Laura Renwick proves Top Dollar in Olympia Puissance
Thursday 14 December 2017
This evenings Puissance competition at Olympia was an incredible one which saw Laura Renwick clear 7’3” to take the title.
Riding her own and husband John’s 8 year-old chestnut stallion Top Dollar VI, Laura was the only rider to clear the imposing wall in the 5th round which had seen four combinations come forward.
With each of the three riders before her picking up penalties you could have heard a pin drop as Laura made her way down to the wall. This soon changed after Laura cleared it in style with the packed grandstands erupting into rapturous applause in recognition of her outstanding achievement.
“That wall is huge and, having seen the other horses hit it, having been jumping really well, I knew it was a big ask,” said Laura afterwards. “I was a little bit lucky – I didn’t have the best stride and the horse really had to use his body to get over it.
“I’ve never won the Puissance outright and so to do it on an eight-year-old horse with not much experience but loads of scope and heart feels amazing. The atmosphere was electric.”
GB’s second rider in the final round, Holly Smith with the 9 year-old Quality Old Joker, took joint 2nd place alongside Karline de Brabander (BEL) with Fantomas de Muze and Padraic Judge (IRE) and Citi Business.
Earlier in the day, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar riding Fidux headed a one-two for Spain in the opening jumping class, the Santa Stakes, holding off a late challenge from his fellow countryman Manuel Fernandez Saro (Cannavaro).
“I was early to go, and Manuel was right at the end. He knew what he had to do but wasn’t quite quick enough,” joked Eduardo, winner of last season’s Zurich Longines FEI World CupTM qualifier with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot. “[Fidux] is a real fighter and very quick across the ground.”
This is Eduardo’s second visit to Olympia, where he won the Six-Bar two years ago. “It’s such a fantastic special show, and a pleasure to ride here,” said Eduardo. “I hope to continue to back here for many, many years.”
Later, there was a Swedish one-two in the Musto Inside Edge Stakes, a speed class, when 2017 European Champion Peder Fredricson (H&M Zoulbet) beat compatriot Malin Baryard-Johnsson (H&M Second Chance) by 0.77sec to clinch the top prize.
WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW
- FEI World CupTM Driving Leg
- CSI5* Show Jumping, including the The Snowflake Stakes, the Levy Restaurants Snowman Stakes and the Christmas Cracker
- The Markel Champions Challenge in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, featuring AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori
Tickets for Olympia, The London International Horse Show, are still available for some performances. To book go to www.olympiahorseshow.com.
