Events

Olympia Celebrates Its Centenary Year

The 2007 London International Horse Show at Olympia was one of the most exciting in the show’s history. Apart from all the usual variety of horsemanship and wonderful festive atmosphere there were six days of top class show jumping, including the World Cup Qualifier and the Puissance, as well as the Dressage World Cup Qualifier and a Dressage Masterclass from double Olympic gold medallist and World champion Anky van Grunsven. It was a sell out too, with more than 8,000 people a day enjoying all the show has to offer.

There really is something for everyone at Olympia, from the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship to the Kennel Club Agility Stakes. There was an opportunity to see some of the rising young stars of the show jumping world and for music lovers there was Freestyle Dressage and the brilliant display of the British Riding Clubs Quadrille of the Year, in which the Moat View Riding Club put on a dramatic routine as Furious Angels, which won them the top spot.

There were plenty of record breaking performances too, including Bunowen Castle Ri, a Connemara stallion owned by Jackie Webb who became only the second pony in the history of the competition to win the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Supreme Championship twice.

For dressage aficionados there was Laura Bechtolsheimer’s Grand Prix performance on Mistral Hojris when she scored over 75% – the highest ever score by a British rider in an international Grand Prix – which placed her second to the best dressage rider in the world, Anky van Grunsven. Anky unveiled her brand new freestyle to music test at Olympia for the first time in a competition - she wowed audience and judges alike and it was declared that she had taken the sport of dressage to a new level.

Britain’s most popular dressage riders also had a ood show – Carl Hester finished fourth overall on his new ride Dolendo, and popular amateur rider Steph Croxford came ninth with her endearing horse Mr President and also topped a wonderful year by being presented with the award for Dressage Horse of the Year. Top international rider Emile Faurie showed off his new Grand Prix horse Dream of Heildelberg – surely a star of the future. Together the British dressage riders certainly showed that there is a lot of talent and potential out there as we start this Olympic year.

Of course there was also a feast of top class show jumping; the Christmas Pair Relay, the Santa Stakes, the Speed Stakes, the Olympia Grand Prix, the Christmas Puissance, the British Challenge and the Christmas Masters, as well as the FEI World Cup Qualifier.

With thousands of pounds worth of prizes on offer there were plenty of top riders keen to have a go, including no less than five Whitakers. There were a dozen British wins but the Brits did not have it all their own way – top Irish rider Jessica Kurten won the World Cup Qualifier on Castle Forbes Libertina, after an exciting jump-off that also featured Michael Whitaker, John Whitaker, Tim Stockdale and Nick Skelton.

William Whitaker jumped 7ft 2ins on Insultech Leonardo to win his first Puissance; Robert Whitaker won the six bar class with Finbar V and the Masters on Prima Vera, and went on to win the Olympia leading rider award. Robert’s father, John, won the British Challenge, William Funnell and 17 year-old Amber Du Montoise won the Speed Stakes, Robert Smith and Mr Springfield won the Accumulator and Robert also won the Welcome Speed class on Kalusha. There were many thrills and spills and the world’s number one show jumper – Okidoki, ridden by Dutchman Albert Zoer - beat nine others in the jump off to win the Centenary Grand Prix.

As well as all the serious competition, let’s not forget the entertainment; every night the Ukrainian Cossacks and the world famous Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment showed what good riding and horsemanship is all about. Olympia would not be the same without the Shetland Pony Grand National and the famous Christmas finale, this year featuring a wonderful collection of horses and riders and Father Christmas of course, fascinating and hilarious old Pathe news clips and beautiful music from the international violinist Victoria Yellop – all set off by narrator Simon Callow.

It was truly a vintage centenary year – roll on 2008 and the Olympic Games!