Eugenie Angot steals the show in London GP

A wonderful display of bravura galloping and jumping brought the 2006 show to a fitting climax when the stylish French rider Eugenie Angot flew across the arena to clinch The Links of London Grand Prix at Olympia in the presence of the Duchess of Cornwall.

The daughter of French composer Michel Legrand, Eugenie, 32, admitted she knew she was taking a big risk. “If it didn't come off, I don't know what would have happened, but I knew it was the only way to win,” she said.

Tim Stockdale's weekend has exceeded all expectations and he couldn't believe his second place on Fresh Direct Corlato. “I was being a bit conservative in the jump-off,” he admitted, “but I wanted to take care of my horse after her year. It's just a very happy ending to a rather eventful year.”

John Whitaker, fifth on his new ride Casino, was leading British rider of the show and the in-form Alois Pollman-Schweckhorst's sixth place clinched him the Leading Rider of the Show award that he was so desperate to win.

In a day of top-class international competition, Norwegian Geir Gullikson beat seven British riders in the final of the Mitsubishi Ride and Drive to take home a fabulous CSX model.

“It's a brilliant show” concluded Eugenie Angot, who was paying her first visit. “There's nowhere like it in the world.”