless round, but in the latter half the plank vertical after the water fell, and Britain fell to second, handing Switzerland the win. Second place looked likely until the back rail of the final fence dropped – Britain still had a podium place in third on a total of 17 faults as Austria moved up to second one fault ahead on 16.
“The track was big and technically difficult, there were a lot of questions and there were only two double clears. The combination was big with plenty of distance between the fences, yet the time allowed was tight, rider had to keep moving,” assessed Di. “Adrian hasn’t had a pole down in the last two Nations Cups and is showing consistency but struggles a little with the time on his horse. I was delighted with Fighting Phil, he jumped a copybook clear first time, but he was tired in the second round. Jack was so unlucky and again, his horse is green at this level, while Ben was on a new horse.”
Range Rover Nations Cup of Switzerland – 5 June 2026
1st Switzerland – 9
2nd Austria – 16
3rd Great Britain – 17
Ben Maher & Catelly – (19)/2
Adrian Whiteway & Chacco Volo – 2/1
Harry Charles & Fighting Phil – 0/(13)
Jack Whitaker & Jack JL – 4/8
Image: Morella Media / Jack Whitaker Instagram
12v5d1inxqeyb.JPG "Royal Highland Show Set to Deliver Spectacular Showjumping Programme with Over £60,000 Prize Fund")
