British showjumpers pipped to the post at Hickstead
Celebrating its centenary, the Royal International Horse Show took place at Hickstead showground in Sussex on Tuesday 24th to Sunday 29th July. One of the world’s oldest shows, the vast, top-class facilities at Hickstead allow the competition of various equestrian disciplines to take place at the same venue.
A highlight of the event is perhaps the British public’s one chance to watch their national showjumping team compete on home-turf as they battle it out against seven other nations in the Samsung Super League.
The show played host to the sixth of eight stages in the league. The British team, including Nick Skelton riding Russel, William Funnel with Cortaflex Mondriaan, Ellen Whitaker on Locarno and Michael Whitaker riding Suncal Portofino 63, were the much-fancied winners of this event, and hopes were high as they came out leading on five faults after the first round. Four faults were picked up by Nick Skelton, an unlucky single time fault by William Funnel, Ellen’s eight faults were the discarded score of this round and Michael Whitaker jumped a clear; this being one of only two clears in the first round of the competition.
The second round however put pressure on the British team as the all-female American team produced three clear rounds. Nick went in to jump a clear, but with faults produced from William and Ellen, the result was left in John’s hands, who unluckily knocked two fences and decided to retire, leaving the British team’s final tally at 18, which was bettered by the American team with 12.
This victory for the States pulled them up from the bottom of the league to sixth, now with a score of 19.5, leaving Sweden in eighth place on 16. Britain is currently in second place with 28.5, with Germany in the lead on 37.5.
The seventh leg of the league is set to take place in Dublin from the 8th to the 13th August, with the final taking place at Barcelona’s International Showjumping Event, held from the 13th to the 16th September.
