John Whitaker and Argento Take Second in the €90,500 FEI CSI3* Liege Grand Prix
Monday 03 November 2014
John Whitaker MBE from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire fought off stiff competition yesterday to secure second place in the FEI CSI3* 1.55m Liege Grand Prix in Belgium on his own and Clare Whitaker’s 12 year-old bay stallion, Argento.
Each of the fifty-seven competitors contesting the Grand Prix were aiming to take home a share of the €90,500 prize fund and €29,865 went to the winner, whilst second place was awarded €18,100. An ultra-competitive jump off saw thirteen combinations fight it out and eleven eventually went on to secure a double clear.
The fastest double clear of the class was produced in 30.71 seconds by Ashlee Bond from the USA on Chela LS and this time gave them a very narrow margin over the British combination of John and Argento.
John and Argento produced two immaculate rounds and they crossed the finish line in the jump off in 30.88 seconds, just 0.17 seconds behind the winners.
Third place was taken by Frank Schutter from The Netherlands on Epleaser Van T Heike. Their double clear was secured in 31.87 seconds.
FEI CSI3* 1.55m Liege Grand Prix Results:
1st Ashlee Bond & Chela LS (USA) – 0/0 – 30.71 seconds
2nd John Whitaker & Argento (GBR) – 0/0 – 30.88 seconds
3rd Frank Schutter & Epleaser Van T Heike (NED) – 0/0 – 31.87 seconds
.jpg "Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish in seventh place with unlucky four fault rounds at the CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Nations Cup of Budapest")