Jack Whitaker lands a three-star win in Samorin
Monday 05 August 2024
Jack Whitaker made the journey to Samorin in Slovakia worthwhile with a three-star victory on Equine America Valmy De La Lande.
Netherlands’ course-designer Louis Konickx set a 12-fence 14-effort 1.50m speed track for the 77 starters but Jack made short work of the fences, cruising into the top spot on the 15-year-old Mylord Carthago TN X Starter stallion to record a comfortable 1.70 second win.
The pair were again in the frame for the top-billed 3* Grand Prix, netting third place on the podium. Twelve of the 60 starters posted initial clears over the 13-fence 1.50m track, Jack conjuring up another clear to finish 0.94 seconds behind the winner, Italy’s Emilio Bicocchi on Davina.
Olivia Sponer returned victorious in the EY Under 25 Cup Grand Prix with Crazy Girl. Twenty-nine competitors tackled the 1.45m course with nine returning to contend the jump-off, Olivia and the Corlensky G x Ars Vivendi 15-year-old firing on all cylinders to gallop into a 2.64 second win.
Rachel Proudley hit immediate form with victory in an early 3* 1.45m riding Petitfour VD Wareslage. Sixty riders came forward over the 11-fence speed track with Rachel finding all the short cuts to take the win by one whole second on the Corydon Van T&L x Feinschnitt I VD Richter nine-year-old.
Such was the mammoth 126-entry in the 3* Silver Tour Final, the competition had to be split into two sections, and Lily Attwood featured in both. She slotted Karibou Horta into second in the first section over the world ranking 1.45m speed track, the Landor S x For Pleasure 15-year-old 1.34 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Constant Van Paesschen on Kannavara Z. Lily picked up fourth in section two with the Calvaro FC 14-year-old Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z 2,73 seconds off the pace.
Guy Williams and Joe Whitaker are in the money at Azelhof Jumping
Brits claimed two of the top three places in the Stephex 2* Grand Prix at Azelhof Jumping in Lier, Belgium, Guy Williams taking second ahead of fellow Brit Joe Whitaker.
Seventy-six riders initially participated over the 1.45m track with 16 of them finding the key to go forward into the jump-off. It was tight as just 0.31 seconds separated the top three. Guy was only 0.20 seconds off the winner, Denmark’s Kasper Hansen on Katrinelund Satisfaction, on the 12-year-old Ernie of Greenhill Z (Emerald x Caretino) for second spot. Joe slipped the 12-year-old Hulahupe JR (VDL Bubalu x Indoctro) 0.11 seconds in arrears.
Guy is quickly establishing a rapport with new ride Hanne Umonia and slotted the Tolan R x Lors Z 12-year-old mare into third in the 2* 1.45m. The 93 starters were reduced to 20 for the jump-off, Guy finishing almost two seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Maverick Van Lent on Forever Du Givre.
Joe scored a winning double with High Quality. The pair headed an early 74-strong 2* 1.35m two-phase with 1.62 seconds to spare. They went on to head the 2* 1.35m speed and handiness, Joe outpacing his 76 rivals by 0.12 seconds on the 12-year-old mare High Quality (Quality Time x Carthino Z), pushing Emma Stoker into second on Skylandria Z.
Emma jumped to the top in a hard-fought 2* 1.40m with Skylandria Z. A mammoth 159 entries in this speed class meant a split into two with Emma topping the 80-strong first section, flying into the top spot on the 10-year-old Super Trooper De Ness x Indoctro mare by 0.49 seconds.
Holly Williams scored victory in the 1* 1.30m Grand Prix aboard Funisa BH. Twenty-one of the original 52 starters contended the jump-off with Holly claiming a 1.73 second advantage on the Chintan x Chacco-Blue 11-year-old.
Amanda Derbyshire takes the Traverse City Leading Lady Rider Award in The USA
Amanda Derbyshire claimed a Grand Prix second and picked up the Leading Lady Rider Award at Traverse City Horse Show in The USA.
Thirty-five contended the 1.45m track set by renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRE) with eight mastering the intricate course to qualify for the jump-off. Amanda had set a quick target on the 16-year-old Cornwall BH but they were pipped at the post by 1.76 seconds in the penultimate draw by Ireland’s Richie Moloney on Ermesdi Tai. The result earned Amanda the Turnham Green Leading Lady Rider Award.
Amanda also picked up second in an early 1.40m with the Stakkato Gold eight-year-old Sade De Rialfo Z in a nine-horse decider 0.32 seconds off the pace.
James Billington collected second in the initial 13-entry 1.40m speed on the German-bred nine-year-old Cinderella 770 1.16 seconds behind the winner.
Sandy McLean flies into a Grand Prix second with Eagele Z
Sandy McLean claimed second in the 2* Grand Prix in St Lo, France, with Eagele Z.
Fifty riders set off over the world ranking 1.45m course but only eight mastered all the fences to qualify for the jump-off. Sandy was quick on the Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Ramiro Z 13-year-old but not quite quick enough as France’s Mathieu Billot beat him to the top spot on Chacceldi with 0.72 seconds in hand.
Sandy slipped new ride Calcord into fourth in the 31-entry 3* 1.40m speed, the Calido I 10-year-old finishing 1.61 seconds behind the winner.
Sandy also picked up second in the initial 50-strong 2* 1.30m two-phase, the Diamant De Semilly seven-year-old SES Jumeirah 0.79 seconds off the winning time.
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