In London, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, presented by Agria, took centre stage as a 1.60m class with a jump-off, where once again the margins came down to the smallest details. Only five combinations jumped clear in the first round, before a fast jump-off decided the order at the top.
Victory went to Austria’s Max Kühner with EIC Cooley Jump the Q (Pacino). The pair produced a faultless round in 71.47 seconds and then kept a second clear in the jump-off, stopping the clock in 33.94 seconds.
Kühner said: “I saw Donald Whitaker go and I know him and his horse, so I knew they would be very fast. There really wasn’t anywhere left where I could still save a bit of time, but everything came very fluently to me and Cooley really helped me.”
Great Britain’s Donald Whitaker finished second in front of the home crowd with Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky) after a clear in 72.72 seconds, followed by another lightning-fast clear jump-off in 35.52 seconds.
“Colette jumped fantastic. Over the last two, three years she’s basically been getting better every round and every show. I’m absolutely delighted. Losing is never nice, but being second in a World Cup here, I would have signed for that on day one,” Whitaker reacted afterwards.
Third place went to Ireland’s Cian O’Connor with Chatolinue PS (Diablo Blanco), who also produced a double clear, posting 72.73 seconds in the first round and 37.24 seconds in the jump-off.
O’Connor was pleased: “Chatolinue is very special. We’ve only done a few big shows together, so I’m really happy to be here. He jumped so well tonight, I’m very, very satisfied. I don’t know him well enough yet; with a new horse you don’t want to ask too much and maybe surprise him. This was the type of round I was hoping for and we can build on that, especially when we have more space outdoors in the new year. Hopefully it can keep progressing toward good results at five-star level.”
Robert Whitaker placed fourth with Vermento (Argento) after a clear first round in 70.28 seconds and four faults in the jump-off in 33.90 seconds, while Penelope Leprevost completed the top five with Baloubet de Talma (Baloubet du Rouet) with four faults in the jump-off in 35.72 seconds.
For the Netherlands, Hessel Hoekstra rode Comthago VDL (Comme Il Faut) to seventh place. Hoekstra jumped clear over the fences but picked up one time penalty, finishing in 73.54 seconds to take a prize placing.
