Reigning Olympic champions Harry Charles and Ben Maher have been named in a formidable British squad for the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, with home hopes high ahead of the feature class at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

The British Showjumping squad combines Olympic success, proven Nations Cup experience and riders in outstanding form as Britain looks to reclaim the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy at Hickstead on Friday 24 July.

Harry Charles, who helped Great Britain secure Olympic team gold at Paris 2024, has been selected with either Fighting Phil or Casquo Blue. Joining him is fellow Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher, who has been named with Catelly.

Experienced combinations return to Hickstead

Two riders from the British team that finished runners-up to Germany in last year’s Agria Nations Cup also return to the squad.

Jessica Mendoza, currently Britain’s highest-ranked female showjumper, has been selected with either In The Air or Summerhouse, while Adrian Whiteway and the experienced stallion Chacco Volo continue to impress on the international stage.

Whiteway and Chacco Volo head into Hickstead in exceptional form, having completed eight consecutive 1.60m Nations Cup rounds without a single jumping fault, underlining their consistency at the highest level of team competition.

Completing the five-rider squad is Tim Gredley with Medoc De Toxandria. The combination played a key role in Britain’s back-to-back Nations Cup victories at Hickstead in 2023 and 2024 and will be aiming to help the home side return to the top step of the podium.

Strong international opposition awaits

British Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard will announce the final team of four on Thursday 23 July, ahead of Friday’s Nations Cup.

Great Britain will face strong competition from Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates as the nations battle for one of international showjumping’s most prestigious team prizes.

Speaking ahead of the event, Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn praised the depth of the British squad, highlighting the riders’ current world rankings, Nations Cup credentials and previous success at Hickstead; “British Chef d’equipe Di Lampard always aims to send a strong team to Hickstead, and this year’s squad certainly fits the bill,” said Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn. “Ben Maher is the current world number four, and he and Tim Gredley were both part of the British team that had back-to-back wins here at Hickstead in 2023 and 2024. Jess and Harry are currently ranked third and fourth in Great Britain, while Adrian and Chacco Volo have proved themselves to be very reliable Nations Cup performers. Let’s hope this team can get back to the top of the podium in front of the home crowd, after narrowly missing out to Germany last year.”

After narrowly losing out to Germany in 2025, Britain will be eager to capitalise on home advantage and challenge for another memorable Nations Cup victory in front of the Hickstead crowd.

The Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain takes place on Friday 24 July during the Agria Royal International Horse Show, running from 22 to 26 July at Hickstead

Feature image: Olympic team gold medallist Harry Charles is part of the British Showjumping team selected for the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain (c) Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves