H&M day at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, will be memorable as a great day for British showjumping – but the very last class fell to Dutch rider Harrie Smolders who proved that the patient approach can win the day when capturing the H&M Ivy Stakes.  

Harrie Smolders was a member of the Dutch team at the Rio Olympic Games, but this was his first Olympia win. When his four rivals in the jump-off all faulted, a steady clear was all that was required to lift first prize. “My horse is not so fast, so it was the only way to win!” he joked.   

He has only been riding his winning mount, the nine-year-old mare Corrada (Oklund x Lauriston).  for two months. “This was a nice competition to win with a new horse – I’ve only had her for two months,” he explained. “She is quite green but a horse can learn a lot here and she is very calm.”   

Kevin Staut finished second for France on Unna de Kerglenn (Cap Kennedy*Bois Margot x Diamant de Semilly), with Michael Whitaker third on JB’s Hot Stuff (Locarno 62 x Cavalier Royale). 

Swedish rider Malin Baryard-Johnsson continues to head the H&M leading Rider of the Show table by 17 points from the crowd-pleasing Italian rider Lorenzo De Luca. Ben Maher and Laura Renwick are third and fourth for Britain.