Posted: 19th May 2014 | Back to news feed
Robert Whitaker
closed the international competitions at Royal Windsor Horse Show with a
spectacular round of show jumping to claim first place in the Alltech Grand
Prix for The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy. Riding Catwalk, the Yorkshireman had a
little bit of luck to help him clip one and a half seconds off his cousin William’s
leading time.
“I was pretty fast between the first three fences, but I am not sure what
happened at the end,” said Robert, 31. “Everyone was pushing for the second
last and I was holding; I was a bit lucky!”
Seven riders had gone clear over the testing course and Daniel Neilson, a brand
ambassador for one of the show’s sponsors, Hermes, set the standard from the
get-go in the jump-off on Varo M.
“It’s tough being first to go,”said Daniel. “Especially with so many good
riders following you.”
Although a good standard had been set, William Whitaker pinched back two
seconds on his girlfriend Elizabeth Freudlund’s Fandango.
“Fandango had some good results, including winning a grand prix in Spain this
year,” said Elizabeth, who handed over Fandango’s reins to William when she
fell pregnant with their first child, Bella.
However, Robert prevented his cousins winning by finding extra time on course
with his mother Clare’s 11-year-old stallion.
“I hadn’t realised William was two seconds faster than Dan,” said Robert, who
will join both Dan and William in St Gallen on a British Nations Cup team. “So
I was going pretty quick.
“It’s great to win this class here. It’s always been a top show, and sure the
weather has helped, but there’s lots of people here, lots of backing, good
riders, a great atmosphere and the horses have jumped fantastically off the
[Martin Collins] surface.”
Early in the day, swiftness was all important in the Speed Stakes. France’s
Julien Gonin was victorious with his own Queen Girl Kervec. He prevented a
fourth win at the show for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Sharbatly,
who came second with Andrea.
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