Successful Day for the British Isles - Whitakers one-two at British Open SJ Championships

Jessica Kurten takes second round of British Open

Friday 13th certainly wasn’t unlucky for the Yorkshire based Whitaker family in the first show jumping competition of the day. Robert Whitaker rode an outstanding clear round in the Zinc Management Stakes on Nureev Du Houssoit in a speedy time of 54.11 seconds. Following close on his heels was father John Whitaker who also rode a clear round on St. Honore’s Liquido in a time of 57.28 seconds. Third place went to Norway’s Gier Gulliksen riding Storm 16 in a time of 58.87 seconds.

From third draw, 24-year-old Robert produced a superb round on his sister Louise’s coloured gelding Nureev Du Houssoit. The course proved tricky enough and only four others could go clear, led by Robert’s father, John, on Julia Lee’s Arena UK grand prix winner St Honores Liquido.

“I borrowed Nureev while Louise went to America to ride for Laura Kraut and he’s going really well at the moment. But I’ll have to give him back because Louise came back home on Tuesday,” said Robert.

Riders in The easibed Accumulator had the audience on the edge of their seats as corners were cut and speeds moved up a gear to win this competition. Yesterday’s winner of the Birmingham City Shield, Eric Van der Vleuton, took first place for the second time in this four-day event on Pitareusa with 65 points in a time of 45.82 seconds. Yorkshireman Paul Barker, riding Blue Chip Quinton, was hot on his tail with equal points in a fast round of 46.17 seconds – less than a second behind! Great favourites with the crowds, John Whitaker and Robert Smith, rode breath-taking rounds to take third and fourth place while other speedy riders such as Ellen Whitaker and Ben Maher rode a nail-biting round only to come unstuck at the strategically named ‘joker’ fence!

The Whitakers were then victorious again at the British Open Show Jumping Championships. This time it was seventeen-year-old William Whitaker’s turn to take first place in the BEF World Class Start & Potential Under 23 Classic. He rode a double clear on Insul Tech Leonardo 590 with the fastest jump-off time of 37.40 seconds. Anthony Condon followed closely in second place riding Killy Jones in a time of 38.53 seconds. Emma Shaw and Hannah Paul took third and forth place respectively both with a double clear.

In the last show jumping competition of the day, riders faced the second round of the British Open Show Jumping Championships. Nine riders went through to the jump-off and victory went to Ireland’s Jessica Kürten who took first place with the fastest clear in a time of 38.73 on Galopin de Bioley. Second place went to Belgium’s Kristof Cleeren riding Sea Coast Conan who went clear in a time of 39.19 seconds, followed by another Irish success with Billy Twomey on Anastasia III who went clear in 40.81 seconds.

4 - The Zinc Management Stakes
International Jumping Competition
FEI Art. 238.2.1 Table A 1m45 against the clock
Pl. Horse Rider Faults Time
1. NUREEV DU HOUSSOIT Robert WHITAKER (GBR) 0.00 54.11
2. ST. HONORE´S LIQUIDO John WHITAKER (GBR) 0.00 57.28
3. STORM 16 Geir GULLIKSEN (NOR) 0.00 58.87
4. CAPIOLA VD HELLE Kristof CLEEREN (BEL) 0.00 60.44
5. GRANIE 5 Markus FUCHS (SUI) 0.00 75.08
6. AUDI´S OWENDEL Eric VAN DER VLEUTEN (NED) 4.00 56.74
7. TIQUILA Dirk DEMEERSMAN (BEL) 4.00 57.09
8. TEMPLE GUESS WHAT Paul BARKER (GBR) 4.00 57.65
9. ROLEX 72 Vladimir BELETSKIY (RUS) 4.00 65.99
10. VERY VERSACE Ryan PRATER (GBR) 4.00 66.31

5 - The easibed Accumulator
International Jumping Competition
FEI Art. 269 Table A 1m50 Accumulator
Pl. Horse Rider Points Time
1. PITAREUSA Eric VAN DER VLEUTEN (NED) 65.00 45.82
2. BLUE CHIP QUINTON Paul BARKER (GBR) 65.00 46.17
3. LACTIC 2 John WHITAKER (GBR) 65.00 47.02
4. RONALDO Robert SMITH (GBR) 65.00 47.36
5. CORTAFLEX AMBER DU MONTOIS William FUNNELL (GBR) 65.00 50.09
6. SILVANA Kristof CLEEREN (BEL) 65.00 52.64
7. ROYAL CHARMER Markus FUCHS (SUI) 65.00 53.92
8. PRIMA VERA Robert WHITAKER (GBR) 65.00 58.44
9. SUNDAL COLLIERS CATTANI Geir GULLIKSEN (NOR) 65.00 68.31
10. INSUL TECH IQBAL DES HAYETTES Michael WHITAKER (GBR) 61.00 58.90
The British Open - Round 2

1 30 GALOPIN DE BIOLEY Jessica KüRTEN (IRL) 1000 0 0 38.73
2 85 SEA COAST CONAN Kristof CLEEREN (BEL) 750 0 0 39.19
3 18 ANASTASIA III Billy TWOMEY (IRL) 500 0 0 40.81
4 1 THESAURA Mark ARMSTRONG (GBR) 250 0 0 41.18
5 88 INSUL TECH MOZART DES HAYETTES Michael WHITAKER (GBR) 150 0 0 45.61
6 91 OVATION Markus FUCHS (SUI) 100 0 4 38.68
7 38 LACROIX 9 Robert WHITAKER (GBR) 75 0 4 38.75
8 4 L’ESPOIR 7 Geir GULLIKSEN (NOR) 75 0 4 43.52
9 49 REZONANZ 34 Vladimir BELETSKIY (RUS) 75 0 8 47.03
10 15 VAN SCHIJNDEL’S CURTIS Piet RAIJMAKERS (NED) 75 4 62.91

April 13th, 2007 | European News |

Leave a Response (or trackback on your own site)

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Close this window.