Michael Whitaker Wins €350,000 Grand Prix

Nottinghamshire based Michael Whitaker is celebrating this evening (Sunday) having won the €350,000 Grand Prix at the FEI 5* Show in Aachen earlier today.

 

Michael reminded everyone exactly why he is one of the world’s leading riders today when he and GIG Amai, the 12 year-old bay gelding owned by Beatrice Mertens, produced just one of the only two treble clear rounds of the competition.

 

With forty starters all hoping to take home their share of the prize fund it was tough course that saw only seven of them jump clear in the first round. With only three of those producing a clear in the second round it meant a three way jump-off was to be the key decider as to who would take home the €110,000 first prize.

 

Jumping yet another superb clear they came through the finish in a time of just 49.73 second to claim their victory over Germany’s Thomas Voss with Carinjo 9 who just couldn’t touch Michael’s time to finish in 54.37 seconds. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna 66 took 3^rd place having incurred 4 faults in the third and final round.

 

Nick Skelton with Beverley Widdowson’s 11 year-old grey gelding Carlo were the next highest placed British combination. A clear in the first round followed by an unfortunate 4faults in the second round meant an 8^th place finish.

 

For more information on the FEI 5* CHIO in Aachen and full results please visit www.chioaachen.de

 

The British Show Jumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport lottery funded BEF World Class programme.