Britain’s Michael Whitaker threw his hat into the ring this afternoon for Sunday’s FEI World Cup Qualifier at Olympia by winning The Christmas Cracker. Whitaker riding Insultech Portofino was last to go and as Portofino passed the finish, the clock stopped on 36.64 sec, putting him in first position.
He cut 0.54 sec off of leader Eric Van der Vleuten’s time to claim the victory. Germany’s Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst, winner of last night’s Christmas Stakes, finished third with Britain’s Robert Whitaker and Lacroix 9 in fourth.Brazilian course-designer Guillerme Jorge had set riders an interesting and imposing task, with big fences set on difficult turns, and there were a few cricket scores.
“It was a big course,” admitted Michael, “but it quite suited me. Two years ago the mare couldn’t have gone that fast – it takes time and experience to get a horse to this level.”
AS a result, Michael Whitaker has decided to enter 12-year-old Insultech Portofino forward in Sunday afternoon’s World Cup Qualifier. “Portofino is getting even more competitive,” Whitaker commented. “I always thought I had a chance.”
But the audience at Olympia were kept in suspense until the last possible moment. Robert Whitaker’s 39.53 sec time looked set to win the competition, until Van der Vleuten scored a new target time of 37.18 sec. Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst, next in the arena, jumped clear in 38.91 sec, leaving Van der Vleuten in front but pushing Robert Whitaker down the leader board.
08 The Christmas Cracker
Int. Jumping Competition with jump-off (1.60 m) (Table A)
1, Insultech Portofino 63 Whitaker, Michael GBR 0 36.64
2. Audi´s Paloma Van der Vleuten, Eric NED 0 37.18
3. Candy Pollmann-Schweckhorst, Alois GER 0 38.91
4. Lacroix 9 Whitaker, Robert GBR 0 39.53
5. Oki Doki Zoer, Albert NED 0 39.68
6. Inedite de Balme Delestre, Simon FRA 4 39.28
7. Jolly Royal C Ericsson, Linnea DEN 4 39.72
8. Leena Beerbaum, Markus GER 9 42.20
9. Russel Skelton, Nick GBR 1 68.75
10. La Toya Fuchs, Markus SUI 4 63.06
Earlier in the day there was another “first” when Scott Brash, riding Intertoy Z, became the first Scot to win the Accenture Young Show Jumper of the Year. In fact, it was a Scottish benefit, as Jemma Kirk, who comes from Central Scotland but is based in Wales with Andrew Davies’s mother Gillian, finished second and third.
Nicole Pavitt, fourth, was fastest in the four-horse jump-off on Amaryllis Van de Heffink but she was first to go and had a fence down while attempting a bold turn.
Scott, who celebrated his 21st birthday a few days before, had made a 10-hour journey down from his Peebles home. “It’s a big thrill – this is the competition everyone in my age group wants to win,” said Scott. “I didn’t expect to win, though. I looked at the start sheet and thought there were a lot of fast horses here, but horse is careful and he was jumping well.”
07 The Accenture Young Show Jumper of the Year
National Jumping Competition (Table A7)
1. Intertoy Z Brash, Scott GBR 0 36.49
2. Tosca Kirk, Jemma GBR 0 37.14
3. Balinteskin Lucky Girl Kirk, Jemma GBR 0 38.96
4. Amaryllis van de Heffink Pavitt, Nicole GBR 4 34.97
5. Unicorn D´O Marshall, Jessica GBR 1 64.31
6. Kino Du Radoux Burley, Jade GBR 4 60.36
7. Maestro De Rend Peine Pavitt, Nicole GBR 4 60.74
8. Darraks Santee Tayler, James GBR 4 62.54
Norwegian rider Geir Gulliksen is on track to win a car, having won the first heat of the Mitsubishi Ride & Drive.
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