La Coruña, Spain – December 13, 2019 – Great Britain won in style and power in class yesterday afternoon during the CSI Casas Novas – A Coruña CSI 5*-W/2* at the Casas Novas Indoor Arena.  It was double podium for Robert Whitaker (GBR) and Guy Williams (GBR)  in the €25,250 NH Collection Trophy CSI 5*, the first highest-class test.

However, the first of the participants to place the clock under the minute in the 1.45m speed challenge was Olivier Robert (FRA), with Eros (Querlybet Hero x Forever). At that time there were still 21 entries in the start list, although as obstacles fell it seemed that no one would impose on the Frenchman. It seemed, until Britain took the command and the Frenchman was also surpassed by another British rider, finishing in third place.

First Williams and then Whitaker, along with his newly incorporated Dekato. The Brit and the 11-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (Upgrade x Stakkato) snatched the victory from Frenchman Olivier Robert (FRA) and Eros. Only 47 hundredths of a second separated the winners 58.69 seconds for Whitaker, and 59.18 for Williams, second place.

Keeping in mind that, as if it was destined, Robert Whitaker was Thursday’s pleasant last-minute surprise entry. Yesterday afternoon, he was the last one on the track who made it clear that his visit to La Coruña was not a coincidence. His attitude was, from the first moment, that of a winner: risky and ambitous. His horse Dekato lead him with precise and accurate movements, opening a direct path to the podium.

It is also true that Robert had no choice but to try and win, if he wanted to overcome his colleague Guy Williams (GBR) who, three competitions before, had first settled to run with Rouge de Ravel, however decided on Cupido in this round.

Thanks to them, the public from Coruña could enjoy an afternoon of the highest level of competition, with the added value of these competitions that were resolved by tenths of a second, and at the last moment.

As for the Spanish participation, Iván Serrano (ESP) managed to get in between the prizes, by qualifying twelfth with 0 points and a time of 72.73 seconds, riding Ariana Dream. Nor were missing, among the top positions, names that have given great afternoons to the equestrian center of Arteixo, such as Leopold Van Asten (NED) or Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS).

For full results, please click here.

Source: News release (edited) from Oxersport

Photo: © Oxersport