Stars & Stripes have been crowned the inaugural Blenheim Challenge champions after defeating the Rising Lions 12.5–4 at Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. A strong Show Jumping performance secured the title, with the team also donating £5,000 of their prize fund to local charity Work to Ride.

The Rising Lions fought back on Cross Country at Agria Blenheim, with Isabelle Cook’s Joker performance securing valuable double points and bringing the score to 8–4. With an additional £20,000 prize fund now at stake in tomorrow’s Show Jumping, every head-to-head will be worth £5,000 as both teams battle for the inaugural Blenheim Challenge title.

Barnie Brotherton’s Joker victory has put the Rising Lions on the scoreboard, cutting the Stars & Stripes’ lead to 5–2 after the opening Dressage phase. With Cross Country next, a new set of head-to-head pairings will give both teams another chance to gain valuable points in the Blenheim Challenge.

The first riding points are on the board at the Blenheim Challenge, with Stars & Stripes enjoying a strong opening day while the Rising Lions continue to hunt for every opportunity to close the gap. 

The Blenheim Challenge is officially underway, with the first team point awarded and the opening head-to-head pairings announced at the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

A new team competition, The Blenheim Challenge, will make its debut at this week's Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, 17-20 September, bringing a new international team element to the CCI4*-L.