British Riders Claim Several Victories in This Week's International Round-Up
Wednesday 24 September 2025
British Riders fly at the Longines Global Champions of New York
The Longines Global Champions Tour in New York delivered a weekend of world-class sport with outstanding performances from British riders on the international stage.
In a field of 22 top competitors, Oliver Fletcher impressed with Hello William, finishing second in the prestigious 5* 1.45m Two Phase class, narrowly missing out on the win by just 0.01 seconds. Fletcher guided the 13-year-old gelding, jointly owned by Lady Pauline Harris, Lady Pauline Kirkham and Graham Fletcher across, the line in 21.05 seconds, just behind Belgium’s Koen Vereecke and Oilily de Muze, who finished in 21.04 seconds. Belgium’s Emilie Conter completed the podium in third with Cilanto XC Z in 21.51 seconds. Fletcher also claimed another podium finish with BP Pocahontas, the 11-year-old gelding jointly owned by Graham Feltcher and Alison Walton, taking third place in the 5* 1.50m Champagne Piaff Trophy in 33.85 seconds. Belgium once again dominated, with Gregory Wathelet and Argentina La Marchette taking the win (32.94 seconds) and Olivier Philippaerts in second with H&M Miro (33.47 seconds).
Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady, the 12-year-old mare jointly owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham, produced a strong performance for the New York Empire team in the second round of the Global Champions League 1.60m competition against the clock. Their fast and accurate round of 65.73 secured victory in the second round, helping the team to finish sixth overall. Ireland’s Michael Duffy and Be Sky Hawk took second place in 69.33 seconds, while Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet secured another podium with Ace of Hearts in third, finishing in 69.34 seconds.
British success continued in the CSI2* divisions. Blythe Masters topped the 1.30m with her own Palermo van Paal Z in a lightning-fast 27.39 seconds at their first competition together. Canada’s Carly Campbell-Cooper, riding Farenheight de Beaufour, finished second, and USA’s Gabriela Pino, aboard For Pleasure van Eijkhof Z, was third. Meanwhile, Tom Monaghan triumphed in the CSI2* 1.40m speed class, taking the win with The Thursley Group Ltd’s Luttoria in 56.05 seconds. USA’s Clara Propp, with Ingmar, and Ireland’s Declan Egan, riding Goliath de L Eldorado, completed the top three.
Mark Edwards soars in the Six Bar Competition at St Tropez
The competition sees six obstacles in a row that are raised in height in the five-round challenge, the fences reduced to four in a row after round two. The course provides the ultimate test of agility, allowing only those who cleared every jump to advance to the next round.
Six riders initially faced the line of fences all of whom jumped clear to advance through round one, where the final fence sat at 1.62m. The crowd then held its breath as the fences were raised to 1.72m in round two and then 1.87m in round three, the tension increasing as the fences did.
Mark Edwards, who made his debut on a League of Nations team at this show, expertly piloted the eight-year-old gelding Tinkers Touch, owned by Mark’s father Martyn Edwards, into round four.
Riding down the line to the final fence, which now stood at a massive 1.97m, Mark and the gutsy gelding gave it everything but just rolled the top pole to finish joint second with Sweden’s Erika Lickhammer-Van Helmond, aboard Vivi's Diamond VHL. France’s Nicolas Sers, riding Horizon des Partages, could not be beaten as the only combination to clear the final fence.
Commenting after clearing the fences in round four, Mark said: “He’s never jumped anywhere near that big so we’re in unknown territory. What a super star he is at just eight-years-old!”
Chloe Aston and Joe Whitaker are in the Money on the Morocco Royal Tour
Chloe Aston delivered a superb performance at the Morocco Royal Tour in Tetouan, finishing fourth in the 4* 1.55m Longines Ranking Grand Prix with Akito Von Rocherath Z, jointly owned by Sean Aston and Edgar Stoffels. Aston produced a double clear in 51.96 seconds against a strong 47-strong field, 12 of which reached the jump-off. Morocco’s Abdeslam Bennani Smires took the win on Mister d’Eclipse (46.90), with Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi (Heartbeat W, 50.05) in second, and Ukraine’s Anastasia Bondarieva (Calder, 50.89) in third.
Joe Whitaker also added to the British results, finishing in the money in the 4* 1.45m Prix Tanger Med Speed class. Riding Kathy Tansey’s Icaterina, Whitaker stopped the clock clear in 59.56, ahead of France’s Alix Ragot, riding Gold Sky de Pegase, and Italy’s Roberto Previtali, aboard Corembar Blue PS.
Leo Lamb and Harry Charles are Successful at Sentower Park
Meanwhile at Sentower Park in Belgium, Leo Lamb took top honours in the CSI3* 1.45m against the clock with Mark Bellinger and his own, Las Palmas VG, winning in 64.63 seconds. Egypt’s Ahmed Naser Elnaggar, riding Urville Z, claimed second place, and France’s Titouan Schumacher (Corsini vd Keihill Z) took third.
Harry Charles also continued his fine form, placing second in the CSI3* 1.45m Two Phase Special with Tara Chales’ Alvino in 30.09 seconds. Belgium’s Michael Vreys clinched the win on Choca Bomb van Plockroy Z, while Brazil’s Vinicius Paulino Pereira Silva secured third with Charon van Moeshof.
Image: Longines Global Champions Tour
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