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Marcus Ehning saves the best until last

Dec 24, 2012

Germany's Marcus Ehning gave a masterclass in riding and brought Olympia, The London International Horse Show, to a stirring finish with a brilliant win in the Grand Prix.

Marcus, who has won most of show jumping's most glittering prizes, captured the Olympia Grand Prix back in 2004 on Sandro Boy. This time, he was riding that horse's offspring, the 13-year-old bay mare Sabrina 327.

Nine horses made it through to the jump-off of the €80,000 Olympia Grand Prix, traditional finale of the show. Marcus and Sabrina were sixth to go and easily the fastest of the clear rounds.

Edwina Tops-Alexander, recent winner of the Rolex World Cup qualifier in Geneva, finished second on Ego van Orti – she was nearly three seconds slower than Marcus. Young Swiss rider Janika Sprunger, who has been there or thereabouts all week, was third on Uptown Boy, and Michael Whitaker, fifth on Viking, was best British rider.

Olympia's continental visitors were clearly determined to keep the prizes out of British hands. Earlier in the day, the charming Frenchman Roger Yves Bost, paying his first visit to Olympia for 17 years and known for his brilliance in speed contests, set an unbeatable target in the Shelley Ashman International Ltd EM Rogers (Transport) Ltd Snowman Stakes, an accumulator class.

Riders gathered points for clearing fences, with double points for the joker – an airy upright facing towards the exit – and Roger was the fastest of those riders who gained the maximum 44 points.

Riding the stallion Castle Forbes Vivaldo van het, Roger explained that this horse shines in novelty classes that involve galloping stretches. "He has won a lot of classes like this, rather than the ones that involve tight turns. He's very scopey and fast and when I can gallop him like that, he is marvellous to ride."

THE OLYMPIA GRAND PRIX Int. jumping competition with jump-off (1.60 m) FEI – Art. 238.2.2

Pl. Horse Rider Faults Time
1. Sabrina Ehning, Marcus GER 0/0 37.99
2. Ego van Orti Tops-Alexander, Edwina AUS 0/0 40.89
3. Uptown Boy Sprunger, Janika SUI 0/0 41.67
4. Nice Stephanie Leprevost, Penelope FRA 0/4 40.45
5. Viking Whitaker, Michael GBR 0/4 41.75
6. Der Senaat Said, Abdel EGY 0/4 43.38
7. Hello Sailor Fletcher, Tina GBR 0/4 43.57
8. Catwalk IV Whitaker, Robert GBR 0/8 39.49
9. Oz de Breve Renwick, Laura GBR 0/12 40.43
10. Aristo Z Maher, Ben GBR 4 57.72

HE SHELLEY ASHMAN INTERNATIONAL LTD, E M ROGERS (TRANSPORT) LTD SNOWMAN STAKESInt. accumulator jumping competition with joker (1.50 m) FEI – Art. 269.5

Pl. Horse Rider Points Time
1. Castle Forbes Vivaldo van het Bost, Roger Yves FRA 44 36.38
2. Bijou van de Vijfheide Williams, Guy GBR 44 37.80
3. Milena Maher, Ben GBR 44 39.78
4. Antello Z Whitaker, Michael GBR 44 39.80
5. Maranon LS Kraut, Laura USA 44 41.94
6. Corlando of Cavallini Stockdale, Tim GBR 44 43.05
7. Unique IX Fletcher, Tina GBR 44 43.52
8. Quelmec du Gery Leprevost, Penelope FRA 44 47.05
9. L’Espoir Gulliksen, Geir NOR 44 47.57
10. Lord of Arabia Whitaker, John GBR 43 45.24

Source: Press release Katie Silver