German riders dominated a top class afternoon of showjumping at the London International Horse Show Olympia.
Marco Kutscher and Cornet’s Cristallo triumphed in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier (Sunday 21 December), just beating his team-mate Daniel Deusser with an equally daring performance on catch ride Carriere.
Third place went to Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson riding the 14-year-old one-eyed stallion H&M Tornesch – a great result for her sponsors on Olympia’s H&M Sunday.
Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV) finished best of the British riders in fourth – no mean feat from a difficult first draw in an electric 13-rider jump-off. Ireland’s Bertram Allen, 19, recorded the fastest time of the afternoon but with one down on the 10-year-old mare Molly Malone V for seventh.
“I actually didn’t have the perfect jump-off – the beginning was fine but I missed coming in to the double,” said Marco, previously based with the great Ludger Beerbaum. “I hoped I was quicker but only when I saw the screen was I sure. It’s a very special show and I look forward to coming here every year. I was actually lucky that some other German riders cancelled so I got in. But it’s one of my favourite shows of the indoor season.”
Second placed Daniel Deusser, the current World Cup title-holder, only sat on 11-year-old mare Carriere on Tuesday after two of his top horses were injured. Five days later they were on the podium in London.
“She’s done an unbelievable job today,” he said.
Robert Whitaker and the 11-year-old Catwalk IV have been on flying form recently with some good results in Madrid and La Coruna. Find out what he thinks is the secret to this quirky horse’s success in this video below.
Don’t miss the bumper report from all the jumping action at Olympia in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out on 31 December.
