Thursday’s second round saw 137 combinations return to the main arena at Aachen to contest the Frank Rothenberger built 165cm Table A competition. Held as the second round of both the teams and individual competition, riders were vying for a top ten team finish or top 60 individual finish to progress to the next round of competition.
Each rider carried forward their penalty points from round one of competition, with Wednesday’s leader Julien Epaillard entering round two on the best possible score of zero. With the top 50 competitors after day one all within one rail of the early leader, Thursday’s class had spectators on the edge of their seats (be that in the grandstands at Aachen, or on the couch at home) cheering on their favourites from the beginning to the end.
Great Britain’s Scott Brash and the elastic grey mare Hello Mango by Untouchable came out on top, recording a foot-perfect clear round to finish in the lead on 0.8 penalties after the first two rounds of competition. In front of an electric home crowd, Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair (by Singular LS La Silla out of Curious Friday) claimed second place, finishing on 0.84 narrowly ahead of teammates Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino), who finished in third with 0.86 penalties after the first two rounds.
Speaking after his winning round, Scott Brash shared, “I was delighted with Mango, I thought she jumped incredible.”
On leading the field at this stage Brash shared, “Listen, it’s amazing, but I am under no illusions, there’s still a long way to go and a lot of big tests to come, but we will take it one day at a time and I am super happy with Mango and I look forward to the rest of the week.”
Germany leads the team rankings
Call it a home-ground-advantage if you will, but you cannot deny the strength of the German team so far in this year’s Championship. Thursday’s competition saw each team rider jump clear, to have them in the lead ahead of Friday’s final on 3.48 penalties. The United States follow closely behind on 4.85, with Belgium currently in third on 7.69 penalties.
In the individual standings, it was heartbreak for Wednesday’s leader Julien Epaillard and Fringan de Vesquerie after two rails down saw the duo relegated from the top of the leaderboard to 64thon 8 penalties. In a high-stakes Championship with scores as tight as this one, any small fault proved costly to the overall team and individual standings.
Impressive World Championship debut for Jamie and Juno
First to go for Australia was Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara WAT Colblensky. Jamie and Juno (as she is known at home) entered the second round of competition carrying just 6.58 penalties from the previous day’s competition. In front of a growing crowd, Jamie and Juno produced a sensational clear jumping round, incurring just a singular time fault. As the Australian cheers rang out and those watching on in the kiss and cry literally jumped for joy, Jamie left the arena with a huge smile on her face and her arms wrapped around the neck of the sensational mare that has made a dream a reality.
Speaking to the press after her ride, Jamie was full of admiration for Juno. “All credit to the horse, she is something special. I’ve said it to anyone who’s asked that I wouldn’t want to be riding any other horse here. She is just unbelievable with all the ability and her heart is so big. When you’re out there and you pick up canter to go to number one she just thoroughly enjoys it. She loves her job, jumping is what she loves to do, so I’m very, very lucky to have her.”
Getting to a World Championship requires a village, and Jamie was quick to acknowledge and celebrate those who have helped make her campaign possible.
“It’s a massive team effort with that horse. We have a huge support crew at home. My husband works a lot with me and the horse, and Josh and Emma Collins. Josh Collins does a lot with [Juno] at home; he is actually a Kiwi rider but he is here helping me and Australia. He does all of the flat work with the horse. Flat work isn’t her favourite job; jumping is her favourite job, so that’s what I get to do with her, I get the good bits, but Josh puts in the hard work. He works with her, he always does things in a really nice way, which makes her so much more enjoyable for me to ride in the ring, so massive shoutout to Josh for that.”
Jamie and Juno finished round two of competition in 62nd place with 7.58 penalties after the first days of competition, narrowly missing the top 60 cut off required to make the final in an impressive FEI World Jumping Championships debut.
