Great Britain’s Team Audevard is assured of a place in the Longines EEF semi-final after claiming sufficient points in Deauville
Saturday 06 June 2026
Great Britain’s Team Audevard finished seventh in the Longines EEF CSIO3* Nations Cup of Deauville, in France, just six faults behind the winners, Italy, qualifying for the Longines EEF semi-final.
“We’re all very pleased, we achieved what we came out to do; gather enough points to qualify for the semi-final and we did it, we’re equal second on the points table in our region – mission accomplished,” said Chef d’Equipe Matt Lanni.
Twelve teams faced a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track, with all 12 teams of four riders returning to jump again in round two, gaining invaluable experience at this level. Round one was very tightly run with only six faults dividing 11 teams. The USA led at the halfway stage on zero, only one fault ahead of Italy, with Mexico and Great Britain on two faults apiece behind them. Belgium and France were breathing down their necks on four faults each and Spain finished on five – it couldn’t have been tighter.
With Britain drawn first, Jodie Hall-McAteer was the pathfinder testing the waters for the whole competition on Mandy Hall’s 10-year-old mare La Gupardie (Van Gogh x Carrera VDL. They left every fence intact, but they were restrictive time and they picked up one frustrating time fault. Sienna Charles followed suit and again soared over every fence with Tara Charles and Stall Zet’s 16-year-old mare Stardust (Chacco-Blue x Con Air) but again, a time fault added to their score.
Max Routledge pulled out all the stops to bring a clear home and within the time aboard his own and Chen Zhao’s nine-year-old stallion Me The Rebel R.T. (Cornet Obolensky x Baloubet Du Rouet). Team Audevard was still in the hunt. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Joe Whitaker’s day lowering the first element of the combination before the water and the front rail of the oxer two from home to break the finish beams on eight faults as the discard score riding his own 14-year-old Hulahupe JR (VDL Bubalu x Indoctro).
In round two, Jodie took care to leave all the fences up and picked up two time faults for her trouble. Four faults for Sienna and Max second time out, both falling victim to the front rail of the oxer at number 10, left Britain vulnerable. Joe again jumped for eight faults, the delicate plank over the wall and again the front rail of the oxer at 10. It put Team Audevard on a two-round total of 12 and seventh place.
Italy’s final rider finished with a flourish on a double clear – one of nine – to hand his teammates victory on a five-fault total, two faults ahead of Belgium in second. France finished on eight for third, one fault ahead of fourth-placed Spain on nine, with The Netherlands in fifth on 10 faults. The USA claimed sixth on 12, their time, 2.50 seconds quicker than Britain who claimed seventh.
“It was nip and tuck close, but I told them to leave the fences up even if they had an odd time fault and there was great team spirit, pulling together, helping each other and willing each other on,” said Matt Lanni. “And the best part of this is the development: Jodie has been on my team three times and not had a fence down. Max’s horse is improving all the time. Sienna was so unlucky to roll a pole, she was spot on, but Stardust just put a toe on it. And Joe did his best at very short notice. He was a late inclusion and changed his plans to divert here. We also want to thank Audevard for their continued support; we hope to be with them on their stand on Saturday.”
Longines EEF CSIO3* of Deauville – 5 June 2026
1st Italy – 6
2nd Belgium – 8 – 217.90
3rd France – 8 – 221.63
4th Spain – 9
5th The Netherlands – 10
6th The USA – 12 – 224.88
7th Great Britain – 12 – 227.38
Jodie Hall-McAteer & La Gupardie – 1/2
Sienna Charles & Stardust 1 / 4
Max Routledge and Me The Rebel R.T. – 0/4
Joe Whitaker & Hulahupe JR (8)/(8)
