Windsor turned out to be a 'benefit' for Nick Skelton

Royal Windsor could prove to be a turning point for Nick Skelton - he will certainly be hoping so. 1999 was a year that he will want to forget. Without the horsepower to enable him to compete at the highest level, he also broke his collarbone, which put him out of action for a while. No-one, however talented, can expect to experience uninterrupted good fortune and Nick is no exception. Presumably those critics who sought to write him off will now be offering their apologies? By the end of the five day show Nick had accumulated £11,000 of first prize money, thanks to his victories in the Asprey & Garrard Grand Prix and in the Samsung Gentlemen's Championship respectively - which no doubt cheered him considerably.

The Grand Prix, as befitting the major competition of the Show, was a truly compelling affair which kept the crowd on tenterhooks until the final competitor - who just happened to be Nick Skelton by dint of him having the fastest clear round to qualify for the jump off. He had nine horses to go before him and was the sixth to go, Robert Smith on the French-bred Athos du Valot, who set the standard with a good fast clear round.

Robert Smith in action on Athos du Valot

Robert soon realised his fate when Michael Whitaker came in but nonetheless must have been pleased with his horse's performance, which was the partnership's first in an outdoor arena. Michael was also riding a relatively new horse - Ann Bedford's stallion, Handel. This combination clipped 3 seconds off Robert's time, only to be put in their place by Nick Skelton and Jalisco. With Nick's brilliant turn into the first fence the other riders knew their fate providing he stayed clear, and he did, beating Michael's time by 1.4 seconds. Once again, this was a relatively new combination as Nick only took over the horse last year on the death of his previous rider, Italian Guido Dominici (who sadly died of a brain tumour). Jalisco is a neat, dark brown Dutch bred stallion, now nine years old.

Nick took Jalisco to Spain to soak up some sunshine in February and to compete at a few shows, winning two speed classes. Whilst assessing the horse as being very careful and very honest, prior to his win in the Windsor Grand Prix Nick continued to believe that Jalisco did not have the potential to be an international horse of the highest standard. The Grand Prix was a really searching test and the horse proved beyond doubt that he does possess the athleticism and scope to jump very large fences - and that he can do so at speed. Maybe Nick's Olympic dream will be rekindled after all…

As befitting its title, the Grand Prix provided the outstanding show jumping competition of the Show; however, there was a lot of other action to reflect upon. The Gentlemen's Championship also produced an exciting finish. John Whitaker wasn't at exactly the top of his form at this Show - partly, it seems, because he and the stallion, Cruising, did not entirely agree where that horse's attention should be focused - in the ring, or on the 'ladies'. Nevertheless, it was Cruising's first major show of the season (and it is 'Spring') so maybe he can be forgiven one small lapse since he had a fence down. John's influence on the competition didn't end there, however. He pointed out the quickest route to his son, 17 year old Robert, who was drawn last to go in the jump off. In the meantime, Robert Smith had a crashing fall from Caloubet du Rouet, who completely missed out a stride in the combination. Despite these hasty exits by some of the leading riders, eight others were clear and went into the jump off against the clock.

This time Nick Skelton and Jalisco were drawn second and they managed to take the lead just half a second in front of South Africa's David McPheron riding Baghera. Nick must have been feeling quite confident as successive riders tried and failed to beat his time and stay clear, but he must have thought his chance had gone as Robert Whitaker and Virtual Village Randi sped round and had time in hand going into the final fence - only to drop a pole and a few places into the bargain.

Robert Whitaker was also in the money behind the Irish pair, Robert Power riding Honnie and Dermott Lennon in the Traxdata Speed Stakes. Like Robert (son of John), Robert Power has the 'breeding' to be a show jumper, his father being the Irish International rider Con Power, and he is evidently following fast in his footsteps. It is most encouraging to see this influx of such promising young riders and they more than held their own at the Show. Robert Power went last on his Dutch bred mare and managed to cut 0.46 seconds from the time set by Dermott Lennon on Garronturton Lady. Robert Whitaker and Virtual Village Randi (yet another stallion - Hungarian this time!) were only just outside his time but finished in third. Barely a second covered all three.

Di Lampard, with the Olympics in her sights, was not surprisingly the favourite to win the Samsung Ladies' Championship. In the event Abbervail Dream looked distinctly ring rusty and had two fences down. The course proved quite demanding and produced only 3 initial clears. Monica Campbell, going first into the jump off on QBE Insurance Beach Boy, couldn't risk going too steadily and had one down. Lynne Bevan riding Headley Stud's Jerome III gambled on having a slow clear and it came off - somewhat luckily as last year's winner, Jane Annett, and Pipakie had the misfortune to have the last down when on their way to victory with a faster round.

Robert Smith did get some consolation for his fall when he won the Walwyn Novices Championship on yet another Dutch bred stallion, Marius Claudius. This looks a highly promising young horse who took the jump off easily in his stride, beating Jane Annett's time on Darco Delight by an amazing 3 seconds without seeming at full stretch.

Michael Whitaker in action on Calvaro in the final leg of the Anglo-Irish Challenge

International 'spice' was added to the Show by virtue of the newly devised Anglo Irish Challenge, which ran over the first four days. Each country had 8 nominated riders (although, to confuse the issue, some additional riders were allowed to participate) and in the final event on Saturday they split into 4 teams of 4 riders. The riders amassed points according to their placings and the Irish, having got off to a great start with 1st and 2nd in the Traxdata Speed Stakes, quickly added to their points on Friday in the two-horse relay, winning with Edward Doyle and Paul Darragh.

It was an interesting idea with the first rider going over 8 big fences and the second rider tackling a speed course. Unfortunately it took place in heavy rain, which spoilt its 'spectator appeal'. Harry Marshall and Dermott Lennon finished second for Ireland and it was beginning to look like an Irish whitewash! The following day continued in the same vein with Harry Marshall winning again on Cruiseline, a chestnut daughter of Cruising, John Whitaker's ride.

Di Lampard had a double clear on Valentino R

It wasn't until the final leg that the English showed any sign of good form. This was a Nations' Cup type contest of two rounds with each nation's riders split into two teams. At last we had a homeside victory, thanks largely to double clear rounds by Di Lampard on Valentino R and Robert Smith on Athos du Valot. Michael Whitaker riding Calvaro and Geoff Billington with Virtual Village Niko made up the quartet. The final score was Ireland 11 points and England 7.75 but the mysteries of the scoring were somewhat lost on the average spectator, who simply wants to enjoy the exciting jumping and may only attend the Show on one day, therefore having little interest in a competition running over four!

Nevertheless, initiative deserves its reward and the competition could, with simplifications to its format, prove to be a winner in the long term providing it does not exclude the possibility of other overseas competition. Maybe it could become a three-way tie with a mixed 'European' team included? Hopefully a successful formula will be found because Royal Windsor provides the first major outdoor venue for many of our top riders and horses - similarly the first opportunity for show jumping fans to see them in action. Long may it continue.

Continues........

Photos © Helen Revington and Stephen Sparkes

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