Text © World of Showjumping

Victor Bettendorf (LUX) took his second win at London International Horse Show on Friday, when besting a field of 35 horse-and-rider combinations in the CSI5*-W 1.55m The Longines Christmas Cracker – the evening class on the program. 

Riding the 12-year-old gelding Doha de Riverland (Nabab de Reve x Quaprice Bois Margot Quincy), Bettendorf was one of thirteen riders who made it to the jump-off where he beat home-hero Donald Whitaker (GBR) and the 12-year-old mare Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) by a mere 0.13 seconds when clocking a time of 28.45 seconds. Sanne Thijssen (NED) and Cupcake Z (Chacco-Blue x Caretano Z) completed the podium after crossing the timers in 29.01 seconds, followed by Jessica Mendoza (FRA) and In The Air (Air Jordan Z x Indoctro) in fourth in 29.13 seconds, while Marc Dilasser (FRA) and Make My Day Z du Gevres (Mylord Carthago x Ukato) ended fifth with their time of 29.37.

Earlier in the day, Jessica Mendoza took a popular home win with the 13-year-old gelding I-Cap CL Z (I'm Special de Muze x Air Jordan Z). With a time of 57.35 seconds in the CSI5*-W 1.50m Brilliance Auction Snowball Stakes, a Table A against the clock, Mendoza was 0.73 seconds faster than runner-up Daniel Deusser (GER) on Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One d'Iso x Diamant de Semilly). Barbara Schnieper (SUI) and Escoffier (Lord Z x Numero Uno) completed the podium after stopping the clock on 58.10 seconds.