In her last article Wendy Schaeffer gave us a course walk around the Grand Prix at Olympia – here she analyses how each rider rode the course and jump-off and provides some video clips
Edwina Alexander and Ego van Orti competing at the Stuttgart Masters Photo: www.lewishardingimages.com
Rik Hemeryck from Belgium commenced proceedings on the feisty little Cantho Z, a 12yo Cumano gelding. Jumping well up until the treble, though having added strides to the regulation distances on the related lines, Rik had to ride aggressively to make the distance from the vertical at 8 to the treble. Although clearing the vertical at B successfully, Cantho Z had too much momentum coming to the oxer at C and chose to let go after only one stride, crashing through the oxer and forcing Rik to go into the defensive safety seat to survive! He recovered well to complete the course with finishing on a total of 8 in 62.47 seconds for an eventual 28th.
Patrice Delaveau for FRA on the 8yo Lacrimoso 3 HDC rode a smooth round, negotiating the lines on the regulation distances. It was only a slight override into the treble at 9 that caused Lacrimoso to have the front rail of the oxer for a 4 fault round in 59.28 and 15th place.
Nick Skelton and Big Star at London 2012
Britain's London Olympic Gold Medal combination, Nick Skelton and Big Star then entered the arena to massive applause. He was a fraction quick to the vertical in the middle of the treble to have that down in an otherwise super round. Not his evening to win this time - 4/58.81 for 14th.
Young Egyptian rider Abdel Said rode a copy book round on the lovely 9yo Der Senaat - 0/63.36 to be our first into the Jump-off. This horse is a former ride of top British rider Guy Williams, I'm sure that significant money changed hands!
One of the best lady riders in the world, Penelope Leprevost for France on the 8yo mare, Nice Stephanie was next out and next clear. As always a beautiful ride from this stylish rider, she rode the first line from 1 to 2 in the forward 7 strides then an outside line in the slightly steady 7 strides to the double at 4ab. Penelope then rode the regulation 6 strides from the Post Box vertical at 5 to the oxer at 6 then a steady 6 strides down to the London Bus which did come down a bit. 0/60.55
Tim Stockdale and Kalico Bay - almost put down in Liverpool oxer at 3 then hesitant off the ground at 4a so Tim wisely pulled the horse off the B element and retired.
Olympic Individual Gold Medallist, Steve Guerdat on the 11yo Cumano mare Nasa rode beautifully with just one unlucky rail - 4/57.97 to be the 2nd fastest 4 fault round for 11th place.
Gerco Shroder and London - Individual Silver Medallists from London 2012 and the in-form combination from the current indoor season began jumping with amazing flair before uncharacteristically having the front rail of oxers at both 9A & C. Perhaps his ride around the turn to fence 8 was a little rushed, unsettling the horse? 8/60.42 for 26th
Laura Renwick for Great Britain rode a forward positive round on the confident, careful 10yo Oz de Breve to be the 3rd combination through to the jump-off. She rode the line from 1 to 2 in a positive 7, the outside line in 7 strides from the Liverpool oxer at 3 to the tall vertical going in to the double at 4a then 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the big 5 strides to the bus brick wall at 7. 0/61.01
Kevin Staut and Reveur de Hurtebise HDC for France had a big mistake at the early double at 4ab before recovering very well to jump clear home. After a positive ride from 1 to 2 in the 7 strides, Kevin rode a forward inside line in the 6 strides from the Liverpool oxer at 3 to the double. Slightly away from the tall vertical, Reveur had a moment of hesitation before leaving the ground and was consequently low in his jump, through the top rail of 4a. They did well to carry on and jump out over the B element at all but crashed through for 8 penalties - 8/61.05 for eventual 27th.
Peter Charles on the relatively inexperienced Murka's Odie de Frevent had been 3rd in the previous afternoon’s FEI World Cup Qualifier so when the top brick off the bus at fence 7 hit the floor, Peter decided to call it a day.
Iconic and slightly unorthodox Frenchman, Roger Yves Bost on the 12yo Castle Forbes Cosma produced a great round with just one mistake at the London Bus where the mare drifted to the right (away from the crowd) and consequently jumped too low - 4/58.56
Michael Whittaker rode a lovely smooth round on the 10yo Viking which was so much more rideable than when I had last seen him in the 2011 World Cup Qualifiers! 7 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides from the Liverpool oxer at 3 to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 then a steady 6 strides to the London Bus at 7 were the distance choices Michael made paying off with the 4th clear - 0/60.82
Gerfried Puck from Austria on the rangy, long-striding 17yo 11th and Bleeker rode a smooth round with just one mistake, again at the London Bus. He rode the 7 stride option from 1 to 2, the inside line of 6 strides to the double, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 then the forward 5 strides to the London Bus where the horse jumped a little low, taking the top brick off for 4 faults - 4/60.04, 19th place.
