Delighted Patrice Delaveau romps home

Patrice Delaveau, of France, had a welcome change of luck on the final night of the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham when he and Katchina Mail held off a strong challenge from Tim Stockdale, on Fresh Direct Corlato, to win the Leading Show Jumper of the Year, the richest class of the week.

Success for Delaveau, who had had a lean few days at the show, on the eight-year-old mare last night came after an eight-horse jump-off, in which Billy Twomey, of Ireland, held the early lead on Tinka’s Serenade in a time of 43.14sec. Delaveau, riding in his trademark forward style, tested his young mare to the limit with sharp turns and a flat-out gallop to the last, crossing the finish-line three seconds inside the Irishman’s time. “It’s her first big grand prix, I am very pleased for her,” a delighted Delaveau said.

Stockdale, who has been having a superb run with Corlato, finishing fifth in the Calgary Grand Prix last month, was roared on by a packed arena as he tried to outpace Delaveau, but a marginally slower start brought him home a fraction of a second slower. Ellen Whitaker, one of the favourites on Locarno, her European team bronze medal-winner, had to settle for sixth place after hitting the influential planks, fence 2, in the jump-off.

Mark Armstrong had thrilled the afternoon audience when he and Rex, the last to go, won the Zinc Management Speed Horse of the Year after an uninhibited display against the clock. His time of 51.57sec relegated last year’s winner, Ellen Whitaker again, on Kanselier, to second place by 0.35 of a second.

“He’s a very good speed horse, brave and willing and earns his keep,” Armstrong, 46, said of the Dutch-bred Rex, whose winnings for the six years he has been at Armstrong’s Surrey yard total more than £100,000. Although the chestnut gelding has earned his rider’s respect in the ring, it’s different outside. “On the flat he’s horrible,” Armstong said. “It’s like riding an unbroken four-year-old.”

Results (07.10.07)

CSI3* Birmingham
LEADING SHOW JUMPER OF THE YEAR
International Jumping Competition – Grand Prix
FEI Art. 273.3.3 – Table A 1m60 with Two Rounds

1º Katchina Mail / Patrice Delaveau (Fra) / 0 / 0 – 40.01
2º Fresh Direct Corlato / Tim Stockdale (Gbr) / 0 / 0 – 40.57
3º Tinka´S Serenade / Billy Twomey (Irl) / 0/0 43.14
4º Olaf / Leon Thijssen (Ned) / 0 / 4 – 42.44
5º Beowulf / Neal Fearon (Irl) / 0 / 4 – 45.59
6º Locarno 62 / Ellen Whitaker (Gbr) / 0/4 45.86
7º Audi´s Paloma / Eric Van Der Vleuten (Ned) / 0 / 8 – 40.22
8º Otage / Ryan Prater (Gbr) / 0 / 8 – 46.80
9º Lacroix 9 / Robert Whitaker (Gbr) / 4 – 63.86
10º Team Harmony Pablis / Abdel Said (Egy) / 4 – 67.57