Michael Whitaker and Viking V – 2nd in Rome Grand Prix
Monday 26 May 2014
Michael Whitaker from Whatton, Nottinghamshire narrowly missed out on winning the 5* Roma Loro Piana Grand Prix in Rome with it’s €200,000 prize fund. It was literally just 0.02 seconds that separated Michael from taking pole position over Eric Lamaze with Zigalis PS for Canada, making it one of the closest fought Grand Prix’s that any of the spectators could remember having watched.
Michael with his own 12 year-old chestnut gelding Viking V, with whom he won Team Gold at the European Championships in Herning last year, had also been on the Nations Cup team on Friday where they had produced a foot perfect clear in the first round.
It was Frank Schuttert, for Holland with Winchester Hs that slotted into third place.
Peter Charles MBE with Olga White’s and Team Murka’s 12 year-old bay mare Murka’s Odie de Frevent jumped clear in the first round; however, stopping the clock just outside the time allowed saw them incur a time penalty. With the fastest lowest faulting competitors also being Invited to come forward for the jump off and join the small field that had jumped clear - they put in a faultless round to move up the placings and secure 7th place.
Results
1st Eric Lamaze & Zigali PS (Can) 0/0 41.29 seconds
2nd Michael Whitaker & Viking V (Gbr) 0/0 41.31 seconds
3rd Frank Schuttert & Winchester HS (Ned) 0/0 42.26 seconds
4th Alexander Zetterman & Cafino (Swe) 0/0 44.01 seconds
5th Marie Hecart & Myself de Breve (Fran) 0/0 44.02 seconds
6th Patrick Stuhlmeyer & Lacan (Ger) 0/0 46.08 seconds
7th Peter Charles MBE & Murka’s Odie de Frevent (Gbr) 1/0 47.44 seconds
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