LGCT London 2022 of London - England - LGCT London_03_140_Pohl Nicola GER Arlo de Blondel_20220819_1LB_9490.JPG
London, Royal Hospital Chelsea - 19 August 2022
Ph. Ljuba Buzzola/LGCT
German rider Nicola Pohl and the 12-year-old gelding Arlo De Blondel took advantage of their late draw to rocket to top spot in the CSI2* Hastens 1.40m two-phase on Friday (19 August), the opening day of the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).
The pair came home nearly 3sec quicker than long-time leaders Nicole Lockhead-Anderson (Miss Aragona PS) with another British rider, Alicia Page, finishing third with Diacento.
The winning rider also finished fourth on her other ride, the 10-year-old Catz De Sulpice. However it was the French-bred Arlo De Blondel – a former ride of Jack Whitaker and Michael Whitaker, and Richard Howley most recently – with whom the 26-year-old found the winning formula in an action-packed 54-starter two-phase.
“I’m so happy, it’s an amazing location,” said Nicola, who last competed at the London LGCT four years ago. “Arlo gave everything – he loves the speed!
“I knew in the warm-up he felt good, and in the first phase too, then in the second phase I pushed him a bit quicker but he’s naturally very fast,” she added. “I don’t have to do much – he does his job every time.”
“He’s amazing. He’s fun to ride. A lot of people know him here in London – he seems quite famous in England! I think he’s happy to be home,” said Nicola, who is trained by leading German rider David Will and hopes to ride on more Nations Cup teams later this year.
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“I saw Arlo at the end of last year in Portugal – he was with Richard Howley, but as he had a broken collarbone, Catherine Passmore was showing him there. I always watched him and I always liked him and I kept saying to Donald [Whitaker, Nicola’s boyfriend] how much I liked him, then I got to try him and I loved him.
“We won our first three-star grand prix together in Sharjah [in February]. He’s been produced so nicely by Richard, Jack and Michael and everyone!”
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
