ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW SUNDAY
Sunday 17 May 2015
Word-class showjumpers from ten nations, including British Olympians Ben Maher, Peter Charles, Tim Stockdale, Robert Smith, John Whitaker, Ireland’s Billy Twomey and the USA’s Laura Kraut, touted for supremacy in the Alltech Grand Prix for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy.
But the top spot went to Ireland and 2002 world champion Dermott Lennon with Loughview Lou-Lou in an exciting, nail-biting, four-horse jump-off.
Yazmin Pinchen got British hopes up with a second clear on her mother Nancy’s eye-catching 12-year-old stallion Van De Vivaldi, demoting France’s Michel Ecart (Quatrin De La Roque) by half a sec, but her lead was short-lived. Dermott fired Irish Sport Horse Loughview Lou-Lou, a 13-year-old daughter of Limmerick, into a lead of over three sec.
And despite his ultimate challenge on Mandy Hall and Clare Whitaker’s scopey Colman sired 12-year-old Catwalk IV, Robert Whitaker failed to catch the speedy Irishman, settling for second 1.9 sec in arrears. “I was quick to the first three fences but slowed for the double of verticals, and the later related distance of five strides was short, so I lost some time there, but I was pleased with him,” said Robert.
Rome CSIO5* Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup beckons next week as Robert and Catwalk have been selected for the British squad by World Class showjumping Performance Manager Di Lampard. “He had last week off so he was fresh this week and he was jumping fantastic, this was a good run out and he’s ready for Rome next week,” he said.
The tight time in Kelvin Bywater’s 1.60m track ensured there were few clears, and several favourites dropped out in the first round. Robert Smith on Bavi, Tim Page with Sue Hodgson’s Santa Cruise and John Whitaker riding Tequestrian Farms’ Castlefield Cristobal 21 were narrowly denied jump-off access after jumping clear but picking up a time fault each. They finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. “The track was quite tricky and the time tight, it caught out a few and those that got inside the time made mistakes. I was lucky, Catwalk can turn back tight to big fences so I saved time,” said Robert.
Several other Brits finished on four faults each after making a single mistake in round one – Peter Charles (Murkas Odie De Frevent) finished eighth, with Tim Stockdale (Erasmus Van De Heffinck) in ninth, Ben Maher (Boomerang) in tenth and Dan Neilson (Strides Simba) took eleventh on five penalties.
Despite adding eight seconds to her time for lowering two fences, Laura Renwick headed off several challenges to take the Speed Stakes on David Rogers’ Rembrandt Blue. “I’m amazed I won, but I had the very first fence down so knew I had to get going,” said Laura, drawn fourth out of 20 combinations, “I’m so happy to get another win in at home.”
Laura took over the reins on this 10-year-old French-bred gelding by Mr Blue a year ago after regular rider Sophie Fawcett took time out while pregnant with son Archie. Recent wins in Vilamoura 3* and Doha 5* cemented their relationship at top level. “This is Blue’s first show since Vilamoura, now he’ll step back up again at Bethune and Bourge-en-Bresse [France] for our next shows,” she said.
Yazmin Pinchen with Ashkari and Robert Smith on Candy Boy finished fifth and sixth.
The USA was on a roll and continued to dominate the CSI1* classes, and took the spoils in the grand prix with Emma Heise topping the board on Viper Vrombautsoeve Z.
From one castle to another – Nina Barbour, who runs the superb Bolesworth International show in Cheshire with the fantastic backdrop of Bolesworth Castle, took second on Tracy Priest’s Calle.
RESULTS
ALLTECH 3* GRAND PRIX FOR THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN TROPHY
1 Dermott Lennon & Loughview Lou-Lou – IRE – 0/0 40.92
2 Robert Whitaker & Catwalk IV – GBR – 0/0 42.82
3 Yazmin Pinchen & Van De Vivaldi – GBR – 0/0 44.09
4 Michel Hecart & Questrin De La Roque – FrA – 0/0 44.51
5 Robert Smith & Bavi – GBR – 1/- 85.13
6 Tim Page & Santa Cruise Ii – GBR – 1/- 85.70
7 John Whitaker & Castlefield Cristobal 21 – GBR – 1/- 86.47
8 Peter Charles & Murkas Odie De Frevent – GBR – 4/- 81.65
9 Tim Stockdale & Erasmus Van De Heffinck – GBR – 4/- 83.81
10 Ben Maher & Boomerang – GBR – 4/- 84.98
11 Dan Neilson & Strides Simba – GBR – 4/- 88.34
PALM SPEED STAKES
1 Laura Renwick & Rembrandt Blue – GBR – 78.53 – 8sec added for two fences down (70.53)
2 Michel Hecart & Toupie De La Roque – FRA – 78.97
3 Julien Gonin & Well done – FRA – 79.05 (75.05)
4 Angelie von Essen & Cream Sheridan – SWE – 79.08 (75.08)
5 Yazmin Pinchen & Ashkari – GBR – 80.01
6 Robert Smith & Candy Boy – GBR – 80.27 (72.27)
ROYAL WINDSOR CSI1* GRAND PRIX
1 Emma Heise & Viper Vrombautshoeve Z – USA – 0/0 41.92
2 Nina Barbour & Calle – GBR – 0/0 44.44
3 Anastasia Gamazova & Wizardlea HFS – RUS – 0/0 48.31
4 Rowan Willis & for Luck – AUS – 0/4 39.01
5 Harry Charles & Vivaldi du Dom – GBR – 0/4 40.06
6 Amy Inglis & Samayava Ar Park – GBR – 0/4 47.92
vdvw0jmmoc3n.jpg "Bumper weekend of Nupafeed Senior Discovery Second Rounds")
16s3l0yrqmjv4.jpg "Timothy Craggs and Chloe Thomas are victorious in the NAF Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers at Port Royal")
