Day four of London International Horse Show once again featured thrilling competition and breathtaking performances across the three sessions. The highlight of the day came from Ijsbrand Chardon’s brilliant performance in the second leg of the FEI Driving World Cup™ Qualifier Karen and Hugh Scott-Barrett. Meanwhile, earlier in the CSI-W5* Show Jumping Classes, Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir claimed his second win of the week with a victory in The Snowflake Speed Stakes, while Daniel Coyle secured the top spot in The Longines Christmas Cracker.
The International Arena also saw participants of the Defender Shetland Pony Grand National award the Bob Champion Cancer Trust an impressive £42,267, which was raised over the course of the year.
In addition to the range of high-quality Showing classes, the New Horizon Plastics London Arena hosted the second edition of The Brilliance Horse Auction Co.’s Elite Collection with a drinks reception hosted by Equiyd. The top lot – Drive Me Crazy – fetched an impressive £450,000.
Chardon’s champions
The FEI Driving World Cup™ Qualifier, presented by Karen and Hugh Scott-Barrett, concluded this evening with seven teams vying for the prestigious title. With only three teams returning for the exhilarating drive-off, the pressure was on from the moment they entered the arena. Despite incurring penalties for two fallen balls, Ijsbrand Chardon secured his place in the second round. Ten-time FEI World Cup™ Final winner Boyd Exell and last night’s class winner Dries Degrieck joined the Dutchman in the final showdown.
The drive-off proved tense, with teams returning in reverse order of merit. First to go was Dries Degrieck, who set the pace with a time of 161.76 seconds, including four penalties. Next up, 27-time Dutch National Champion Ijsbrand Chardon maintained an impressive speed through the marathon obstacles, taking the lead with a time of 153.86 seconds. Last to tackle the course was World No.1 Boyd Exell. Despite his best efforts, one-ball fell leaving Chardon to claim the coveted title – a prize he has not won since 2017.
Speaking on his victory, Chardon exclaimed: “The level was very high this evening – my team was very fast. The horses were fantastic and I am very proud of them. I knew Boyd was coming after me and so there was no room for mistakes – and today I made none.”
Just Incredible
The Longines Christmas Cracker, a 1.50m jump-off class, saw 13 of the 25 starters go through to a second round against the clock. First to go over the shortened course was Britain’s Scott Brash, riding Hello Folie, who laid down the gauntlet to those who followed, setting a time to beat of 33.84 seconds.
Ireland’s Daniel Coyle – winner of the London Grand Prix in 2023 – soon took over the lead, taking over three seconds off Brash’s time. Many of those who followed tried in vain to catch the World No. 12 from Ireland. Crowd favourite Ben Maher came close, as did Robert Whitaker and last night’s London Grand Prix winner Mariano Martinez Bastida. World No. 9 Martin Fuchs had the crowd on the edge of their seats, leaving no stones unturned, however despite a faster time than Coyle, four faults at the last fence left Fuchs out of the placings.
It was left to Britain’s reigning Young Rider Individual European Champion, Oliver Fletcher, as last to go to shake up the placings. However, he too accrued four faults at the final Longines oxer, leaving Coyle to take the victory ahead of Maher and Whitaker in second and third respectively.
A jubilant Coyle said: “This Show last year was so fast and so much fun, all my friends and family are here, so I really want to do well, and I really enjoyed tonight.”
Talking about his horse, Incredible, Coyle continued: “I haven’t even had him a year yet, so I’m still getting to know him, but he won a FEI World Cup™ Qualifier almost immediately after I got him, he’s done some Nations Cups™ this year, but it will be this time next year before I know everything about him and I’m trying to learn as much as I can, whilst doing this at this level, which isn’t easy, but he’s a good horse.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier, Coyle said: “I was third last year – I went as fast as I could but Scott and Ben still beat me, so I’m going to try to change that tomorrow. I really enjoyed it last year and it really drove me on for the Grand Prix, it made me more hungry. Similarly this year, I won tonight, but I’m still hungry for tomorrow!”
Winning Wilm
Earlier in the day, The Snowflake Stakes, held over one round, provided a fast and thrilling competition for the packed crowds. First to set the pace was yesterday’s winner of The Christmas Tree Stakes, Darragh Kenny, who produced a clear round in a time of 57.38 seconds.
