Top names heading for Olympia

By Justine Thompson

Event diary

08 December 2009 15:20

Show jumper Ben Maher and dressage master Edward Gal are among the host of top names attending the Olympia London International Horse Show next week.

For the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier there are 39 competitors from 17 countries taking part, including nine of the world’s top 25 show jumpers from the Rolex Rankings.

They include Albert Zoer (NED) (2); Alltech FEI European Jumping Team Gold medallist, Pius Schwizer (SUI) (4); Olympia’s 2008 winner of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier presented by H&M, Edwina Alexander (AUS) (6); Alltech FEI European Jumping Individual Gold medallist, Kevin Staut (FRA) (7); Daniel Deusser (GER) (13); Ben Maher (GBR) (15); Steve Guerdat (SUI) (19); Jos Lansink (BEL) (23) and last year’s Renault Christmas Masters winner, Penelope Leprevost (FRA) (24).

In dressage there are 14 competitors from seven nations taking part in Grand Prix on Tuesday 15th December.

For the first time since the Alltech FEI European Dressage Championships at Windsor, the UK will see the return of the number one FEI World ranked partnership of Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas (NED).

World ranked number two Adelinde Cornelissen with Parzival (NED) are also confirmed.

Britain’s number one Laura Bechtolsheimer is bringing second horse Andretti H to Olympia, giving Mistral Horjis a well earned break. The partnership still rank as sixth in the world so Laura will be aiming for a solid performance in London.

Carl Hester with Liebling (28); Fiona Bigwood with Wie Atlantico (55); Richard Davison with Hiscox Artemis (70); Judith Harvey with Fitzcerraldo (77) and Stephanie Croxford with Mr President (196) all make up the British contingent.