GB’s Trio do us proud in the World Cup Final at Leipzig
Sunday 10 April 2022
For the first time that World Class Performance Manager Di Lampard could remember, Great Britain came forward to the final day of the Longines World Cup Final in Leipzig as a group of three.
John Whitaker, who was flanked by two young guns in the shape of nephew Jack Whitaker and Harry Charles, kept the nations spirits high by all three making it through to this afternoon's third and final leg drawing to a close what has been three days of top class jumping.
Harry Charles at the age of 22 years produced a strong performance throughout with his own and Ann Thompson’s 13 year-old Romeo 88. Coming forward to today with just 5 penalties and 3rd place he had looked set to be on target for a possible win when he jumped clear in the first round of today’s final leg. However, a gut-wrenching touch of a pole in the second round saw him pick up 4 penalties and a drop by one place in the ranking to finish in overall 4th place.
Sitting alongside Harry in the line up was friend and fellow Brit, Jack Whitaker aged 20 years who’s performance today with father Michael’s 13 year-old grey Equine America Valmy de Lande saw him move up the ranking list to sit on equal points to Harry. With his overall time being slightly slower he slotted into 6th place with them both finishing on a tally of 9 penalties to take 5th place due to his overall time being slightly slower. Two impressive rounds today saw all fences left untouched and just a single time penalty accrued in the initial round which paid dividends when he jumped four places up from the 9th that he came forward in. For John, it was a touch of a pole in the first round with Equine America Unick du Francport and two time penalties in the second that resulted in 7 penalties being added to his tally to see him finish in 12th place at the end of the final.
It was most definitely a fierce fight to the finish, but it was Martin Fuchs (SUI) that claimed the eventual victory and the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup title today aboard the 15 year-old Chaplin. A double clear in the closing stages saw him finish on the 5 penalties he brought forward to claim the €172,5k first prize. Harrie Smolders (NED) and the 13 year-old Monaco finished 2nd on 4 penalties whilst Jens Fredricson (SWE) and Markan Cosmopolit took 3rd having finished on the 8 penalties they brought forward to today with nothing else to add.
Full results visit www.longinestiming.com
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