Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish fifth in a tense competition for the Aga Khan Cup in the Nations Cup of Ireland
Sunday 09 August 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished fifth in the Elliott Group Nations’ Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy at the atmospheric Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s Nations’ Cup, the competition delivered an afternoon of exceptional sport, with the result going to the wire.
“The ground and going was absolutely perfect, the new grandstand is fabulous and the atmosphere was amazing; they went all out to celebrate 100 years. We were a little unlucky but overall, it was a good British performance,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Eight teams faced course-designer Alan Wade’s 12-fence, 15-effort 1.60m course on the brilliant green turf in front of a packed, enthusiastic audience. Drawn second, Team Audevard fielded Robert Whitaker as pathfinder, and he jumped a superb round on Caroline and Stephen Blatchford’s 13-year-old Argento stallion Equine America Vermento. A great cheer rose from the packed grandstands, but the pair were incredibly unlucky to incur one time fault.
Matt Sampson pulled a clear round out of the bag on Maple Park Farms’ 11-year-old Un Secreto Z (Ultra Boy x Arko III) to keep us in the running. Third out Tim Gredley only fell foul of the double when the front rail of the first element fell, Unex Competition Yard’s 11-year-ol Medoc De Toxandria (Der Senaat 111 x Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle) completing the round without further penalty.
The great John Whitaker, two days after celebrating his 71st birthday, left every fence standing on the Zandor 18-year-old Equine America Unick Du Francport much to the crowd’s delight. However, he also picked up one frustrating time fault to put Team Audevard on a total of two faults at the halfway stage.
The USA and home team Ireland stood at the top of the podium on a zero score with Great Britain in third on two faults, just in front of Switzerland on four. It was incredibly tight at the top and everything remained open.
It didn’t go Robert Whitaker’s way in round two. An enthusiastic Vermento got on a forward stride after the water and although they cleared the following oxer, the forward momentum continued. Despite Robert’s best efforts, Vermento arrived at the next vertical a little deep and put in an unexpected stop. Robert quickly turned around and finished the course but added time faults to the score.
“It was unfortunate for Rob in the leading role, he was so unlucky with the time fault and in round two, it was just a miscommunication between the two of them,” said Di.
Like Tim in round one, Matt fell victim to the double, the back rail going in falling for Un Secreto Z.
“I’m delighted with Matt, it was his horse’s first five-star Nations Cup; he has brought the horse on patiently and the future is looking bright,” assessed Di.
Tim rallied the team with a much-needed clear on Medoc De Toxandria and the attention turned to the final rotation of riders. The USA and Ireland were battling for glory and needed clear rounds to win, while Great Britain required a clear to stay in third place. It played out to an edge-of-your seats packed grandstands watching the action unfold.
“Tim was very unlucky in round one, he has a seasoned partnership with Medoc and they jumped great,” said Di.
As in countless times before for Britain, the pressure lay on John Whitaker’s shoulders. He rode with quiet decorum and, although a rattle at the back rail of the oxer at four caused a sharp intake of breath, not a pole fell, but a foot on the tape at the open water handed out four faults.
“It is a real honour to have John in the team and he so very nearly pulled off his usual clear round, just a heel on the tape prevented it. It was cruel, in the two rounds, he didn’t knock a fence down,” said Di. “He’s our living legend and has previously won the Aga Khan eight times.”
Team Audevard dropped to fifth place as Switzerland moved up into third thanks to Steve Guerdat’s final clear round, and Germany slipped into fourth – both teams on eight faults with Switzerland the fastest. The USA came up trumps with a final clear from Laura Kraut’s Baloutinue for a zero score and the win, while Ireland finished second as Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN came home on four faults.
Elliott Group Nations’ Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy
Gallagher Dublin Horse Show – 7 August 2026
1st USA – 0
2nd Ireland – 4
3rd Switzerland – 8
4th Germany - 8
5th Great Britain - 10
Robert Whitaker & Equine America Vermento – 1/13
Matt Sampson & Un Secreto Z – 0/4
Tim Gredley & Medoc De Toxandria – 4/0
John Whitaker & Equine America Unick Du Francport – 1/4
