The Christmas Stocking Six Bar Winner Johan-Sebastian GULLIKSEN (NOR) riding Arakorn

Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) and Arakorn soared to win the €15,000 Christmas Stocking Six-Bar Challenge CSI 5*  yesterday during Olympia – The London International Horse Show CSI 5*-W in England.

The Gulliksen family have been long supporters of Olympia so a first win for 22-year-old Johann-Sebastien Gulliksen in the Christmas Stocking Six Bar proved popular.

Four riders made it through to the fourth round, at 1.90m, but Gulliksen, riding the 13-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cantos x Damiro) was the only one to go clear.

Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and H&M Extra withdrew, William Whitaker (GBR) and Fandango hit a fence and Italy’s Luca Maria Moneta on a spooky Centimo retired after a refusal, all in the fourth round.

Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) & Arakorn during the awards ceremony

Gulliksen, who has been accompanying his father, Geir, to Olympia since a small child, said his horse had jumped 1.95m in Madrid a few weeks ago. “He really tries his best. It’s unbelievable to win here at Olympia. The crowd really gives you an emotional feeling.”