Great Britain’s young Team Gold Medallist from London, Scott Brash on the former Tina Fletcher ride, the 11yo mare Ursula was next out. He rode the 7 stride option from 1 to 2, the outside line, steady 7 strides to the double at 4 where perhaps a slight override to the oxer at b resulted in the mare punching out the front rail in front. A stride ride from the post box vertical at 5 to the oxer at 6 was followed by a positive, direct 5 strides to the London Bus which again fell. They also had the front rail of the oxer at 9c for a 12 fault total but important experience for this new combination - 12/63.53 for 29th.
Former World number 1, Pius Schwizer from Switzerland on the 10yo Verdi III rode a positive, confident round with just the one mistake at the B element of the treble after perhaps a slightly too aggressive ride into the treble. He rode the 7 stride option from 1 to 2, the outside line, steady 7 stride option to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 followed by the positive, direct 5 stride option to the London Bus at 7. 4/59.70 for 17th place.
William Funnell from Great Britain on the 9yo Billy Angelo had an uncomfortable jump over the Liverpool at 3 landing on back rail so was retired.
Germany’s Max Kuhner on the 9yo stallion, Clintop had just the one mistake at fence 5 at the tall post office box vertical which came up very quickly off arena wall after the double at 4. He rode the 7 stride option from 1 to 2, the outside line, steady 7 strides to the double at 4, the regulation 6 strides to the oxer at 6 then the positive 5 strides to the London Bus though he added to last oxer at 12, riding 6 strides instead of the positive 5. 4/62.23 for 24th place.
The elegant Luciana Diniz from Portugal on the 10yo Lacontino had an exciting round where the gelding proceeded to get more and more exuberant as the round progressed. It was therefore not surprising that the middle of treble came down as Lacontino got a bit quick and low. Luciana had managed to contain him to do the 7 stride option to the double at 4 before opting for the positive 5 to the London Bus which may well have been her only option at that stage! He was then a little too onward bound to jump the treble successfully - 4/60.12 for 20th place.
Britain’s Robert Whittaker rode a beautiful round on the classical 9yo Catwalk IV for the 5th clear - 0/60.08. Robert rode a direct 7 strides from 1 to 2, the steady 7 strides to the double at 4, the regulation 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the steady 6 to the London Bus.
Germany’s Marcus Ehning on the 13yo Sabrina gave an absolute masterclass on riding a consistent rhythm as this video clip shows!
Britain’s Guy Williams on the experienced 12yo Titus (actually purchased for Edwina Tops-Alexander to ride in 2012 before going back to Guy when Edwina didn’t get on with the gelding) rode a very direct line to fence 2, only giving Titus one stride to get straight - he consequently had it down before producing a lovely clear from then on! - 4/61.77, 23rd place.
Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander was next in on the 8yo Ego van Orti by 2010 World Champion, Vigo d’Arsouilles out of a Darco mare. Although looking a little inexperienced at this level he jumped his both heart out and was very careful to produce the 7th clear round! Edwina rode a conservative 8 strides from 1 to 2, the steady 7 strides to the double at 4, the regulation 6 to the oxer at 6 then the forward 5 to the London Bus.
Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger on the 11yo Uptown Boy showed their experience for a super smooth show to be clear round no 8 - 0/62.27. Janika rode 7 strides from 1 to 2, the steady 7 to the double at 4, the regulation 6 to the oxer at 6 then the steady to the London Bus at 7.
Italy’s Luca Maria Moneta on the little gun, Connery was very exciting to watch - clear up until the penultimate oxer where the back rail fell - 4/59.63. He rode 8 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides to the double, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and 6 strides to the London Bus at 7.
Britain’s London 2012 Team Gold Medallist Ben Maher on the 8yo Aristo Z looked inexperienced early on in the course to jump low with a significant left drift (away from crowd on that long side) over the double before having the post box vertical down at 5. Well guided by Ben, Aristo Z improved greatly to finish the course without further penalty in a quick time, the fastest 4-faulter - 4/57.72, 10th place.
