Jack Whitaker strong 3rd in Fontainebleau Junior Grand Prix
Sunday 06 May 2018
Less than a second separated the top three Junior Grand Prix places in Fontainebleau earlier today on the final day for the Grand Prix Classic show. This was the closing class for the Junior’s who, under the title sponsor banner of Team NAF, had finished joint 4th in their respective Nations Cup competition on Friday.
Jack Whitaker, aged 16, from Whatton in Nottinghamshire was the strongest of the Brits finishing 3rd with his father Michael’s 8 year-old stallion Arlo de Blondel. The huge field of almost a hundred starters saw fifteen go clear in the first round and a total of twenty-five combinations eligible for the jump-off.
With so many coming forward to stake their claim on the top tier prize money and placings it certainly put considerable pressure on the riders. Most opted to go for a sensible clear without putting their foot on the accelerator too drastically in the hope that it would force others to take risks and pick up faults as a result. Their strategy didn’t pay off however, as two of the three that manged to break the 40 second barrier managed to do so clear and secure the top two places.
It was Max Haunhorst (GER) that took the honours with Chaccara in a time of 39.78 seconds with Nina Mallevaey (FRA) just 3/100th of a second slower with Solitude Au Vent in 39.81. Jack, who broke the finish line clear in a time of 40.01 seconds was the next fastest on a zero penalty score to assure his 3rd place in the line up whilst the only two others to claim a jump-off clear slotted into 4th and 5th place behind him. These clame in the form of Hannes Ahlmann (GER) and Dylan Ringot (FRA) with their times of 40.79 and 41.79
Fellow British riders Jodie Hall McAteer with Coquin d Coquerie Z and Robert Murphy with Chabli also qualified for the jump off, but one down apiece saw them finish in 8th and 9th place respectively.
For full results from the show visit www.grandprix-classic.com.
British Showjumping would like to thank NAF, title sponsors of the Senior Nations Cup Teams along with the Children, Junior and Young Rider teams.
NAF’s premium range of Five Star brands include Superflex, Superflex Senior, PROFEET, Optimum, Magic, Oestress and Respirator Boost with quality at the heart of everything they do. They are a UFAS (Universal Feed Assurance Scheme), GMP+ (International Feed Assurance Scheme) and BETA NOPS (Naturally Occuring Prohibited Substances) accredited company and this enables them to guarantee full traceability on all the natural ingredients they utilise in their formulations, which are also selected in compliance with the FEI guidelines for Clean Sport. For further information, visit www.naf-equine.eu/uk/index.jsp.
Megan Li with Eclipse van Erpekom was the best placed Brit in the Children's Grand Prix. Delivering a double clear, one of only six to do so from a field of almost seventy starters, in a time of 37.31 saw them finish in 5th place. Chiara Reyer (GER) headed the line up with her double clear in a time of 35.03 seconds. And in the Young Rider Grand PRix it was Leonie Aitkenhead that kept the union flag in the line-up with her 8th place finish on Clane K.
The GBR showjumping teams are supported by the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme, funded by UK Sport through the National Lottery. The Programme focuses on identifying talent, developing potential and maximising medal-winning performances on the world stage.
1weon0iftwu19.jpg "Scott Brash makes a long-awaited Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win in Shanghai")
1xtpsebafdw52.jpg "Sienna Hutchings and Mia Pearson Soar to Success in the STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Rounds")