Longines Royal International, All England Jumping Course, W Sussex
NEARLY 50 years after John Whitaker jumped his first Nations Cup for Great Britain in Poland in 1975, he made his 180th team appearance a day to remember, sealing victory for a close-knit British team in front of an ecstatic home crowd. It was a moment that caused this Yorkshireman to shed a tear - and he certainly wasn't the only one.
"It's brilliant to be back winning in front of our home crowd," said the 67-year-old. "I wasn't quite here in 1929 [when the Nations Cup first ran] but the first time I came to Hickstead was in 1970 with a pony - that was daunting-but today was, probably, after all those years, the best day."
Great Britain hadn't won on home soil for 13 years and the enormity of the occasion had a similar effect on chef d'équipe Di Lampard.
"I have to confess, I took myself off and shed a tear. I'm not normally like that, but this did hit me because I wanted this so badly," she revealed.
Friday's Longines FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain was an absolute thriller. Three of the eight countries were neck and neck after round one of this two-round competition, with Great Britain tied on four faults with Ireland and France.
This was thanks to British clears from pathfinder Ben Maher, contesting his first team competition with Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter's 14-year-old Exit Remo, and Harry Charles on last year's double-clear hero Casquo Blue, while Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria) and John with his great partner Equine America Unick Du Francport collected just four faults each.
BLOOD RULE ELIMINATION
Denne historien er fra August 03, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 03, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
