Olympia finishes on high note with a piece of Irish history
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Flamboyant Irishman Cian O’Connor brought Olympia to a rousing climax with a brilliantly cool win in the Alltech Grand Prix and became the first of his countrymen to take this sought-after prize since the great Eddie Macken in 1987.
Riding Aileen Bryan’s elegant Rancorrado, he neatly reversed the previous day’s World Cup form, relegating Dutchman Eric van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Tomboy to second place.
“I’m overjoyed,” said Cian. “Olympia is one of the most amazing shows in the world and this is a competition that every rider wants to win and it’s difficult for Irish riders to get to these shows so I’m very grateful to Simon Brooks-Ward (director) for inviting me.”
German course-designer Frank Rothenberger had set riders a tough course where the turns caught out many leading contenders. Frenchman Timothy Anciaume produced an early clear, but the only other one in the first half came from the young Egyptian Ahmed Said as the likes of Albert Zoer, Steve Guerdat and Ben Maher, the latter two at the last fence, all clocked four faults.
Another clear came from European champion Kevin Staut, then Eric and Cian and then finally Michael Whitaker brought the house down with a clear for Britain on GIG Amai.
In the jump-off, the first three faulted before Eric performed a careful clear, a challenge to which Cian rose with aplomb, his victory sealed when, to loud groans, Amai hit two fences.
“What a class horse,” Cian said appreciatively afterwards before heading off to celebrate. “He’s a big horse but he’s nimble and he’s really learned to shorten.”
Cian recalled his first Olympia visit, aged 19, 11 years ago. “I came with a friend and we hadn’t got the money for the air fare home, but I asked a few of the leading riders who they thought would win and we managed to earn our flight money home at the bookies’. At least they’ve won a fair few bob on me this week! It’s been my dream ever since to come and win a big competition here and it doesn’t come much better than these two days.”
A packed home crowd, undaunted by the foul weather outside, gave Cian a great reception. Earlier, Ben Maher had given them more to cheer about with a second win on his magical grey horse Wonderboy in the Eraser Speed Stakes, while runaway success Pius Schwizer took the H & M Leading Rider of the Show award home to Switzerland, thus proving the international flavour of this magical Christmas show that all the riders want to win at.