John Whitaker, one of many world’s main showjumpers for greater than 4 many years, celebrates 75 years of HOYS and at last get round to writing his autobiography
We’re in Birmingham this week the place the Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) celebrates its seventy fifth anniversary. I wasn’t fairly there for the primary one in 1949! The primary time I competed was in 1971 aged 16, in my final 12 months on ponies.
You spend many of the summer time driving up and down the nation from present to point out attempting to qualify and in these days it was held at Wembley, which was the be-all and end-all for the tip of the season.
Again then, there was no try to supply good floor and we used to heat up on a cinder observe outdoor. The place regarded extra like a caravan park, as a result of that’s what everybody stayed in at the moment and the place was packed.
Opposite to earlier stories, I made my HOYS debut on a pony known as Little Buzzer and I nonetheless keep in mind how daunting it felt driving into that ring for the primary time. It was a mile away from something I used to be used to and I really feel for the children driving in there these days; it’s undoubtedly nerve-racking. We completed with 4 faults and though I used to be a bit dissatisfied, I used to be happy I didn’t shame myself.
The next 12 months, I certified a four-year-old mare known as Singing Wind for the Foxhunter ultimate and reckon I’ve solely missed a pair since by way of harm. This makes nicely over 50 occasions I’ve been to HOYS, so I actually ought to have had a couple of higher outcomes!
I’ve gained the grand prix a few occasions and that’s at all times a spotlight, however leaping the Masters on Milton in Wembley Enviornment, the place you’ve got 5 massive jumps and the group proper behind you, was very particular.
Each my daughters, Louise and Joanne, certified with the Rockwood Harriers department of the Pony Membership for the Prince Philip Cup at HOYS and equally for them, attending to Wembley was an enormous achievement.
Then one 12 months, Louise really certified for the mounted video games, the junior Foxhunter, the junior jumper, the under-21 and the under-18 ultimate – I’m undecided if something like that’s been achieved once more, nevertheless it was a busy week!
So there have been many blissful occasions through the years.
All roads result in Barcelona
It’s a disgrace that Nice Britain didn’t qualify for the inaugural Longines League of Nations (LLN) Last in Barcelona, which is a superb present and essential to be a part of.
The emphasis for the British workforce this 12 months has clearly been to do nicely within the Olympics, so maybe we didn’t discipline our greatest groups for a few of the early qualifiers, which had been a logistical problem too. Saying that, it’s the identical scenario for each nation.
I’m undecided if the brand new sequence format completely works – there have been solely 4 qualifying legs and one was cancelled because of the dangerous climate, so it was a bit stop-start. Nice Britain went on to leap nicely and end third within the ultimate leg in Rotterdam, so who is aware of whether or not a great end in St Gallen might need modified their fortunes and helped them to qualify for Barcelona.
The FEI wants to provide the LLN a rethink, as the entire sport feels a bit diluted in the mean time with so many various circuits and sequence to comply with.
Lastly placing pen to paper
After a few years of attempting, my family and friends persuaded me to write down my autobiography (flip to p40 of this week’s H&H journal to get pleasure from an extract). It’s taken a 12 months or so to finish, so I’m trying ahead to seeing it popping out later this month.
More often than not I can’t keep in mind what occurred yesterday, so I used to be shocked what number of reminiscences got here flooding again, about how it began, the great move of horses I’ve had all through my profession, with feedback coming in from different riders, family and friends.
I don’t actually get pleasure from speaking about myself and the issues I’ve achieved – on this sport, you’re at all times trying ahead horse-wise and show-wise – however writing the e book introduced again some superb reminiscences.
● What are your favorite reminiscences of John Whitaker and his good horses? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to look in a forthcoming difficulty of the journal
You might also get pleasure from studying:
John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport in motion on the LGCT of London 2024.
Credit score: ph.Ljuba Buzzola/Longines World
In addition to focussing on the intense leaping, John Whitaker was amongst those that loved participating within the legendary fancy costume class.
Credit score: LIHS / Peter Nixon
Credit score: STEFANO GRASSO
Credit score: Future
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