Great Britain produced a championship masterclass at Aachen today, taking eventing World Championship team gold (pictured top) while Ros Canter and Laura Collett joined Germany’s Michael Jung on the individual podium.
It was a great conclusion to a week in which Britain had set out with two clear objectives – to win the team title and secure qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Both boxes were emphatically ticked.
The British team of Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, Laura Collett and London 52, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, and Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley went into the final phase with a commanding advantage of 14.8 penalties. Stevens’ cross-country elimination meant Britain had only three scores counting, but those three combinations delivered under enormous pressure to finish on 84 penalties and claim gold.
Germany took silver on 95.6, while the USA completed the podium on 113.5. Ireland finished fourth on 122.5, with Switzerland fifth on 128.1. The top seven nations, excluding automatically qualified host nation USA, secured Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028, meaning New Zealand, Sweden and Belgium will also head to LA in two year’s time.
For British chef d’équipe Richard Waygood, the result was the culmination of an extraordinary collective effort.
“What a team! Unbelievable. I mean, my job’s really easy,” he said. “These guys are absolutely fantastic. Their horses are incredible and the way they ride makes you so proud. It’s been a dream and quite a relief as well.”
Laura Collett, already a double Olympic team champion with London 52, added another major team title to an extraordinary partnership.
“Well, it’s one hell of a team, isn’t it? I feel very lucky and privileged to be on a team with these guys,” she said. “We came here with one aim, and that was to win a gold medal and get Olympic qualification, and we ticked that box.”
Tom McEwen said: “It’s an amazing group of riders, group of staff, and the people that make it and obviously the horses too. Our horses are superstars and they love a big atmosphere.”
Ros Canter, who anchored the British team on Lordships Graffalo, described the feeling after crossing the finish line as “relief, excitement” with “all the emotions wrapped up into one”.
She also paid tribute to the wider British set-up, saying: “It’s just been the most amazing week” and praising the “most fantastic team atmosphere – not just the riders, but all the behind-the-scenes staff”.
Gemma Stevens was equally glowing about the environment.
“Honestly, unbelievable. These guys are just so professional in every way,” she said. “The horses are professional, and then the help and the support that we get behind the scenes is honestly like no other team in the world.”
Richard revealed just how comprehensive that teamwork was.
“What you won’t know is that behind the scenes today, Gemma was reporting back on every round. She told me what to tell everyone, and it was absolute teamwork from top to bottom.”
There was added significance in achieving this result at Aachen.
“It’s absolutely incredible being here,” Richard said. “It feels like the Olympic Games when we’re here.”
Michael Jung: ‘A dream’
At the head of the individual standings was Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH.
The German superstar delivered exactly what was required, jumping clear inside the time to remain on his dressage score of 23 and claim another world title – he has never walked away from a World Championship with either a team or individual gold medal.
“I’m speechless. FischerChipmunk is unbelievable. He’s doing great dressage, running fast cross-country, showjumping like a showjumper: careful, powerful and athletic,” Michael said.
Michael was visibly emotional after crossing the line, and understandably so given this was a home World Championship, with a huge Aachen crowd willing him and fischerChipmunk to victory.
“It’s just a dream to ride him,” he said. “Aachen is always very special. The World Games was always our dream. It’s a very big thing in the home country, and every day to have all the nations together, all the disciplines together makes it much more special.”
The final showjumping round was particularly tense, with Chipmunk tapping several rails but they kept everything in the cups.
“He is just a super horse,” concluded Michael.
Ros Canter: ‘He’s the most wonderful horse’
Ros Canter and the irrepressible Lordships Graffalo – Walter – finished the week as individual world silver medallists on their 23.4 dressage, just 0.4 behind Michael. They jumped a superb clear round today and it was another extraordinary championship performance from a partnership who have repeatedly delivered when the pressure is on.
“It feels very, very special, actually,” Ros said.
She admitted that the pressure surrounding Walter increases with every major championship.
“We know that Walter’s getting on for one of the best of all time, and every time I ride him, the pressure builds in an atmosphere like this.
“I know I’ve won a lot but I get to know him better each time. He’s the most wonderful horse, we’re so lucky.”
Ros went on to explain that 2026 has already been full of highs and lows.
“This year has been quite up and down as a family. We lost my dad, I’ve had a baby and it’s all come quite quickly. The start of the week was a blur and I struggled to get into the swing of it, but as it goes on you can’t help but get excited by being part of Team GB.”
Laura Collett: another medal for London 52
Laura Collett and London 52 added a world individual bronze medal to a résumé that already includes Olympic and European golds.
They were third after cross-country and added a pole down in the showjumping to complete on 28, which was enough to maintain their position.
Laura spoke with enormous affection for the 17-year-old gelding.
“He is absolutely a horse of a lifetime,” she said. “Even just to go to the places that he’s taken me. He’s now won team gold medal at Europeans, two Olympic Games, and three individual medals.”
With tears in her eyes, Laura said: “I know I’ll never ever have a horse like him again – I’m lucky that he’s come around in my lifetime.”
Tom McEwen: ‘We’ve come what we came to achieve’
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin finished seventh individually on 32.6 after lowering a rail in the final phase. Tom admitted there was some frustration.
“It’s a shame, but it honestly hasn’t cost us anything. I’ve finished fourth so many times before, so I’m rather pleased not have done it again.
“Most importantly, we’ve done what we came to achieve, which was team gold, and for everyone to go as well as possible.”
He added: “It’s awesome stuff and we’re delighted with all the horses, the whole team. This group of riders has been awesome, and everyone around us, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Caroline Harris: ’I’ve learnt loads’
Caroline Harris, competing as an individual with D. Day, dropped from 14th to 20th on 41.8 after two fences down in the final phase. They lowered the first fence, followed by another rail at fence five.
“I should have got a bit more forward to the first, and then I think that threw me a little bit,” she said.
Despite the disappointment, Caroline was able to take enormous positives from her World Championship debut.
“It’s been amazing,” she said. “It’s just hugely disappointing to finish on that note, but it’s been absolutely incredible to be here on such a great team and with such great people. I’ve learnt loads.”
Images: © Tim Wilkinson
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