Harry Charles claims a spectacular winning double at Valkenswaard’s Summer Classic
Monday 13 July 2026
Harry Charles immediately stamped his authority in spectacular fashion in the major classes at the three-day meeting at Valkenswaard’s Summer Classic in The Netherlands with back-to-back victories on Bandit.
An international field of 46 contended day one’s feature 4* 1.50m speed in the vibrant grass arena. Harry’s late round on the 11-year-old Bandit (Obos Quality x Cruisings Micky Finn) secured the top spot by an impressive 2.51 sec, pushing Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Bingo Ste Hermelle into second place.
“Very happy to win! Bandit has been very good the last few shows; always pretty fast but an unfortunate fence down. It’s so nice to finally get a good win,” said Harry.
Their second win came just 24 hours later under the lights, supplying another unforgettable round in Saturday’s top-billed 4* 1.50m. Thirty-seven competitors came forward as the arena lit up with a buzzing atmosphere. Daniel Deusser set an early standard with Bingo Ste Hermelle but was again denied victory. Just five horses later, Harry powered to a win on his father Peter and Stall Zet’s talented Bandit with 0.7 seconds in hand.
“Great show, great facilities, lot of fun! It’s nice to be able to bring so many horses and get to work at a show which is really appreciated. It was a great way to start the show."
Harry’s sister Sienna was best Brit in the 4* Grand Prix. Only six of the 43 starters posted clear rounds over the 1.55m track to access the jump-off, Sienna jumping another flawless clear to take fourth on the Typhoon S 12-year-old Chawton, just over four seconds behind the winner, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa on Major Tom.
Scott Brash finishes second in the CSIO4* Grand Prix of Chantilly with Hello Mango
Scott Brash eased Hello Mango into second in the top-billed 4* Grand Prix of Chantilly in France.
Ten of the 50 starters delivered round one clears over course-designer Gregory Bodo’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.55m track to return for the jump-off. Scott set an early target on the Untouchable 27 x Numero Uno 11-year-old and held the lead until Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida cut corners to on Karonia. L to race into victory by 1.57 seconds.
William Funnell topped the 2* 1.40m two-phase on the 10-year-old Billy Caravaggio (Cevin Z x Kroongraaf), outpacing 25 rivals by 0.29 seconds.
William also picked up third in the Range Rover 2* 1.45m Grand Prix with the steadiest of the double clears on the eight-year-old Billy Tu Tu (Billy Tudor x Calido I) 3.35 seconds behind the pace in the six-horse decider.
Isabella Beecroft-Luckett claimed two of the top four places in the 53-strong 1* 1.30m speed, winning with the Vagabond De La Pomme 16-year-old Exception by a handsome 1.93 seconds and claiming fourth aboard Exsultate Des Hayettes.
Georgia Tame takes podium places with two talented eight-year-olds in Italy
Georgia Tame claimed two podium places on two promising eight-year-olds in San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy.
The first came in Friday’s 91-horse 3* 1.45m speed as she slipped BE Thiassi (Cuick Star Kervec x Andiamo) into third 2.41 seconds behind the winning time.
Twenty-four hours later, Georgia jumped Lucky Chance Z (Casall x Indoctro) into third in the 82-entry 3* 1.45m two-phase just 0.14 seconds off the pace.
Mandy Beger takes second in the Weiner Neustadt Grand Prix
Mandy Beger (nee Goosen) jumped into second in the Wiener Neustadt 2* Grand Prix in Austria.
Six from the original field of 32 supplied initial clears to return for the jump-off, Mandy and the Big Star 10-year-old Starlet only 0.09 seconds off the winning time set by Ireland’s Anna Duff on MC Crosskeys.
John Brown seizes victory at Tryon International
John Brown topped the 2* 1.45m Speed Stakes on the Amaretto D Arco13-year-old Ballon Bleu in Tryon, USA, with more than four seconds to spare over Ireland’s David Blake on Elton P Z.
Graham Babes is in the money at Sentower Park
Graham Babes claimed two podium places at Sentower Park in Belgium, with the consistent Monks I Am Casall.
The partnership picked up third in a strong 2* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier. Seventeen of the original 91 starters made their way into the jump-off, Graham guiding the I’m Special De Muze x Casall 12-year-old into another clear to finish just 0.18 seconds off the winning time.
They went one better in the Aloga Auctions 2* Grand Prix. The 1.45m track reduced the 69 starters to 21 for the jump-off, Graham and Monks I Am Casall again proving foot-perfect to take second just ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann in third on Diamantino. Brazil’s Lucio Vinicius de Oliveria Osorio produced the winning round on Quenna with 2.53 seconds in hand.
Megan James headed a 1* 1.30m speed on the 11-year-old Good Luck Turkish, beating 50 rivals by 0.87 seconds.