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield progress to Round 2
Next to go for Australia was Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield. Showing their experience as a combination, the pair made light work of the Frank Rothenberger built track to record their second clear round of the Championship. As the classic ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi’ rang out around the main arena at Aachen, a very excited Australian team celebrated another fantastic round. With no faults to add to their score, they finished the first two days of competition in 19th position with 2.8 penalties to progress to the next round of the individual competition.
Speaking to the media after her round, Edwina shared, “Today I rode him how I like to ride him.
“I really kept him on the hops and thought about the time… just tried to ride exactly how I walked it. Watching the others go, there has been quite a few clear, so I’m guessing [Friday] is going to be something different.”
Tom McDermott and Oaks Ventriloquist jump clear
Third to go for Australia was Thomas McDermott aboard the Australian bred and produced gelding Oaks Ventriloquist. Tom and Venti (as he is known around the stables) entered the main arena carrying forward 5.30 penalties from day one of competition. After watching team mates Jamie Winning-Kermond and Edwina Tops Alexander jump so well earlier in the class, the pressure was well and truly on Tom’s shoulders. The current Australian senior champion rose to the occasion and delivered a convincing clear round to the delight of the many Australian fans cheering them on. In the kiss and cry, Chef d’Equipe Gavin Chester was seen grinning from ear-to-ear after a fantastic start for team Australia. Tom and Venti finished round two in 42nd place on a total score of 5.3 penalties, to join Edwina in the next leg of the individual competition.
Strong round for Rowan Willis and Handsome
Last to go for team Australia was Rowan Willis and his nomination of Handsome. After not having quite the start they would have hoped for in Wednesday’s round one of competition, Rowan and Handsome returned to the main arena determined. Rowan gave his relatively new mount Handsome a great ride seeing them finish with just one down, in a big improvement from Wednesday’s competition. Rowan and Handsome finished round two of competition in 121st on a total of 27 penalties.
Two Kiwis through to Round 2
It was a brilliant day for our kiwi neighbours Sophie Scott and Luke Dee, who both jumped clear, adding no penalties to their day one score. Sophie Scott and her uber elastic Normandy GHP (bred by Queenslander Olivia Hamood) finished in 30th individually with a total penalty score of 4.37.
Luke Dee and his nomination of Gangster WW looked right at home on the big stage, jumping around with impressive scope and power to finish in 12th place on 2.03 penalties. It was perhaps not quite the day for Kiwi team members Katie Laurie and Uma O’Neill were looking for, but both did their country proud on our sport’s largest stage.
Whilst Australia’s team did not finish within the top ten required to make the team finals, Thursday’s performance saw them climb five places on the leaderboard to finish in 15th position. Australians can be exceptionally proud of the efforts of our riders, and we cannot wait to cheer loudly for Tom and Oaks Ventriloquist and Edwina and Fellow Castlefield as they progress to the next stages of the individual competition.
Australian and New Zealand start times
Second Competition Team Final & Individual Qualifier (Round 2)
Individuals from 2.30am Saturday AEST (6.30pm Friday local time)
13. Tom McDermott and Oaks Ventriloquist (AUS)
21. Sophia Scott and Normandy GHP (NZ)
27. Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield (AUS)
30. Luke Dee and Gangster WW (NZ)
Watch the action live with ClipMyHorse.TV
The best way to watch the action live and on demand is with a CMH.TV Premium Yearly Membership. ClipMyHorse.TV Australia is currently offering a 26% discount on Premium Yearly Memberships with the code AACHEN26.
Normally priced at $257.11 AUD*, a Premium Yearly Membership is currently available for $190.26 AUD*.
Terms & Conditions
*Offer valid from 14 July 2026 until 23 August 2026, 11:59pm AEST. Not valid in conjunction with any other discount or promotion. The AUD pricing quoted above is based on the USD to AUD exchange rate as of 4 August 2026 and may vary slightly due to currency fluctuations.
Watch the action from the FEI World Championships here via ClipMyHorse.TV.
