William Whitaker and Fandango win Stuttgart World Cup Qualifier
Sunday 23 November 2014
The Union Flag was flying in Stuttgart earlier today when William Whitaker from Huddersfield secured a brilliant win with the 11 year-old dark bay gelding Fandango to win the World Cup qualifier.
It was a field of just over 30 starters that came forward to contest the fifth leg of the World Cup series in which the winner not only picked up a Mercedes Benz but also some all-important league points. The 1.60m course built by course designer Luc Musette claimed many victims with just ten of the original riders jumping clear in the first round and qualifying for the jump off.
It was then a further six that managed to jump clear again, but none were able to get close to William’s time of 47.27 seconds. The closest threat came in the form of Lucy Davis of the USA with her 10 year old gelding Barron who stopped the clock in a time of 49.84 seconds. Steve Guerdat for Switzerland with Nino des Buissonnets finished in 3rd.
Talking afterwards William commented “I knew I had to take some risks today as the jump off was a strong one and Fandango jumped his heart out. I’m proud to have won the World Cup today”.
For full results please visit http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/967/sta_erg/10_ergDEU.htm?style=longines
Image Caption: William Whitaker and Fandango. (Photo supplied by British Showjumping. Photographer Lewis Harding)
.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")
