It was Harrie Smolders (NED) that won the Christmas Masters at CSI5*-W London Olympia on Saturday afternoon. Riding the 10-year-old mare Corrada (Oklund x Lauriston), Smolders was the only one to clear the fourth round of the competition.
Ben Maher (GBR) on the 8-year-old Winning Good (Winningmood van de Arenberg x Sir Corland) took the second place, while Laura Renwick (GBR) on the 8-year-old stallion Top Dollar VI (Dollar du Murier x Darco) placed third. Marcus Ehning (GER) on the 9-year-old mare Calanda (Calido I x Chasseur) and Michael Whitaker (GBR) on the 8-year-old stallion Valmy de la Lande (Mylord Carthago x Starter) shared the fourth place.
The first-five star class of the day, the Father Christmas Stakes, a 1.45m accumulator competition with a joker, went to the home hero John Whitaker (GBR). Riding the 9-year-old mare Leen O.L. (Berlin x Kannan), the pair clocked the winning time of 42,27 seconds.
William Funnell (GBR) on the 14-year-old gelding Billy Angelo (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Kroongraaf) took the second spot, while the new combination of Geir Gulliksen (NOR) and the 11-year-old gelding VDL Groep Quatro continued their succesful debut by ending third. Christian Ahlmann (GER) on the 8-year-old Comme Il Faut-son Comilfo Plus Z (Comme Il Faut x Balou du Rouet) took the fourth spot and the fifth spot went to Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) on the 8-year-old Viceversa de la Roque (Kannan x Diamant de Semilly).
Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Haide Westring