Personal notes: Olympia, London International Horse Show

Rolex World Cup London qualifier
winner Michael Whitaker and
GIG Amai. By Kit Houhgton/FEI

So how gutted was I? The last day of Olympia 2010, just a short walk away from the Grand Hall and I couldn't get there. Struck down with gastroenteritis, I was confined to my hotel room watching a live results screen refresh every few minutes.

I could only imagine what was happening a little further down Kensington High Street. Crowds cheering, Nick Brookes-Ward and Mike Tucker jumping up and down in their commentary seats as competitors raced around the Kingsland Grand Prix course, shoppers trying to get their last minute gifts in the trade stands, and the obligatory end of show glass of champagne as the last bit of copy is sent to press.

Thankfully, for me and Horse & Hound, Kate Green was able to step in and cover the Grand Prix, and I shouldn't really complain. I'd enjoyed five days at Olympia, and I really mean that. Yes there's work for me to do, deadlines, early morning web reports and chasing riders for quotes, but what better office could anyone have in the dead of winter than Olympia's Grand Hall.

I don't mind confessing, I love Olympia. It's the show that makes all the hanging round in cold indoor schools, shivering and frantically getting frozen pens to work worthwhile. It's my Santa's grotto. Everyone's in the festive spirit, from the grooms who've lovingly decorated their charges' stables to the private box hosts entertaining their guests high above an action packed arena. It's the one place on earth where Christmas songs don't drive me mad and I'm lucky to be part of it.

However, during all the festivities and parties I was particularly saddened by one piece of news. Nicole Pavitt told me of the recent and untimely death of her great partner Maestro De Rend Piene. I felt so sorry for her, particularly at this time of year. It is always the good ones this happens to. It's so hard, but I hope Nicole can remember the good times and the pain eases soon.

Enthusiastic crowds

Gut Williams and Torinto van
de Middelstede

Is it just me, or are the crowds getting more and more enthusiastic at jumping shows? I noticed it at the Horse of the Year Show in October, and now here. The horses seem to love it and riders often comment that there is no feeling like being cheered on so vocally. The noise was so load during Friday's Earls Court Olympia Christmas cracker, I thought I may have to clasp my hands over my ears to stop them exploding during the jump-off.

But who could blame the crowd for such crescendos? Despite there being 17 in the jump-off, it was one of those classes that reminded you of why you love show jumping. As a Rolex World Rankings class, the fences were big, and it was great to see so many British horses doing so well against the best in the world.

The finale of the class couldn't have been better scripted, with Guy Williams, who'd won the day's opening accumulator with Titus, taking the top spot with Torinto van de Middelstede as last to go.

What a year Guy's had, the Hickstead Derby winner and new British number one is now 36th in the world after being 650th two years ago. With determination and self belief he's managed to get into the right shows, build himself a good string and gain the points. Well done Guy!

This big British win so early in the week, during which home riders took the lion's share of first places, couldn't have been better backed up than with another British victory in the H&M presented Rolex World Cup qualifier. For Michael Whitaker, the win was very emotional for Michael. He's had a lot of four fault rounds and it seems that his 2009 three-month suspension is still haunting him, particularly in press conferences. However, he freely admits that the time off for GIG Amai, his winning ride here, held back his education in his vital eighth year, a time when getting international experience is often crucial to the top horses' career.

It seems to have all come together for him now, however, and a few more points should secure him a place at the Leipzig final in April.

Big jumping
Ben Maher promised the Cook family they were investing in a fun winner when the bought Noctambule Courcelle for him to ride in puissances, and he wasn't lying. He'd only had the ride for two weeks from previous owner Cian O'Connor of Ireland, who'd won puissances with him and himself claimed a World Rankings Class here with Splendour 2.

Cian was helping Ben in the collecting ring, confident that the new jockey would be able to give the big chestnut a winning ride. The wall went an inch higher than I've seen in a while, reaching 7ft 3in (2.21m), and Ben was the only one to leave it intact having beaten Tina Fletcher (Promised Land) and Michael Whitaker (Cyber Space) in the last round.

It must be difficult for the course-builders trying to get an outright winner in these classes, but for the Alltech Christmas puissance, Bob Ellis's decision to go that extra bit higher was spot on.

Uncannily realistic

War Horse puppets

I was looking forward to seeing the War Horse puppet at Olympia. I'd heard wonderful things about the production, but still haven't managed to get to see it myself. Nothing, however, prepared me for how lifelike this horse is.


From its swishing tail to its highly mobile ears, everything about it is a horse. Pretty soon, your eyes eraser out the puppeteers and all you see is a horse. In the backstage area, it went into a stable, "got loose", nuzzled people, spooked, foraged for food and even broke into the riders' and owners' bar area! It just became part of the show, it was a "horse" and it was a horse with character you kept an eye out for and wanted to pat and give treats to. A strange but magical experience. And magic is what Olympia is all about.

For full results from the show, click here