Great Britain digs deep to take third place in the Longines CSIO3* EEF Nations Cup of Peelbergen
Saturday 24 May 2025
Great Britain’s Team Audevard clinched third place in the Longines CSIO3* EEF Nations Cup of Peelbergen in The Netherlands, earning Great Britain valuable points towards the EEF semi-finals.
Twelve teams set out over Belgian course designer Bart Vonk’s 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track. Harry Charles was first out for Team Audevard on the Kannandillo Group’s nine-year-old Kannan x Candillo 3 stallion Kannandillo and came home on eight faults, but Millie Allen boosted our chances with a foot-perfect clear on Karel Cox Horses BV’s aptly named nine-year-old Clear Round Il Mondo Z (Comme Il Faut x Clearway).
Unfortunately, it all went wrong for Taisie de Gruchy as ZB Holdings LLP’s nine-year-old Cicero Z Van Paemel daughter La Presley CJS took exception at the early water at fence four and failed to complete the course.
Olli Fletcher took the anchor position with his Young Rider 2024 Individual gold medallist Hello William and made one mistake to return on four faults. Britain lay in fourth position on 12 faults alongside Belgium and Germany at the halfway stage with The Netherlands comfortably ahead on a zero score. Ireland stood second on four faults and France were on third with six faults, but Spain and Turkey were only two faults behind Britain – it would be a fight to claim a podium spot.
“It was a very difficult track with lots of questions all the way round and unfortunately, Taisie’s mare spooked at the open water and we decided that, better to be safe than sorry, she would withdraw from round two,” said Chef d’Equipe Matt Lanni.
Down to three riders in the second round, Team Audevard dug deep. Harry and Kannandillo made just one error for four faults second time out while Millie proved her talent and consistency with another superb clear on Clear Round Il Mondo Z – one of only five double clears in the whole competition. Britain was in the hunt for a podium place as France, Ireland and Turkey fell by the wayside as they accumulated faults, but they were still on level-pegging with Germany – it was down to the final riders.
Olli pulled a brilliant clear out of the bag with Hello William to leave Team Audevard on a round two total of four, 16 faults overall, and all eyes turned to Germany’s final rider Stefan Engbers, but Baju NRW completed on four faults, and Britain was boosted into third place.
The Netherlands finished on a total of eight faults to take victory while Belgium improved on their round one score of 12 with zero in round two to finish second.
“Harry was very solid on a fairly new ride in Kannandillo and, although this was Millie’s first senior team, her experience and success in the Youth teams, from European pony gold medals to Young Riders teams, she is such a good rider and a great testimony to the youth system,” said Matt Lanni. “Olli was very unlucky in round one but jumped a super clear in round two and kept our score low, elevating us to third position – now we have a healthy amount of points going forward to the EEF series semi-finals.”
Longines CSIO3* EEF Nations Cup Peelbergen
The Netherlands – 23 May 2025
1st The Netherlands – 0+8
2nd Belgium – 12+0
3rd Great Britain – 12+4
Harry Charles & Kannandillo – 8+4
Millie Allen & Clear Round Il Mondo Z – 0+0
Taisie de Gruchy & La Presley CJS – E+WD
Olli fletcher & Hello William – 4+0
Image: Sportfot
