Decades of Dominance: GB and Germany’s Fight for Team Gold

Great Britain versus Germany: it’s the rivalry that has defined the FEI Eventing European Championships for over forty years. GB have ruled at home with nine team golds on British soil but the last time the Europeans came here, Germany stole the gold. At Blenheim Palace 2025, the fight resumes.

By Ali Barrett /

September 17, 2025

When it comes to the FEI Eventing European Championships, one rivalry has defined the last four decades: Great Britain versus Germany. Since 1981, only twice has team gold gone to anyone else — Sweden in 1983 and 1993. Every other time, it’s been the sport’s two giants trading blows.

This week at Blenheim, the spotlight is once again on these two giants of the sport. Britain have won an extraordinary 24 team gold medals, including nine of the 12 times the championships have been staged on home soil. But the last time the Europeans came to Britain, in 2015 at Blair Castle, it was Germany who walked away with the title - proving they know how to spoil the home party.

Home Advantage: Britain’s Fortress

Blenheim Palace isn’t just another venue. When the Europeans come to Britain, Team GB usually deliver. Across the 12 editions staged on home soil, they’ve won nine times. The only exceptions came in 1959 (West Germany), 1962 (Soviet Union), and 2015, when Michael Jung led Germany to the famous victory at Blair Castle.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The medal table makes the rivalry crystal clear. Great Britain have claimed 24 team gold medals at the Europeans. Germany? Six. It's a considerable gap and one that may surprise you.

The Teams

With the trot up and opening ceremony finishing earlier this afternoon, the riders who would be on the teams and those who would be riding as individuals have just been announced:

Team GB in running order:

Yasmin Ingham & Rehy DJ: Rehy DJ brings proven 5* credentials with top 10 finishes at Pau and Luhmühlen. Consistently mid-to-high 20s in the dressage, Yasmin’s partnership offer reliability both cross country and showjumping - coming in with one of the best final day records in the field.
Piggy March & Halo: Halo announced himself with a top-10 on 5* debut at Pau in 2024 and has been unbeaten at CCI4*-S level this season. This is a horse riding a wave of momentum, and while still new to championships, Halo is one to watch as Piggy brings her championship experience.
Tom McEwen & JL Dublin: JL Dublin is no stranger to European gold, having won the title in 2021 with Nicola Wilson. Now partnered with McEwen, he’s been painfully close to the very top -runner-up twice at Kentucky and fourth at the Paris Olympics. With an 18% individual win chance, this combination will need to deliver to keep the team in contention.
Laura Collett & London 52: The headline act. With three CCI5* wins and a 32% individual win chance, London 52 and Collett are the pair Germany will be watching most closely. Collett was on the European team that took gold in 2023, but a senior individual European medal still eludes her.

Team Germany in running order:

Libussa Lübbecke & Caramia 34: Fresh from a top-10 at Kentucky this spring, this is their first senior championship call-up. They know Blenheim well, having competed here twice before, and that experience could be vital under the pressure of a team debut.
Malin Hansen-Hotopp & Carlitos Quidditch K: Winners of the CCI4*-L at Blenheim in 2022, they’ve already shown they can master this track. Carlitos Quidditch K has since proven himself at 5*, consistently finishing inside the top 10 and most recently posting a 24.8 in dressage to sit just behind fischerChipmunk FRH.
Jérôme Robiné & Black Ice: One of Germany’s most established pairs, Black Ice was 3rd at Blenheim last year and 7th at the last Europeans. They’ve shown they can handle the big stage, and as a reliable championship partnership, they should be a banker for the team score.
Michael Jung & fischerChipmunk FRH: The anchor of the German squad. Jung has seven individual championship golds and arrives with the reigning Olympic champion. fischerChipmunk FRH is a German team stalwart and even if it's his first time at Blenheim, his win chance sits at 22%. If Germany are to take down GB on their home turf again, this is the partnership to lead the charge.

Recent Championship Form

When looking at recent championship form, it really is Great Britain that come out on top.

Tokyo 2021 Olympics: Great Britain claimed gold and with the no-drop-score format Germany fell off the podium
Avenches 2021 Europeans: GB took team gold; Germany settled for silver
Pratoni 2022 Worlds: Germany hit back, taking gold with fischerChipmunk FRH at the centre of the team
Haras du Pin 2023 Europeans: Another British team gold, Germany silver again.
Paris 2024 Olympics: GB took gold and Germany once again fell by the wayside with no-drop-score

What Does The Prediciton Centre Say?

EquiRatings predictive analysis puts Great Britain as the heavy favourites with a 73% chance of gold. Germany follow on 13%, their best shot coming from Jung’s reliability.

It’s a familiar script: GB on home soil, Germany chasing, and a rivalry that feels like it will define yet another European Championship. Roll on Blenheim.

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