The first round of the seventh leg of the Western European League of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series took place at the London International Horse Show at Olympia today, Saturday 22nd May, with a tough show jumping course demanding courageous, forward riding and plenty of horse-power. This event is the highlight of the week-long, popular London event for many spectators, with plenty of breath-holding moments, hair-raising corner-cutting, exciting risk-taking and displays of top-level, elite show jumping. It was mentally exhausting just watching this round!
15 jumping efforts
The course consisted of 12 numbered fences and 15 jumping efforts over a tight course that completely filled the compact arena. The allowed time was 64 secs – not unachievable, but difficult, none the less. This was reportedly one of the toughest courses seen at Olympia to date.
It was quickly apparent that number seven, the Rolex double, and number 12, a triple, were the bogey fences. The double featured a wide (1.70m) first element with a long one stride to a vertical, while the final triple consisted of one stride between the first two vertical fences, and two strides to an oxer.
Co-commentator David Broome said the Martin Collins surface was ‘perfect’ – but could make the course ‘ride quickly’. The course presented a real gamble in terms of whether to press on and get a good time, or take it easy and go clear. The riders that seemed to do best over the tricky combination fences appeared to press on – those that were more careful invariably knocked an element.
Australia’s hopes
Photo credit - Global Champions Tour
Let’s firstly talk about Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, pictured above, who with her diminutive ride Cevo Itot, won the recent sixth leg of the World Cup series at Geneva, in Switzerland, and three years ago won the leg at Olympia. She is a popular crowd-pleaser with the Olympia spectators, who like to welcome international riders.
Riding the less experienced Erenice Horta today however, Edwina found that luck wasn’t on her side. The eight year-old grey knocked the first fence, the wall and the last fence, but was fast, with a time of 60.84, and 12 penalties – this young horse shows real promise.
Top riders are out
The first round threw up some surprises – first to go, British speed-merchant Robert Whitaker, retired after knocking down several fences, as did Ireland’s Cian O’Connor. Britain’s Tim Stockdale was eliminated at the final triple after several knock downs and a refusal, which must have been disappointing. Hotly-anticipated Abdel Said from Egypt knocked the last of the double and the second of the triple, while Brit John Whitaker knocked the first of the double. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, number two show jumper in world and our individual Olympic champion, rode the beautiful grey horse Nasa. The careful jumper with the high head carriage unfortuately knocked the first part of the triple, having picked up a bit too much speed as the round went on.
Britain’s Ben Maher riding Tripple X III, who won this class last year, and who has also won four classes at Olympia this week, including the masters and the puissance, knocked the first part of the triple, with his horse looking a little tired and less ‘springy’ than usual.
Stand out clears
Stand out clear rounds came from Britain’s Guy Williams riding Titus, for a time of 63.88 – second to go, the pair made it look easy with a clear and calm round.
Britain’s Peter Charles riding Murka’s Odie de Frevent gained a time of 62.13 in another quiet, textbook round – interestingly, his children Harry, Scarlet and Sienna were all competing at Olympia this week too – a real family affair.
Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson riding H&M Tornesch 104 gained a beautiful fast clear, while the Netherland’s Marc Houtzager riding Sterrehof’s Tamino, (pictured below, credit FEI), an impressive, high and careful jumper who appeared to be on springs, also went clear on 62.15.
Popular Dutch rider Gerco Schroder, riding the classy chestnut London, rode as a particularly rowdy group of children in the balcony area became noisy, however the pair were unaffected, and went clear on 60.38.
Britain’s Nick Skelton, riding Big Star, got a massive cheer as his round commenced – the horse looked as if he was pulling, but Nick kept it together to fly into first place on 61.65. (Incidentally, Nick faced the noisiest environment of all during his round, when the world’s wonkiest and loudest tea trolley crashed around the balcony to service the VIPs in their boxes, before an unseen item crashed to the floor in the same area; however the pair appeared un-fazed.)
It was a matter of minutes however until Portugal’s Luciana Diniz, riding Lenox, flew into first place on a time of 61.21 – it was a beautiful quiet round, and the pair made it look easy.
France’s Penelope Leprevost riding Nayana then gained 62.48 in a very smooth clear round, meaning eight riders would go through to a thrilling second round at the London venue.
