GUY WILLIAMS WINS €114,000 LAND ROVER GRAND PRIX
Sunday 09 February 2014
It was Canterbury based Guy Williams who kept Great Britain at the top of the winning line in Bordeaux, France this weekend with their terrific win in the Land Rover Grand Prix at the FEI 5* World Cup qualifier show.
In an incredibly hard fought jump off which had seen ten competitors come forward, it was Guy with Caroline Phillips 10 year-old bay gelding Zaire who claimed the class as his own by being the only rider to jump clear and break the 34 second barrier.
Known as a rider who wouldn’t shy away from putting his foot down if time was critical, Guy lived up to his reputation by putting in a heart stopping performance that brought the crowds to their feet in appreciation. Breaking the finish line in a time of 33.88 seconds saw Penelope Leprevost and Nice Stephanie for France consigned to 2nd place with their time of 34.90 seconds and Ludger Beerbaum for Germany with Chaman take 3rd place with their clear in 35.73 seconds. Joe Clee with the 10 year-old bay stallion Utamaro d’Ecaussines also put in a solid double clear with their time of 37.55 seconds being enough to secure them 6th place.
Guy and Zaire had already claimed a victory on the Saturday in the 1.45m Speed class along with a 6th place finish on the opening day in the 1.40m speed competition. The show had definitely proved a fruitful one for Guy with him also securing 3rd place on the opening day with his own and Charlotte Baines Titus II in the 1.50m Jump Off class and a 3rd place in Saturdays 1.45m Prix France Bleu with 12 year-old chestnut gelding Casper de Muze.
Michael Whitaker and Joe Clee gained valuable FEI World Cup points with their respective 5th and 6th place finish in the FEI €151,000 World Cup Qualifier. Both Michael Whitaker with his 10 year-grey mare Elie Van de Kolmen and Joe Clee with the 11 year old chesnut mare Diablesse de Muze put in foot perfect double clears but their respective times of 37.93 seconds and 38.20 seconds just wasn’t enough to knock Marcus Ehning for Germany from pole position with Cornado NRW.
The FEI World Cup 2013/14 standings now see four riders feature in the Top 20. Scott Brash is currently sitting in 4th place with Joe Clee in 5th. Tim Gredley occupies 14th place and Michael Whitaker is in 17th.
1svujitxhxur8.jpg "Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne")
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")