Michael Whitaker wins Rikstoto Grand Prix in Oslo
Monday 20 October 2014
Michael Whitaker from Nottinghamshire won the Rikstoto Grand Prix in Oslo on Saturday with his 2013 European Championships team gold medal winner, the 12 year old chestnut gelding Viking V.
The jump off must have been one of the closest seen all season with just over a second separating the final top six placings. The course, which had been designed by Uliano Vezzani, saw almost half of the field qualify for the jump off resulting in competitors taking risk after risk to ensure a fast time and a place high up in the line-up. The seven fence jump off course allowed for a few very tight turn backs before a long gallop to the final oxer.
Very early on in the jump off a double clear was laid down what looked likely to be an unbeatable time by Jur Vrieling for the Netherlands with Flash Dance vd Kalevallei. With rider after rider failing to knock him from his pedestal it took the masterful riding of Michael Whitaker to show that everything is possible if you have the talent and focus to do so. Starting off quietly he came into his own as he turned towards the final fence taking a flyer to clear it and shave 2/100’s of a seconds from the time previously set down.
With rider after rider coming forward after him in this twenty four strong jump off field there wasn’t one that was able to touch them with Michael’s position in 1st place and Jur in 2nd place being left unaltered to the end. Talking afterwards Michael commented “That was a fast class. You couldn’t just canter round, you had to have a plan. I was fortunate that I got a good hit on the first fence and everything went right after that. Sometimes it happens your way, sometimes it doesn’t – but today it went exactly the way I wanted it”.
RESULTS
1st Michael Whitaker (GBR) / Viking – 0/0 34.20
2nd Jur Vrieling (NED) / Flash Dance v Kalevallei – 0/0 34.22
3rd Steve Guerdat (SUI) / Albfuehren’s Paille – 0/0 34.61
4th Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) / Atlanta – 0/0 34.99
5th Bart Bles (NED) / Lord Sandro Ddh – 0/0 35.21
6th Pius Schwizer (SUI) / Sixtine de Vains – 0/0 35.40
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
