Man Williams, Ben Maher and Mikey Pender win

The 2022 Longines International Champions Tour reached its thrilling conclusion in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night time (22 October) when Ben Maher smashed into the document books with a historic hat-trick, whereas 23-year-old Mikey Pender additionally stole the highlight with a panoramic grand prix efficiency. The Longines FEI World Cup leaping sequence rolled on to Helsinki, Finland, the place Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli stated her techniques for securing an enormous class double was simply to “preserve calm”. In the meantime, in Portugal, one in every of our favorite stallions on the circuit, the eye-catching Ernie Of Greenhill Z, earned his first second of grand prix glory beneath an professional journey from Man Williams.

Right here is H&H’s weekly spherical up of worldwide motion from the world of showjumping over the previous week, plus showjumping outcomes.

‘Ernie was due a win’

On the CSI3* Villamoura Champions Tour in Portugal, Man Williams and the 10-year-old Emerald stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z (most important picture above) landed Sunday’s grand prix after an exciting six-way jump-off. Man solely took the reins on Ernie earlier this yr and focused this function class on week two of this Tour, successful in spectacular fashion from his countryman Adrian Speight using Millfield Baloney.

“I used to be second to go and I simply went as fast as I might and clear,” stated Man. “Adrian was simply behind me then Piergiorgio Bucci [who finished third] was proper behind him. The course-builder advised me once I was strolling the course that he hoped for 5 or 6 clears, so he was spot on – it was a pleasant course and the time was all proper. Fortunately I used to be on the proper finish of the ultimate six.”

Man and Ernie, who’s registered as bay however has very uncommon white markings, jumped their first grand prix in June and that is the primary time they’ve discovered the successful components.

“He hadn’t finished an terrible lot after we discovered him, he’s come on so much and he’s jumped clear in a number of grands prix now, however he’s simply been a bit unfortunate actually,” stated Man. “He was making a number of foolish errors however we’ve rectified that and he was due a win. I didn’t bounce the primary week as I assumed I would have the ability to win on this second week and all of it went to plan! Each different week right here there’s a four-star prize fund for a three-star present, it’s actually good.”

Man additionally debuted the brand new nine-year-old mare Namika, leaping some beautiful clears within the course of.

“I’ve solely had her per week so I don’t know an excessive amount of about her but, the homeowners have despatched her to me and we’ll see how she goes,” stated Man, whose daughter Maisy can also be in motion on the present.

Villamoura Champions Tour showjumping outcomes

Mikey Pender’s 300k jackpot

Mikey Pender, 23, landed his second grand prix of the Longines International Champions Tour when beating his three jump-off rivals in Saudi Arabia, to win Saturday’s €900,000 (£782,000) Riyadh grand prix. Drawn third, Mikey and Marion Hughes’s enormous striding Irish-bred HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x Obos High quality 004) smashed the earlier occasions set by Jur Vrieling (Lengthy John Silver 3) and Harrie Smolders with Monaco NOP.

The 11-year-old gelding HHS Calais, expertly ridden by the younger Irishman, flexed each muscle to clear the fences they usually have been simply 0.01sec up on the clock on the cut up. They then pirouetted around the bends and executed a panoramic twist over the huge last oxer to soar into prime spot in a time of 35.78sec. The penultimate rider, Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Indiana, rocketed spherical however faulted at a late oxer, leaving Mikey to gather the €300,000 prime prize, following up on his earlier victory in Valkenswaard.

“I can’t consider it, my horse jumped unbelievable,” stated Mikey. “It’s emotional and I’d prefer to thank the workforce at residence. With out them, days like this wouldn’t be potential.”

The highest-placed British rider in Saturday night time’s grand prix was Harry Charles (Borsato) in ninth after succumbing, like a number of mixtures, to the center a part of the treble mixture in spherical one. Even the world champions Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward confirmed a uncommon second of vulnerability, coming residence with 12 faults, whereas Shane Breen and Vistogrand suffered the agony of tipping the entrance rail of the ultimate oxer in an in any other case foot-perfect efficiency to complete on 4 faults, simply out of the cash.

LGCT grand prix of Riyadh outcomes

Ben Maher’s historic hat-trick: “He’s an actual champion”

Nice Britain’s Ben Maher introduced he “couldn’t be prouder proper now,” after turning into the primary rider in Longines International Champions Tour (LGCT) historical past to assert three championship titles.

The Hertfordshire rider collected 4 faults in spherical one of many function class using Oakingham Stud’s 12-year-old stallion Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde), the slightest error coming on the triple bar, three fences from residence. However when his two key rivals, Pieter Devos with the barefoot mare Mother’s Toupie De La Roque and Christian Ahlmann on the mighty stallion Dominator 2000 Z, got here residence with eight faults apiece on Uliano Vezzani’s testing monitor, the 2022 LGCT title went to the seemingly invincible British rider.

“It’s been an unbelievable yr,” stated Ben, who was topped LGCT champion of champions in 2018 and 2019 and till this weekend had stood alongside Scott Brash and Edwina Tops-Alexander as the one riders to have earned twin LGCT championships. “Faltic’s been an incredible horse – it’s the primary yr he’s come to this stage and sadly we didn’t win a grand prix this yr, however he’s been unbelievably constant, with many prime placings.”

Ben’s groom in Riyadh was Derrin Lake, and third-placed Christian paid tribute to the successful workforce: “Massive congratulations to Ben, he’s an actual champion, he has nothing to show anymore and he claimed probably the most factors over the season so he’s the deserved winner and the one to beat subsequent season!”

LGCT of Riyadh outcomes

“Dream” double for Swedish contender and “feisty” mare

Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli of Sweden scooped victory within the second leg of the Longines FEI Leaping World Cup in Helsinki, Finland, using the “feisty” 12-year-old mare Kalinka Van De Nachtegaele (pictured, above). This very good win got here after the pair’s victory in the day past’s CSI5* Defender Grand Trophy.

“I do know my horse is tremendous fast however I needed to keep calm or she would get too excited,” stated Angelica, who was drawn final in a 10-strong jump-off and acquired recommendation from her husband Marlon, who was additionally in motion within the class. “I had my plan and went as quick as I might whereas maintaining her beneath management and it labored.

“She’s very particular, she’s very delicate and delicate however when she enters the world she desires to win. She’s been additional wonderful during the last six months and I believe her greatest years are nonetheless to return – she’s getting higher on a regular basis!”

Marlon added: “I’m so comfortable for Angelica, it’s a dream for us to be within the prime sport collectively!”

Three members of the Whitaker household have been in motion within the qualifier – Robert, Donald and Jack, who completed ninth with 4 faults within the jump-off using Equine America Valmy De La Lande. Donald additionally claimed an outstanding five-star win the day past using the 11-year-old mare Little Khira H.

Sixth-placed World Cup rider Victoria Gulliksen of Norway and Equine America Papa Roach now head the general standings in Europe forward of the third leg in Lyon, France, this Sunday.

Helsinki Worldwide Horse Present outcomes

Specific success for Burke

Irish rider Jessica Burke, who would be the visitor on this week’s Horse & Hound Podcast, received the Masters on the CSI4* St. Lo, France, using Specific Development. Liam Nicholas’s 12-year-old gelding remained faultless over the 5 rounds to assert the E3,000 prime prize.

CSI4* St Lo showjumping outcomes

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