Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2007/2008: Mechelen (BEL)

Sensational British newcomer, William Whitaker, swept to victory with Arielle in this afternoon's 2007/2008 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifier presented by Land Rover at Mechelen in Belgium.

In the five-horse jump-off the 18 year old from Yorkshire showed maturity beyond his years when pinning German veteran, Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst, into second place with Lord Luis. And today's result leaves this latest member of the British show jumping dynasty lying fourth on the Western European League table and well in sight of a qualifying spot for the final in Gothenburg next April. As William said this evening, "I've been having a great run recently and this is the perfect end to the year - and just the right way to go into 2008!".....

British tails were already up after another of their new kids on the block, Ben Maher who will celebrate his 25th birthday next week, won Saturday night's Grand Prix with Rolette. The course set by Lucien Somers for today's Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping challenge saw many more-seasoned campaigners fall by the wayside in the opening round and the jump-off line-up proved an interesting one.

The Netherlands' Harrie Smolders led the way against the clock with the 11 year old stallion Exquis Oliver G but, while the 27 year old Dutchman was fast, he left the door wide open when putting two fences on the floor as the time showed 42.97 seconds. Whitaker was next into the ring with the 11 year old Hannovarian mare Arielle and he was quite clear about what he was going to do. His father, Ian, is the younger brother of Michael and John Whitaker whose careers have made them legends in their own life-times and Ian has trained and encouraged his son to follow in his uncles foot-steps. William has been working with Michael for almost two years now and he was under instruction today to go as quickly as he could without taking too many risks. Following that advice to the letter he returned clear in 41.28 seconds and that, as it turned out, proved plenty good enough to secure pole position.

Germany had three through to the deciding round, 33 year old Max Kuhner opting for a careful clear with the stallion Acantus who broke the beam in 45.27 seconds and 28 year old Franz-Josef Dahlmann shaving more than two seconds off that with Piquer Calanda but collecting eight faults along the way. However Whitaker could not be assured of his first major international victory until last man in - the considerably more experienced Alois Pollmann-Schwekhorst - raced through the finish with Lord Luis. Typically competitive, the 43 year old German set about his business with Hans-Helmut Bauer's nine year old gelding but his time of 41.74 was only good enough to clinch runner-up spot ahead of Kuhner in third, Dahlmann in fourth and Smolders in fifth.

Whitaker has inherited the family skill for understatement it seems. "I've had a few good results during the last few months" said the young man who joined his Uncle Michael's tour of North America and Canada last month, placing third in the World Cup qualifier in Syracuse and 13th in Toronto, before going on to the 5-Star fixture in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia where he was consistently in the money. Then he arrived at Olympia in London just before Christmas where he quickly established a firm fan-base after producing a spectacular victory in the Puissance riding Leonardo. His classic seat and sympathetic riding style clearly echoes the star quality of his famous uncles and there is a flurry of excitement now wherever he goes because it doesn't take a genius to see the incredible potential. His Uncle Michael however is the one who calls the shots this young man says.

"I know I'm really lucky to be working with Michael" he pointed out today. "I've been based in Nottingham with him for about two years, and today he was brilliant because he flew over from England early this morning especially - it was great to have him here, it made all the difference". William said however that the ever-expanding Whitaker grip on the sport of international show jumping hasn't even reached its peak yet. His cousins, Ellen and Robert, have already made their mark but William has two younger brothers coming along - "George is 15 and James is 10 and my Dad trains them and they can ride a bit too I can tell you , wait until you see!" he insisted.

On the eve of the Olympic year, today's result gives British show jumping a real shot in the arm and, carrying 39 points, William Whitaker looks well set to join the greats in this season's Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping finale in three months time. "I'd like to go to a few more World Cup shows but I'll be giving my horses a break for a couple of weeks first and then start back later in January" the talented young rider pointed out today.

The series resumes at Leipzig in Germany in three weeks time and, with just four further qualifying rounds after that, the pressure for points is mounting quickly......

