Great Britain finished sixth in the Longines League of Nations Final 2026 in Barcelona on Sunday, as Germany secured the title following a jump-off against Brazil.

The defending champions were unable to repeat their 2025 victory at the Real Club de Polo, finishing behind fifth-placed Italy and ahead of Ireland, France and Spain.

Germany and Brazil completed the two rounds on four penalties apiece, forcing a jump-off to decide the title. Richard Vogel delivered the winning clear with Cloudio after Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom lowered a fence for Brazil.

Belgium completed the podium on five penalties, with the USA fourth.

Great Britain finish sixth on 20 penalties

Jessica Mendoza, Tim Gredley, Scott Brash and Jack Whitaker represented Great Britain, finishing on a team total of 20 penalties after a stronger second round.

Mendoza and Summerhouse picked up four penalties in the opening round before returning to jump clear. Gredley and Medoc de Toxandria also improved on their first-round performance, following eight penalties with a clear in round two.

Brash and Hello Mango contributed four penalties in each round. Whitaker and Jack JL recorded 16 penalties in the opening round, which became Britain’s discarded score, and did not return for round two.

Britain carried 16 penalties into the second round, where clears from Mendoza and Gredley helped limit the team’s additional faults to four. Their final total secured sixth place, behind Italy and ahead of Ireland.

At the head of the standings, Germany were the only nation to complete the first round without penalties. Belgium remained close behind with just one time fault, while Brazil and the USA carried four penalties into the second round.

Course designer Santiago Varela’s track tested combinations with 12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts within a time allowed of 71 seconds. Just 12 clear rounds were recorded in the opening round, with faults spread across the course.

Vogel delivers Germany’s winning round

Germany’s team comprised Marcus Ehning with Coolio 42, Jörne Sprehe with Toys, Richard Vogel with Cloudio and Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames my Prins.

Ehning and Sprehe both produced double clears, putting Germany within reach of the title before their final combination entered the arena.

However, a rail down for Vogel and Cloudio brought the German total to four penalties, matching Brazil and sending the competition to a jump-off for the second consecutive year.

Brazil selected Pessoa and Major Tom, while Germany sent Vogel and Cloudio back into the ring.

Pessoa, whose Olympic debut came in Barcelona in 1992, was first to go. A rail at the opening fence gave Vogel the opportunity to secure victory with a clear.

The German rider kept every fence standing and crossed the finish in 40.85 seconds, clinching Germany’s second Longines League of Nations title.

“To win the Longines League of Nations again after the World Championship in Aachen is a great feeling,” said Germany’s Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker.

“This team really deserved it, and I’m really, really happy.”

The result added another major team trophy to Germany’s season following their FEI Jumping World Championship victory in Aachen.

Belgium take third as season awards are presented

Belgium secured third place with a final total of five penalties. Pieter Devos and Primo DV contributed a double clear, while Abdel Saïd kept the fences standing with Wathnan Bonne Amie in the closing stages.

Devos described a course that demanded decisions throughout the round.

“There were faults a little bit everywhere, and I really had to do everything I could. It’s the Final, so it’s big and it’s technical,” he said.

Cloudio’s performances throughout the qualifying legs earned the stallion the Best Horse award for the most clear rounds.

Brazil’s João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima received the Best Athlete award after producing five clear rounds during the season.

Best Groom awards were presented to Geraldine Badan, groom for Vogel; Antoni Silva, groom for Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima; and Johanna Berg, groom for Ireland’s Cian O’Connor.

Longines League of Nations Final 2026 standings

Position	Nation
1	Germany
2	Brazil
3	Belgium
4	USA
5	Italy
6	Great Britain
7	Ireland
8	France
9	Spain

Feature image: Marcus Ehning (GER) rides Coolio 42 during the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona (ESP) on 4 October 2026© FEI/Leanjo de Koster.