Monday 24 November 2014 10:01, UK
William Whitaker secured a brilliant win with 11-year-old dark bay gelding Fandango at the World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart on Sunday.
It was a field of just over 30 starters that came forward to contest the fifth leg of the World Cup series in which the winner not only picked up a Mercedes Benz but also some all-important league points.
The 1.6m course built by course designer Luc Musette claimed many victims, with just 10 of the original riders jumping clear in the first round and qualifying for the jump off.
I knew I had to take some risks today as the jump off was a strong one and Fandango jumped his heart out.
It was then a further six managed to jump clear again, but none were able to get close to Huddersfield native Whitaker’s time of 47.27 seconds.
The closest threat came in the form of Lucy Davis of the USA with her 10-year-old gelding Barron who stopped the clock in a time of 49.84 seconds. Switzerland's Steve Guerdat with Nino des Buissonnets finished in third.
“I knew I had to take some risks today as the jump off was a strong one and Fandango jumped his heart out,” said Whitaker.
“I’m proud to have won the World Cup today.”