RESULTS: 1, Arielle (William Whitaker) GBR 0/0 41.28; 2, Lord Luis (Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst) Ger 0/0 41.74; 3, Acantus (Max Kuhner) Ger 0/0 45.27; 4, Piquer Calanda (Franz-Josef Dahlmann) Ger 0/8 42.68; 5, Exquis Oliver Q (Harry Smolders) Ned 0/8 42.97; 6, Tekila D (Pieter Devos) Bel 4/68.30; 7, Finbarr V (Robert Whitaker) GBR 4/69.85; 8, Bessemeind Casino (Marten Djupvik) Nor 4/70.55; 9, Al Kaheel Spender S (Jos Lansink) Bel 4/70.57; 10, Levisto Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) Bel 4/70.75; 11, Castle Forbes Vivaldo V/H Costerveld (Jessica Kuerten) Irl 4/70.85; 12, Unique XCH (Pius Schwizer) Sui 4/71.04; 13, 11th and Bleeker (Gerfried Puck) Aut 4/71.41; 14, Laceful (Toni Hassmann) Ger 4/7.46; 15, Ever Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) Bel 4/72.00; 16, Eurocommerce Monaco (Gerco Schroder) Ned 4/72.24; 17, Isaak du Jonquet (Mikael Forsten) Fin 4/72.25; 18, Hamilton de Perhet (Juan Carlos Garcia) Ita 4/73.49; 19, SIEC Concept (Cameron Hanley) Irl 4/74.82; 20, Cinderella (Marcus Ehning) Ger 4/75.46; 21, Tymoon Caloo Meerchen (Dirk Demeersman) Bel 8/69.38; 22, Erbblume (Helena Lundback) Swe 8/70.82; 23, Wisconsin (Sergio Alvarez Moya) Esp 8/70.98; 24, Van Schijndel's Curtis (Piet Raijmakers) Ned 8/71.53; 25, Chupa Chup 2 (Bernardo Alves) Bra 8/71.89; 26, Cashmira (Vincent Lambrecht) Bel 8/72.17; 27, Animous (Tina Lund) Den 8/72.84; 28, Vigo d'Arsouilles (Philippe Le Jeune) Bel 8/73.87; 29, Tresor V (Steve Guerdat) Sui 8/74.31; 30, Common Sense (Mikhail Safronov) Rus 8/75.11; 31, Sam (Albert Zoer) Ned 12/68.49; 32, Cavalor's Winningmood (Ludo Philippaerts) Bel 12/72.86; 33, Item de Quintin (Niels Bruynseels) Bel 12/74.03; 34, Con Spirito R (Theo Muff) Sui 16/72.32; 35, Air Jordan Z (Daniel Deusser) Ger 16/73.79; Equal 36, Gerfaut D'Helby (Bruno Rocuet) Fra, Sea Coast Silvana (Kristof Cleeren) Bel, Esplanade (Peter Wylde) USA, Jadis de Toscane (Philippe Rozier) Fra Retired; 40, Jovis de Ravel (Roger-Yves Bost) Fra DNS.

ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING 2007/2008 - WESTERN EUROPEAN LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 7 IN MECHELEN:

1. Jessica Kuerten - 59
2. Rutherford Latham - 48
3. Helena Lundback - 41
4. William Whitaker - 39
5. Albert Zoer, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum - 36
7. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson - 32
8. Ludger Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat - 31
10. Nick Skelton - 30
11. Malin Baryard-Johnsson - 28
12. Michel Hecart - 25
13. Michael Whitaker - 24
14. Heinrich-Hermann Engemann - 23
15. Harrie Smolders, Judy-Ann Melchior, Markus Fuchs - 22
18. Piet Raijmakers - 21
19. Daniel Deusser, Omar Bonomelli - 20
21. Luciana Diniz, Marco Kutscher - 19

PHOTO CATALOGUE - Photographs of the winning riders in high and low resolution can be downloaded from the FEI online catalogue. To access it, please visit www.horsesport.org>Media Centre>Catalogue. There is no reproduction fee, but please credit photographer (photographer's name will appear under each photo)/FEI. Usage is strictly for editorial purposes.

For further information on the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifier in Mechelen, Belgium check out WEBSITE www.jumping-mechelen.com or contact Press Officer Edith De Reys Tel (mobile) +32 475 659281, email edith.dereys@skynet.be. The NEXT leg of the series takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 17-20 January. Show President at the German fixture is Volker Wulff, Show Secretary is Conny Reuss and press Officer is Andreas Kerstan - contact Email: andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel (mobile) +49 17775 32624. WEBSITE www.engarde.de.

MEDIA GUIDE - The FEI is pleased to provide you with a Media Guide for the 2007/2008 season. The Guide is filled with useful facts, figures and statistics including the list of winners since the series began in 1978 and contact details to help you access all the information you need. You can download it from the Media Centre on FEI website www.horsesport.org or order a hard copy from FEI Communications - Email o.robinson@horsesport.org.

2007/2008 ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING SERIES - CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR WESTERN EUROPEAN LEAGUE:
1, Oslo (Norway) 12-14 October; 2, Helsinki (Finland) 18-21 October; 3, Verona (Italy) 8-11 November; 4, Stuttgart (Germany) 14-18 November; 5, Geneva (Switzerland) 6-9 December; 6, London-Olympia (Great Britain) 17-22 December; 7, Mechelen (Belgium) 26-30 December; 8, Leipzig (Germany) 17-20 January; 9, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) 24-27 January; 10, Bordeaux (France) 1-3 February; 11, Vigo (Spain) 8-11 February; 12, 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) 27-30 March; FINAL - Gothenburg (Sweden) 24-27 April.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE RULES FOR FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING RIDERS FROM FEI WEBSITE www.feiworldcup.org

FEI World Cup™ Jumping has entered its 30th season. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all continents. The best riders from 132 preliminary competitions will qualify for the final in Gothenburg, Sweden which takes place from 24-27 April 2008. The title-holder is Switzerland's Beat Mandli.