Robert Whitaker 4th in Longines World Cup, Oympia

Sunday 21 December 2014

The Longines World Cup competition saw some absolutely brilliant jumping this afternoon with spectators on the edge of their seats at Olympia, The London International Horse Show in London.

It was thirteen competitors that went through to the Jump Off with two British riders in the form of Robert and John Whitaker.   Robert, having been drawn first to go in the class was first to reappear in the arena for the jump off.  Riding the 11 year-old Catwalk IV who is jointly owned by Mandy Hall and his mother Clare he took the decision, having been dawn so early on, to go for a clear without taking too many risks against the clock.   A clear is exactly what he produced making the course look, once again, totally effortless by returning on a zero penalty score within a time of 40.49 seconds.

It was the penultimate fence, the H&M Vertical sited at the end of the arena on an angle before a straight run to the last, that very quickly became the fence that was going to be the problem one with riders incurring penalties as they misjudged their turn back to it.  Holding onto his lead until the midway mark, Robert was nudged out when Malin Baryard-Johnsson for Sweden jumped clear in a faster time of 39.70 seconds.

It was Marco Kutscher who set the competition alight when he managed to break what had looked like an unbeatable time set by Malin.   Turning back so tightly towards the vertical that had caught out so many, you could of heard a pin drop when he cleared it before galloping to the last and taking a flying leap to leave it standing within a time of 37.66 seconds.

With three left to go it was as if caution had been thrown to the wind when Constant van Paesschen entered next, stopping the clock at 37.14 seconds.  Despite having three fences down, the electric atmosphere around the arena seemed heightened with the audience all realising that the class was still open for one of the final two to come in and claim it. 

Next to go Bertram Allen from Ireland with the British bred grey mare Molly Malone drew audible groans from the grandstands when the dreaded H&M fence lowered. Their disappointment was as evident as his was, especially bearing in mind that he managed to stop the clock in an even faster time of 36.81 seconds.

As last to go John Whitaker entered the arena with the British Bred twelve year old stallion Argento he was met by an incredible amount of cheering such is his popularity.  It was 4 faults at an oxer early on in the course that saw their collective hopes disappear of him grabbing the title as his own.  Taking it steady from there on they left the rest of the fences unscathed to stop the clock in a time of 38.35 seconds.

It was  Robert and Catwalk IV who finished in 4th place as the highest placed Brit with Marco Kutscher and Daniel Deusser for Germany taking first and second place respectively.   Sweden held third position with Malin Baryard-Johnsson whilst Norway took fifth and Italy sixth.

For full results please visit http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/978/sta_erg/19_ergENG.htm?style=longines

 
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