Will Funnell and Billy Angelo speed to victory at Olympia, London International Horse Show
Monday 18 December 2017
The Holly Speed Stakes, at Olympia the London International Horse Show, had the packed grandstands on the edge of their seats this afternoon.
The speed class, which saw fifteen combinations come forward, couldn’t have been more exciting with risk after risk being taken in the pursuit of posting the fastest clear to claim pole position. Some, however found to their peril that they ended up paying dearly for the risks taken with only three riders managing to come home clear across the 1.45m course.
It was Will Funnell however who led the way with Julie Slade’s 14 year-old chestnut gelding Billy Angelo when they broke the finish line in 49.30 seconds. Laura Renwick, a notoriously fast rider, just couldn’t catch him with the 12 year-old mare VDL Groep Alitta. However, her clear in a time of 49.92 seconds was enough to assure her of 2nd place and the relegating of Marcus Ehning (GER) into 3rd with the 9 year-old grey mare Calanda.
The class, as always, was an incredible crowd pleaser and they certainly showed their delight with their home riders securing the top two places. This brought the afternoon’s performance on the final day to a close. This evening’s performance at Olympia commences with the Mince Pie Stakes which will see some of the country’s leading 148cm ponies compete for the title prior the big class of the night, the Turkish Airlines Olympia Grand Prix.
