Michael Whitaker finished 3rd overall in the €950,000 Global Champions Tour 2012 Season Final Rankings - International Round Up
Monday 26 November 2012
Abu Dhabi (UAE) 5*- Final of the Global Champions Tour
This weekend saw the prestigious FEI 5* Global Champions Tour come to a close in the fabulous setting of the Al Forsan Arena, Abu Dhabi.
Saturday’s GCT Gucci 1.60m Grand Prix, which served as the deciding class for the Championships saw action packed world class jumping with many highs and lows. It was Michael Whitaker with his own 9 year-old bay gelding Antello Z who secured the highest place for Great Britain, finishing in 4th place after producing a foot perfect clear in the eighteen strong jump off.
Two places behind Michael was Will Funnell with the Billy Stud’s 11 year-old brown stallion Billy Congo who, having jumped clear in the first round incurred 4-faults in the jump off. A particular low point in the jump off was when Big Star put in an uncharacteristic stop at an upright which resulted in a dramatic fall for Nick Skelton meaning elimination.
Following the Grand Prix results being graded, it was Edwina Tops-Alexander who secured the 2012 Global Champions Tour League title with a total of 196 points. Michael finishes in 3rd place on the ranking list with a total of 182 points, Nick Skelton in 9th place and Ben in 14th with a total of 151 and 138 points respectively.
Talking afterwards Michael Whitaker commented “I must say my horse is really careful, this is the biggest classed he has ever jumped. I did not expect to jump clear in the second round but he did. I have ridden him now for a couple of months and he is very careful. I knew he could do it and that it was possible”.
Other classes during the event saw William Funnell and Billy Congo finish 5th in the 1.50m speed in addition to an 8th place finish in the Prix Drake & Scull 1.45m class.
Another Brit enjoying the Abu Dhabi (UAE) 5* Final of the Global Champions Tour was 19 year-old Yazmin Pinchen from West Sussex. Yazmin is the youngest ever British rider to take part in the Global Champions Tour and she was also contesting her first ever CSI 5*. Yazmin was on board Van De Vivaldi, a nine year-old liver chestnut stallion owned by Nancy Pinchen. On the first day, the combination produced an immaculate double clear in the two phase 1.45m class, a result which left them in tenth overall. Their placing meant that they were the highest of the British combinations and Yazmin was the leading lady in the class.
FEI 2* Strazeele (France)
Louise Saywell riding her father Michael Saywells 9 year-old grey mare Winner IV competed in the €23000 Grand Prix and was placed 3rd after jumping double clear in a time of 37.99. The same class also saw Tim Stockdale with Colin Garrett’s 11 year-old bay gelding Fresh Direct Kalico Bay finish in 6th place having incurred 4-faults in the jump off.
Photo credit: sportfot
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
