Popular visitor Alois Pollman-Schweckhurst took home the £12,000 jackpot in a top-quality Martin Collins Christmas Masters contest for the top seven riders in the show at this stage.
Alois, 42, is not known as the “Indoor King” back at home in Germany for nothing, and he responded magnificently to the challenge set in the fifth round’s two-man jump-off by Dutchman Eric Van der Vleuten.
Alois produced a storming round on Paparazzi to win by 1.92sec. “It was my day,” he said,” but I am surprised. I thought Paparazzi “ would spook at the double of verticals right up alongside the arena edge, but by that stage he had got used to them.”
He explained that Candy, his ride in tomorrow’s H&M World Cup qualifier, is an indoor arena specialist and so he has become used to tailoring his career to being more active on the winter indoor circuit.
“I love coming to Olympia,” said Alois, who won the Masters back in 2003. “It has a unique atmosphere.”
A fence down in the Masters equals elimination and Ellen Whitaker, at 20 the youngest in the class, made an early exit with a mistake at the third fence in the first round. The only other female rider, Jessica Kurten, went out in the second heat, Markus Fuchs in the third and Robert and John Whitaker in the fourth.
With each round riders nominate the fence they want raised – tactically picking one that will suit their horse and perhaps not their rivals – and the prize pot, which started at £4,000, is raised by £500 with every clear round.
12 The Martin Collins Christmas Masters
Int. jumping competition (Table A - special competition)
1. 68 Paparazzi Pollmann-Schweckhorst, Alois GER 12000 GBP 12000 pounds
2. 53 Audi’s Owendel Van der Vleuten, Eric NED 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
2. 137 La Toya Fuchs, Markus SUI 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
2. 40 Finbarr V Whitaker, Robert GBR 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
2. 91 Casino Whitaker, John GBR 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
2. 121 Jipey Dark Kürten, Jessica IRL 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
2. 57 Boyram Whitaker, Ellen GBR 1000 GBP 1000 pounds
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