‘I’m hanging on in there!’ John Whitaker shows ‘young speed merchants’ how it’s done in London

As well as focussing on the serious jumping, John Whitaker was among those who enjoyed taking part in the legendary fancy dress class.

(Image credit: LIHS / Peter Nixon)

The legendary John Whitaker showed the “young speed merchants” how it’s done to win the Santa Stakes – and said winning at the London International Horse Show never gets old.

John and HH Prince Torki bin Mohammed Al Saud’s Sharid were the only combination to jump off clear in the 1.50m class, beating Scott Brash and Hello Mr President’s turbo-powered but four-fault round into second place.

John and the versatile 14-year-old, with whom he won the six-bar at Horse of the Year Show this year, were third of six to jump off, and with no clears before him, John judged that aiming to leave all the fences up was his best bet. The strategy paid off, when none of those who followed – Matt Sampson on MGH Candy Girl, Kendra Claricia Brinkop on Ma Belle and Lorenzo de Luca with Violino Il Palazetto – could match his feat.

“It’s only his second class this week so he’s fresh,” said John of the 14-year-old Toulon gelding. “He’s not an easy ride but he can really jump and when everything works out, it’s good. It was a tough enough course but with the others not going clear I thought maybe don’t take all the risks. I knew my time was beatable but I was clear, and it put just the right amount of pressure on the others.”

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘I’m hanging on in there!’ John Whitaker shows ‘young speed merchants’ how it’s done in London

The home crowd roared its appreciation of the 68-year-old showjumping legend to the rooftops, and John said such moments, followed by the gallop under the spotlights, never get old.

“In front of your own crowd, and such an enthusiastic audience; it’s a fantastic feeling,” he said. “It keeps me young!”

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