His lead, however, was quickly usurped by former World No. 1 Kevin Staut, who, partnered with the talented nine-year-old gelding Queen’s Balou B, took the lead by 0.51 seconds. Just three horses later, Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir, winner of the first CSI-W5* Jumping class this week, utilized his mare’s natural speed to claim the provisional top spot. The remaining 13 combinations all tried to match the round set by Vermeir – France’s Julien Anquetin came closest, but was still over a second-and-a-half slower.
Last to go, Britain’s Jack Whitaker kept the home crowd’s hopes alive with a faster time, but sadly, four faults at the third to last fence, kept the young rider out of the top spots. His cousins Donald and Robert Whitaker, however, took fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Discussing his winning round Vermeir said: “She’s a really fast horse and I had a quick round, so combining the two together made us very fast! I rode her mother and grandmother – I won a lot with her grandmother – so I know the family very well. I knew I had done a good round, but when I saw Jack go, I started to hesitate a bit! I’m having a great week – the atmosphere and the public here are unbelievable.”
Gemma Stevens opened the Afternoon Performance with a spectacular win in the Cavago Six Bar jumping class. Thirteen competitors stepped up to tackle the five-round challenge, featuring six vertical fences that grew taller with each round. The course, with four fences in a row providing the ultimate test of agility, allowed only those who cleared every jump to advance to the next round.
By the fifth and final round, just two combinations remained; defending champions John Whitaker aboard Sharid and British Olympic eventer Gemma Stevens with Envoy Merelsnest Z. The crowd was thrilled as these two equestrian greats faced the last round with the last fence towering at 1.95m, in which Stevens – who won team Eventing gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games – emerged victorious.
Reflecting on her win with Envoy Merelsnest Z, Stevens said: “Honestly, I am amazed – he was absolutely brilliant. I’ve always known he can jump a big vertical, but putting it all together is the real challenge. I genuinely can’t believe we won today. The atmosphere here at London International is incredible, and like usual he gave his all, trying so hard to clear every jump.”
Stars of the future shine bright
Twelve of the country’s brightest young riders lined-up in the Green Mile Bedding Mini Stakes (148cm). Of the seven making it through to the jump-off, four were part of the victorious British team at the European Pony Championships earlier this year.
First to face the shortened course against the clock was Ella Spencer riding Gilton des Islots, who set the standard jumping clear in a time of 32.56 seconds. Spencer’s lead was short lived, as Cate Kerr – part of that successful European team – shaved 0.41 seconds off her time to take over position.
With just two remaining, the lead changed once again, with Emily Gulliver riding Fleur de Nuit making the tightest of turns to set the new time to beat. Last to go, Holly Gerken – winner of the 148cm Championship at Horse of the Year Show and another member of gold medal-winning team – wasn’t able to match Gulliver’s performance, leaving 14-year-old Gulliver to take the title.
A delighted Gulliver said: “My pony was very very good, I couldn’t be more happy with her. I wasn’t sure if I had done enough, I hoped I had, but I wasn’t sure, so I’m very happy. It’s definitely the biggest win of my career!”
Sublime showing continues
The New Horizon Plastics London Arena was the stage for two exceptional Championships today, both highlighting performance excellence: the New Horizon Plastics BSPS Performance Coloured Championship and the BSPS Performance Pony Championship. The standard of competition was outstanding, with great displays of skill and partnership.
In the New Horizon Plastics BSPS Performance Coloured Championship, Kayleigh Catton and her striking piebald partner, Horsmans Landlord – also known as Barry – delivered an incredible Show that secured their Champion title. The duo impressed the judges with their elegance and manners in the show ring. Reflecting on her win, Catton shared: “I feel ecstatic. He is such a superstar. We travelled from the Wirral yesterday, which took about five hours, and every mile has been worth it. I’d like to thank London International Horse Show for hosting these classes – we truly appreciate it.”
In the BSPS Performance Pony Championship, Maisie Kerry-Oates and her six-year-old pony, Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze, claimed the title after triumphing in their qualifying BSPS Junior Performance Pony class. This marked the pair’s debut appearance at London International Horse Show, and beaming with pride, Kerry-Oates said: “I am over the moon. He is a pony of a lifetime – there will never be another quite like him. I am so proud of him.”
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