Friday, 30 January 2015 CSI3* CSI1* CSIYH1* GHPC

John Whitaker wins in the GLOCK’s Grand Prix Qualification

Presenting show jumping of the very highest standard today were 46 duos participating in the first of a total of four Longines world ranking jumping competitions at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER. The CSI3* GLOCK’s Perfection Tour course over 1.50 m extended over two rounds, with all fault-free riders qualifying for the second round.

Here it was really exciting right from the start, because the very first to go through the gates was twice GLOCK’s Grand Prix winner John Whitaker (GBR), the most successful show-jumping rider of all time. The British rider and his good-natured,13-year-old stallion Argento, went on the attack from the first pace at gallop, executed each jump with perfection and set a benchmark of 43.49 seconds, which remained unbeaten to the last. At the winner’s interview, John Whitaker made his objectives for the remainder of the weekend perfectly clear: "Tomorrow Argento has a rest and, on Sunday, we hope to win the GLOCK’s CSI3* Grand Prix again."

An objective sure also to be in the sights of Paul Estermann from Switzerland. Riding his also 13-year-old, Irish-reared mare Castlefield Eclipse, his fate was to be pipped to the post by less than half a second, achieving second place in 43.91 seconds.

Also completing a pretty fast round was Marco Kutscher (GER). This double bronze medal winner at the Olympic Games, on Balance, the eleven-year-old son of Baloubet du Rouet, also sped through the tournament arena of the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER in a fault-free 44.31 seconds and was rewarded for his efforts with third place.

GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder (NED) and twelve-year-old Holsteiner GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc gave an outstanding performance. Both in the first and in the second round, this progeny of Clearway jumped simply superbly and, through measured riding effort with a time of  46.62 seconds, the GLOCK dream team ultimately secured eighth place.

Once again, the best Austrian was Jürgen Krackow from Salzburg. In the saddle on Ailonka,  during the second round he conceded one knockdown, but his time of 45.46 seconds was more than adequate for twelfth place.

12 - CSI3* GLOCK’s PERFECTION TOUR
Int. jumping competition over 2 rounds, 1.50 m

1. Argento - Whitaker John (GBR) 0/43.49 sec  
2. Castlefield Eclipse - Estermann Paul (SUI) 0/43.91 sec  
3. Balance - Kutscher Marco (GER) 0/44.31 sec  
4. USA Today - Whitaker Robert (GBR) 0/44.33 sec  
5. Colorit - Will David (GER) 0/44.79 sec  
6. Uzo van het Hobos Z - Fuchs Martin (SUI) 0/45.50 sec  
7. Echo van T Spieveld - Bruynseels Niels (BEL) 0/46.15 sec
8. Glock’s Cognac Champblanc - Schröder Gerco (NED) 0/46.62 sec  
9. Cannavaro 17 - Coata Simone (ITA) 0/48.43 sec  
10.Bas - Aufrecht Pia-Luise (GER) 0/50.82 sec  
11.Caesario 6 - Garofalo Giampiero (ITA) 4/41.86 sec  
12.Ailonka - Krackow Jürgen (AUT/S) 4/45.46 sec
Link to results

John Whitaker (GBR) and Argento are an absolute dream team. They triumphed in the first qualification for GLOCK’s CSI3* Grand Prix. © Michael Rzepa

Paul Estermann from Switzerland and his Castlefield Eclipse earned second place in the first qualification for GLOCK’s CSI3* Grand Prix. © Michael Rzepa

Marco Kutscher (GER) and Balance won a magnificent third place in the CSI3* GLOCK’s Perfection Tour. © Michael Rzepa

GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder and GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc demonstrated their capabilities in the first qualification for GLOCK’s CSI3* Grand Prix, riding to eighth place. © Michael Rzepa

Salzburg’s Jürgen Krackow and Ailonka achieved twelfth place in the first qualification for GLOCK’s CSI3* Grand Prix. © Michael Rzepa

At the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER he isn’t just a regular guest, he’s also a regular winner: John Whitaker from Great Britain enjoys congratulations from Ulrike Payrer (GHPC) and Franz-Peter Bockholt (Sports Director GHPC). © Nini Schäbel