Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish fourth in the Longines League of Nations in Ocala, Florida
Monday 23 March 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished just off the podium in fourth place in the second of the 2026 series of the Longines League of Nations at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
“I’m happy, it was a good result, we were just a bit unlucky in places,” said Team Manager and Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard.
Irish course-designer Alan Wade laid down a beautifully presented but demanding 12-fence, 15-effort testing skill, precision and nerve for Saturday evening’s highlight of the event and produced some unexpected scores. Out of the 10 teams in a night of high drama and shifting scores, only Ireland emerged from round one on a clean sheet, while last year’s winners, the host country USA, failed to make the cut as eight teams returned to contend round two under floodlights. With only three nominated riders for each team forward and every score counting, it heightened the atmosphere further.
Drawn fifth in round one, Great Britain’s Team Audevard started well as first out of the gates Jess Mendoza gave an exemplary clear round on the 13-year-old mare In The Air (Air Jordan x Indoctro). Second out Joe Stockdale worked hard all the way on Laura Stockdale and Barbara Hester’s 12-year-old stallion Ebanking (Etoulon x VDL Sheraton) only to leave the top rail of the final fence on the floor for four faults.
“Joe was so unlucky at the last fence, he’d worked so hard and rode a great round,” commented Di Lampard.
Jack Whitaker and Candice Reilly’s 12-year-old Jack JL (Quasimodo Z x Astrello) made just one early mistake, tipping the top rail of the airy vertical over a water tray at three, and picked up one time fault to finish on five faults. It was down to anchor rider Donald Whitaker to keep Britain in the hunt. But Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & Co.KG’s exuberant 13-year-old Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) took out the front rail of the oxer following the open water and hit the first element of the penultimate double to finish as the drop score of eight faults for a team total of nine and in fifth at the halfway stage.
Jess and In The Air – winners of a 4* Grand Prix here five weeks ago – looked comfortable and at ease in this arena as they jumped round two, but just one error late in the course two from home saw a pole fall to put them on four faults.
“Jess led out really well for a good start and did two solid rounds,” assessed Di Lampard.
Jack and the scopey Jack JL again made only one error, on this occasion tapping the vertical at three, but moved on between the fences to come well within the time allowed.
“Jack was outstanding, he just needs more experience with Jack JL and the horse is learning a lot more in the ring; his second round was a massive improvement,” said Di.
Donald did his utmost to contain the excitable Millfield Colette but again the oxer after the open water caught them out but they made no further mistakes to finish on four faults.
“Donald was disappointed with himself; he just needs more show at this level with this mare, but I’m proud of them all,” added Di.
It put Great Britain on a total of 21 with the 12 faults from round two added to the nine in the first round, and Team Audevard moved up one place to fourth.
Germany came back strong in round two with three solid clear rounds and, added to their round one total of four, claimed victory with a fence in hand. Round one leaders Ireland added eight faults in round two to finish second and Belgium finished third on the podium on 12 faults.
Great Britain’s Team Audevard sit in fifth place on 125 points on the LLN Standings 2026 following the second leg of four. Germany currently sit at the top on 190 points.
Longines League of Nations, Ocala – 21 March 2026
1st GERMANY – 4+0 = 4
2nd IRELAND – 0+8 = 8
3rd BELGIUM – 4+8 = 12
4th GREAT BRITAIN – 9+12 = 21
Jess Mendoza & In The Air – 0/4
Joe Stockdale & Ebanking – 4/-
Jack Whitaker & Jack JL – 5/4
Donald Whitaker & Millfield Colette – (8)/4
Image: Longines League of Nations
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