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He’s back! John Whitaker makes winning return after two months on the sidelines

Jennifer Donald Jennifer Donald

    • Legendary showjumper John Whitaker has made a very welcome return to competition after spending two months on the sidelines.

    At the end of February, the 70-year-old Yorkshireman underwent a hernia operation and had to take a very rare few weeks out of the saddle while he recuperated.

    Proving, however, that you can’t keep a good man down, it wasn’t long before John Whitaker was back riding again. At just his second show back since his operation, John made a seamless return to his winning ways at the CSI2* Spring International at Chard, Somerset.

    The Olympic, world and European championship medallist partnered his 18-year-old stalwart Equine America Unick Du Francport to land the CSI2* big tour Longines rankings grand prix with the only double clear.

    “‘Frank’, touch wood, seems really strong and happy, he jumped well all weekend,” said John, who was making a debut appearance at Chard after his enforced time off.

    “We did one small show, but this is our first decent show back since the op, so we’re just building back up.”

    John Whitaker shows his rivals how it should be done

    Ben Townley’s 1.45m grand prix track at Chard was exacting jumping, with a brutal time-allowed. Katie Speller, 37th to go with Z7 Pink Panther, produced the first clean sheet, and just two others joined her for the jump-off – Gemma Stevens, with the nine-year-old Warrior Special, and John.

    Katie was first out and had a rail, stopping the clock in 40.37sec before Gemma also tipped one, in the double of verticals, an atom faster in a time of 40.36sec.

    The door was left wide open for John and Frank, who have delivered clears under much higher pressure, and they remained faultless in 43.15sec.

    “In the first round, you had no choice but to go for it to make the time,” said John. “In the jump-off, I was lucky to be after the other two.

    “I set off quite quickly just in case I had an early fence and once I was through the double of verticals, which was big enough and easy to knock down, I eased up a bit and made sure the rest was clear.”

    John and Frank were crowned the worthy winners, Gemma finishing second and Katie taking the final podium spot. Placing fourth and fifth with a time-fault apiece in round one were John’s nephew William Whitaker (Millfield Quickstep) and Eoin Brennan (Augustus Z).

    It’s great to have you back, John!

    Read the full report from the CSI2* Spring International at Chard in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 30 April.

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    Jennifer Donald
    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.
    Jennifer Donald

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