British stalwart Tina Fletcher had only recently returned to the saddle after a nasty fall at Spruce Meadows in September to ride a smooth round on her Olympic reserve horse, the 13yo Hello Sailor to produce clear round number 9 - 0/60.46 . She chose to ride 7 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the positive 5 strides to the London Bus at 7.
USA’s Laura Kraut on the 15yo Jubilee D'ouilly had the back rail of the Liverpool oxer at 3 down before completing a lovely round without further mistake - 4/58.69. Laura rode 7 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the steady 6 strides to the London Bus at 7.
Ireland’s Cian O'Connor who won the Individual Bronze medal at London rode the 13yo Splendor for just the one rail down at the vertical in the middle of the treble - a good effort considering Splendor looked a little out of sorts with some inconsistent jumps, at times quite hesitant off the floor. 4/60.71, 22nd.
Dutch Team Silver Medallist from London, Marc Houtzager had won the previous afternoon’s FEI World Cup Qualifier on Tamino. Tonight he rode the 16yo stallion, Opium for a lovely clear until front rail of oxer at last fence! Marc rode 7 strides from 1 to 2, 6 strides on the inside line to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the positive 5 strides to the London Bus at 7. 4/60.35, 21st.
Spain’s young Manuel Anon on the lovely 11yo mare Rackel Chavannaise jumped some lovely fences before falling foul of the tall verticals at fences 8 and 9B for an 8 fault round. He rode 7 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides to the double at 4, 6 strides to the oxer at 6 and the positive 5 strides to the London bus at 7. 8/59.90, 25th.
The legendary John Whittaker on the 10yo stallion, Argento rode a very good round - just having the front rail of the oxer coming out of the treble down behind. John rode a conservative 8 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides to the double at 4, a steady 7 strides to the oxer at 6 and the steady 6 strides to the London Bus at 7. 4/58.94, 18th.
The course change over was very impressive on two fronts - firstly, it was done very quickly by their veritable army of helpers and the entertainment provided on the big screens hung in the middle of the Grand Hall where we were able to relive those magical moments from Greenwich - the British do run a good show!
Thejump off course was the Kingsland vertical at 1, oxer at 2, left hand 200 degree turn to the London Bus backwards, a long line up to the vertical at 4a, left hand turn back to the oxer at 6, right hand turn to the now double vertical, 2 strides to oxer at 9bc, left hand back to the plank at 10 then a long gallop down to the oxer at 12 to finish.
Egypt’s Abel Said began the jump-off with some beautiful jumping for just one fence down. He angled fences 1 and 2, riding a direct line in 6 strides between them which gave him the line to turn inside the arena decoration back to the London bus at fence 3. He then rode the regulation 7 strides up to the vertical at 4 and the big, galloping 8 strides to the last oxer - 4/43.38, 6th.
Penelope Leprevost rode speedy round on Miss Stephanie with just a brick off the London Bus wall hitting the floor when she arrived a little flat-footed - 4/40.45, 4th.
Laura Renwick rode a very angled line down to fence 2 where she paid the price with the front rail of the oxer at 2 coming down. She then really went for time, having a further 2 fences down - 12/40.43, 9th.
Michael Whittaker on Viking started very impressively before a massive jump over the oxer at 6 in the middle of the course made it difficult to turn back to the double at 9bc. A consequent 4 faults resulted - 4/41.75, 5th.
Robert Whittaker rode for the win on Catwalk IV taking out a stride to the vertical at 4 before too short a turn back to the verticals at 9b and 10 resulted in 2 fences on the floor. Still, a lovely horse for the future - 6,6,9 turned to short back to 9b & 10 for 2 down. Lovely horse! 8/39.49, 8th.
Marcus Ehning gave Sabrina the winning ride, keeping up a good pace without too much risk on tight turns. Marcus rode 6 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides from the bus to the vertical at 4 then the big galloping 8 strides to the last. 0/37.99, 1st.
Edwina Tops-Alexander rode a masterful round on the relatively inexperienced Ego van Orti for an efficient clear. She also rode 6 strides from 1 to 2, 7 strides from the bus to the vertical at 4 then the big galloping 8 strides to the last. 0/40.89, 2nd.
Janika Sprunger rode Uptown Boy beautifully if a little conservatively - 0/41.67 for 3rd. Tina Fletcher then rode for a clear round on Hello Sailor and was the only rider not to angle fences 1 and 2 to turn inside the arena decoration. She then had the last fence down! 4/43.57, 7th.
In true British style, the presentations were spectacular!
Full results are available HERE
Cheers from wet but not so cold London!
Wendy
