Michael Whitaker & Viking. Ph. ©St Gallen
Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker won’t be jumping in Friday’s FEI Nations Cup (his nation did not enter a team), but he still came to Switzerland to win, and proved in the 30,6000CHF Prize Longines CSIO5* on Thursday, June 1, 2017 in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Aboard his top mount Viking, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding (Jacomar x Almox Prints), Whitaker was best in the jumpoff class against 10 others who went clear in Round 1.
And he prevented the Swiss from seeing a home victory in this first feature class of what promises to be an action packed weekend. Whitaker came out ahead of Swiss hero Steve Guerdat with Hannah, but just barely—his winning time of 35.08 seconds was less than a second faster than Guerdat’s 35.48.
Switzerland’s Werner Muff came 3rd aboard Daimler in 36.16 seconds, giving Switzerland two in the top five. Young rider from The Netherlands Sanne Thijssen jumped to a strong, double clear 4th place with Celine MZ, and Bertram Allen of Ireland was 5th at the reins of his flashy Hector van d’Abdijhoeve.
See the complete class results at this link.