ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING 2010/2011 - ROUND 7 AT LONDON

EMOTIONAL MICHAEL WHITAKER WINS COVETED OLYMPIA CROWN

Emotion ran high as Great Britain's Michael Whitaker celebrated his spectacular victory in today's seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series at Olympia in London.  The 50 year old Yorkshire-born rider was almost speechless with delight after seeing off a class field that included second-placed Irishman Billy Twomey and World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France who had to settle for third.  Whitaker choked back the tears in a post-competition TV interview - "the draw had a lot to do with it" he said modestly, but this did little justice to the skill with which he steered his 10 year old gelding home to an explosion of applause from the ecstatic home crowd.

"The best man won here today" declared Twomey, whose former mentor, Whitaker, has watched the Irishman steadily climb up the rankings this season.  "They say form is temporary, but class is permanent!" Twomey added, paying the ultimate compliment to the man who started him on his road to success.

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2010/2011 Western European League - Standings After Round 7 at Olympia, London GBR:
1.    Kevin Staut FRA                -    78
2.    Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE        -    57
3.    Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER    -    50
4.    Billy Twomey IRL                -    44
5.    Harrie Smolders NED            -    41
6.    Christian Ahlmann GER            -    40
7.    Rodrigo Pessoa BRA            -    36
8.    Michael Whitaker GBR            -    35
9.    Carsten-Otto Nagel GER            -    33
10.    Ludger Beerbaum GER            -    31
11.    Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE        -    29
12.    Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP        -    29
13.    Gerco Schroder NED            -    28
14.    Robert Whitaker GBR            -    28
15.    Leon Thijssen NED                 -    27
16.    Philipp Weishaupt GER            -    24
17.    Marco Kutscher GER            -    23
18.    Lars Nieberg GER                -    22

Make this Community Strong:

Be the first to add a comment!