John Whitaker (GBR) & Leen O.L. won The Father Christmas Stakes CSI 5* yesterday at Olympia – The London International Horse Show CSI 5*-W in England. The British living legend of our sport and the 9-year-old bay Zangersheide mare (Berlin x Kannan) took a definite lead of the 1.45m accumulator-with-joker contest with a total of 65 points in 42.27 seconds.

John Whitaker & Leen O.L.

To the delight of the home crowd William Funnell (GBR) & Billy Angelo (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Kroongraaf) gave the Brits a 1-2 finish with the same scores as the eventual winners, just three-tenths of a second slower.

Geir Gulliksen (NOR) had a great debut aboard VDL Groep Quatro (Quaprice Bois Margot x Caletto I), rounding out the top three with 65 points in 46.98 seconds.

John Whitaker & Leen O.L.

The Shelley Ashman International Shipping Ltd, EM Rogers (Transport) Ltd Father Christmas Stakes Winner John Whitaker & Leen O.L.

Full Results:
http://www.longinestiming.com/#!/equestrian/2017/1434/html/en/longinestiming/resultlist_15.html

Photos: © Horsepower / Kit Houghton