Another British championship horse on the sidelines

Robert Whitaker has withdrawn from the British sqaud heading to the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup final next week (9-12 October).

Robert and the 11-year-old Catwalk IV (pictured), owned by Clare Whitaker and Mandy Hall, were due to head to Barcelona but Robert told H&H the horse is “just not 100%”.

The pair competed in the Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows last month where the team finished sixth.

Robert will now head to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham, which clashes with the Barcelona final.

He will be replaced in the squad by Holly Gillott from Loughborough with nine-year-old gelding Dougie Douglas.

Spencer Roe (Wonder Why), Joe Clee (Utamaro d’Ecaussines) and Michael Whitaker (Elie van de Kolmen or Cassionato), who all rode at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last month and William Whitaker (Fandango) make up the squad.

After uncertain approach to the final, Britain scraped through to qualify at the last opportunity — at Dublin in August.

The final of the series takes place at the Real Polo Club de Barcelona and will see 18 teams from nine countries battle it out.

The final will consist of three competitions. The top eight teams from the opening class will go to the third and final competition, while the remainder will compete in the Challenge Cup, which will be held before the final competition

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

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.