Jack Whitaker claims a four-star win as we round up a great weekend of Brits Abroad
Monday 28 August 2023
After recording two second places earlier in the week, Jack Whitaker finally claimed victory in the 4* 1.45m with Equine America Q Paravitti N in Gijon, Spain.
Twenty-six riders contended this world ranking speed class with Jack and the 11-year-old Quality Time TN x Indoctro mare easing ahead to win with 0.89 seconds in hand.
Jack so nearly made it a double on the final day, missing out on a big win in the top-billed 4* 1.60m Grand Prix on Equine America Valmy De La Lande. Twelve of the original 34 on the start list returned for the jump-off, the nine clear rounds joined by the fastest of the four-faulters carrying their faults.
Jack and the 14-year-old Mylord Carthago stallion tried hard but finished in the runner-up spot 0.72 seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Harry Allen on Calculatus. Jack’s cousin Robert Whitaker also featured in the top three, taking third on his King George V Gold Cup winner Vermento, the Argento 10-year-old owned by Caroline Blatchford.
Jack’s consistent results earned the show’s 4* leading rider award by 37.5 points.
Jack steered Equine America Valmy De La Lande into second place in Thursday’s 39-horse 4* 1.50m two-phase, the Mylord Carthago 14-year-old stallion just 0.26 sec behind the winner, Ireland’s Bertram Allen with Pacino Amiro.
It was a similar story 24 hours later. Jack also had to settle for second place in Friday’s 4* 1.55m with Equine America Valmy De La Lande. Thirty-nine competitors initially tackled this world ranking class with 10 posting clear rounds to join the jump-off. Jack posted another clear second time out to finish in the runner-up spot 1.87 sec, again behind Bertram Allen, this time on Edison De Hus.
James Smith was in flying mode to clock up an incredible five wins in Gijon, Spain. He hit immediate winning form with a double victory on Juno Rose 23.
A field of 42 riders came forward in the 4* 140m two-phase with James and the 9-year-old Erdento x Caretano Z mare flying into the top spot with more than three seconds in hand.
It was déjà vu a day later as they tackled the 4* 1.45m. Thirty-three riders bid for the top spot in this speed but James maintained his form to gallop ahead by 5.43 sec.
James scored a 100% record with John and Laura Renwick’s home-bred NFS Angelina. The pair, winners of both earlier young horse classes, claimed the 6 and 7-year-old 1.30/1.35m final to also earn the young horse leading rider award.
Nine of the 20 starters returned for the jump-off with James and the Arko x Couleur Rubin 7-year-old easing ahead to win by only 0.05 seconds.
The ultra-consistent pair topped Friday’s 6 and 7-year-old 1.35m two-phase with 2.77 sec to spare over fellow Brit Jack with Partner In Crime in second. In the following day’s 1.35m speed, they beat their 24 rivals with 3.27 seconds in hand. Jack guided Partner In Crime into third on this occasion.
James also slotted Tayvale Hunky Dory into second in the 47-strong 2* 1.30m two-phase, the Balou Du Rouet x Master Imp 11-year-old finishing 0.33 sec behind the winner.
Amanda Derbyshire shot to the top of the $38,500 2* Grand Prix with Wonder If at the Major League Showjumping Show in Ottawa, Canada.
Fifty-one competitors tackled the 1.45m course but only seven could conjure up all the right answers to access the jump-off.
Amanda set off in determined style, trusting the Cevin Z x Bolivar 11-year-old – produced in Britain by Emma McGlynn – to run at verticals and oxers alike. With an angled cut across an early vertical, the double and the penultimate upright, Wonder If skipped across the green turf, Amanda securing victory by 0.71 seconds. Ireland’s Conor Swail had to settle for second with Count Me In.
Amanda steered Otto BH into second in the $38,500 5* 1.50m winning round. Nine of the original 26 starters returned for round two with Amanda and the Norton D’Eole 11-year-old finishing 1.41 sec behind the winner, Ireland’s Daniel Coyle aboard Ivory TCS.
Amanda also emerged triumphant as a member of the Roadrunners team. Eight teams of three contested the $270,000 5* Premiere Equestrian Team competition with Amanda on Otto BH joined by McLain Ward aboard First Lady and Daniel Coyle on Ivory TCS. The Roadrunners claimed victory in the jump-off with more than three seconds in hand.
Jess Mendoza as a third of the Eye Candy team on I-Cap CL Z with Richie Moloney (Rocksy Music) and Paul O’Shea (Squirt Gun) finished second.
Image: Jack Whitaker & Equine America Q Paravatti N Credit: Gijon Horse Jumping
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