13 Jun Great Britain and Italy Celebrate Nations Cup Victories on Saturday at Future Champions
(Hagen a.T.W.) The final Nations Cup decisions in the jumping arena at Future Champions 2026 have been made. While Great Britain claimed victory in the Pony Nations Cup, Italy secured the win in the Children Nations Cup, rounding off a highly successful weekend for the Italian youth squad.
British Pony Riders Remain Faultless
The CSIOP FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth, presented by Zeltverleih Kortkamp GmbH, turned into a showcase of British strength. Eight nations fielded teams, but in the end there was no way past Great Britain. The British riders completed both rounds without a single penalty point, securing a convincing victory ahead of Ireland and Sweden. The foundation for success was laid by Amy Capper and Oscar van de Beekerheide, Cora Dowey and Armene du Costilg, and Lucia Nicole Caroline with Holly Blue, all of whom produced double-clear performances. The winning team was completed by Raphaela Dawson and Woody Allen van Duyversputten, whose clear round in the first round also contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Team manager Clare Whitaker was understandably delighted: “The riders have some fantastic ponies and the right attitude. They stayed calm and did their jobs brilliantly. Two of them are still very young, which makes the result even more pleasing. Everything just came together today.” Whitaker has a long-standing connection with Future Champions: “I’ve been coming to Hagen for many years. Back when Francois Kasselmann was still competing in the Children and Young Riders divisions himself, the main arena was still a grass ring. It’s impressive to see how much this event has developed over the years.” Asked what she tells riders who are competing in Hagen for the first time, she replied: “I tell them they’re coming to a superbly organised show with outstanding facilities. My advice is always the same: just do your best.”
The Irish team of Saoirse O’Neill (Barravalley Glory), Sam Widger (BP Bon Jovi), Jack Dore (K-Little Hero) and Ted Fagan (Ballyfore Rosie) stayed close behind the British throughout. Just two time penalties from the first round prevented them from taking the win. Sweden claimed bronze with four penalties. The German team, meanwhile, endured a disappointing competition and finished in the penultimate position.
Italy Claims Third Medal in the Jumping Arena
Germany fared considerably better in the Children Nations Cup, presented by equestrian brand Covalliero. The home team shared second place with Ireland and the Netherlands, all finishing on four penalties. Victory, however, went to Italy, which added another gold medal to its tally after winning the Junior Nations Cup and taking silver in the Young Riders competition.
The team led by Chef d’Equipe Piero Coata displayed remarkable consistency over both rounds. Lorenzo Spaggiari with Ilo-Blue van Wegen, Bruno Marvaso aboard Graceandfire de Lure, Lisa Gaudiano with Diatosia PS, and Margherita Di Franco riding Honeymoon incurred only two rail faults between them, both of which counted as drop scores. As a result, Italy finished on a perfect team score of zero penalties. Coata was understandably pleased: “Of course we were hoping for a good result. To come away with the victory makes it even more special.”
The German Children riders also delivered strong performances. Mila Osing and Capitaine, Mary-Ann Hollenbach with Falitha Sheila, and Grace Isabelle Kühner aboard Rassina-M all produced faultless rounds in the second round. Joelle Sprehe and Starlinda did not return for round two. German Youth Team Coach Eberhard Seemann gave a positive assessment: “The Children riders performed very well. In the end, the result was incredibly close. The standard across Europe in this age group is exceptionally high. When four teams produce clear second rounds, it shows just how competitive things are. One small mistake can make all the difference.”
Nations Cup Series Standings
With their victory in Hagen a.T.W., Great Britain finished the season in second place in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Series Pony standings. Ireland topped the final ranking ahead of Great Britain and the Netherlands. In the Children division, the Netherlands secured overall victory in the series. Poland finished second, while Germany completed the top three.
The jumping Nations Cups at Future Champions 2026 once again delivered top-class sport, thrillingly close contests and valuable insights ahead of the upcoming European Championships.
All competitions are available live and on demand via ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV. Entry lists, live results and team line-ups can be found at www.future-champions.de.
Photo caption: Amy Capper and Oscar van de Beekerheide © Foto Rüchel