Great Britain’s Team Audevard claim fifth place in a strong five-star La Baule Nations Cup
Saturday 07 June 2025
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished fifth in the Nations Cup in La Baule, France, in a hard-fought competition where competitors produced some strong rounds.
“There were some very good performances, it was a good result in a strong field and some partnerships are definitely coming forward for the European Championship selections,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
In seventh draw from 10 teams, Britain got off to a flying start as Donald Whitaker with Rietsportanlage Dagobertshausen gmbH’s 12-year-old Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) and Jess Mendoza on the 12-year-old In The Air (Air Jordan x Indoctro) came home clear.
Robert Whitaker made only one mistake with Caroline and Stephen Blatchford’s 12-year-old stallion Vermento (Argento x Skippy 12) to finish on four faults. The vast experience of Scott Brash was in the anchor position on Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s 10-year-old Hello Folie (Luidam x Diamant De Semilly) but alas, a round one zero score eluded the team as they strode through the finish on four faults.
But it was close. It put Team Audevard in third place at the halfway stage, one fence behind the zero scores of Ireland and Belgium with Brazil and Sweden close behind on eight faults each. It was all to play for in round two.
Unfortunately, the second round didn’t go according to plan and a couple of slight mistakes cost the team dear. Donald returned four faults with Millfield Colette and Jess came home on eight aboard In The Air. When Robert and Vermento also finished on eight, a podium place slipped away. Scott saved the day, pulling out a magnificent clear on Hello Folie to put us on an equal score of 16, but the Swedes proved 0.70 seconds quicker overall to take fourth place, Britain in fifth just one fault ahead of Switzerland in sixth on 17.
Ireland celebrated with an impressive zero score to take victory with Belgium in second on four faults while Brazil dug deep to supply three clears in round two for third on a total of eight faults.
Di was pleased overall: “After competing in America, Jess’s horse is getting more into a rhythm in Europe now. Donald was unfortunate, his mare jumped a Nations Cup double clear in Abu Dhabi and they did well going out first to open with a clear; this partnership is getting stronger and better. Robert’s Vermento will only get better on grass. He’s proved himself in the World Cup Final but was a bit strong in the first round. Scott’s mare learned a lot in her first Nations Cup and I was delighted the way she improved over the two rounds. She has been produced superbly and coped very well.”
CSIO5* Nations Cup of La Baule, France
6 June 2025
1st Ireland – 0
2nd Belgium – 4
3rd Brazil – 8
4th Sweden – 16
5th Great Britain – 16
Donald Whitaker & Millfield Colette – 0/4
Jess Mendoza & In The Air – 0/8
Robert Whitaker & Vermento – 4/8
Scott Brash & Hello Folie – 4/0
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