Eire’s Trevor Breen and home-bred Kannoon Blue delivered the only double clear to win the HOYS main showjumper of the yr title (12 October) – a triumph that concluded with a three-Whitaker showdown.
The nine-year-old gray breezed over Alan Wade’s intense grand prix observe, seizing victory with scope to spare.
“Kannoon Blue is an exceptional horse. He’s a half-brother to Highland President, who would historically be my finest horse,” stated Trevor, in reference to his European crew silver medal-winning trip.
“However this man is de facto coming of age this yr. He’s simply bought higher and higher. I’ve at all times believed in him, so it’s good when that begins to return into fruition.
“He ticks all of the bins, he has enormous quantities of scope, he’s unbelievably cautious and he’s fairly fast as nicely – and he’s getting faster.
“He’s an unbelievable horse to trip. I actually suppose there’s not a lot that he gained’t be capable of do sooner or later.”
Trevor returned to competitors on the finish of final yr, after breaking his neck and again in a fall in Hamburg in Might 2024. He gained a grand prix in Dubai in January and has “kicked on” since.
“It’s been an exceptional yr – I couldn’t have dreamt of this type of yr after I was mendacity within the hospital mattress in Hamburg,” he stated.
“Enormous because of my crew, my spouse Caroline, my household, house owners and workers at residence. With out them, I wouldn’t have been capable of come again and to get going in addition to I’ve with all of the horses. It’s an enormous crew effort, thanks to everybody for placing me right here – it’s all all the way down to them.”
He added: “The ambiance right here is good. All of the riders love using right here. You go in there and also you simply develop – it’s simply superb and the group get behind you.
“Despite the fact that John Whitaker was final to go – and I practically wished him to win myself, as a result of he’s a legend of the game and British as nicely – there was nonetheless enormous help for me in there, and I’m massively grateful for that, it’s actually appreciated.”
Eight challengers
Eight opponents went via to the jump-off – six clears and the 2 quickest mixtures with 4 faults.
Former winner Jodie Corridor-McAteer and Key West have been the primary of the four-faulters to go in opposition to the clock, ramping up the strain on the remaining seven by advantage of a neat clear. Eventual runners-up Sandy Mclean and Gino F, who additionally carried 4 faults from the primary spherical, have been subsequent in – and shaved shut to a few seconds off Jodie’s time.
The subsequent three riders – Jessica Burke (Seapatrick Toulon), Joe Stockdale (Its Confidential) and William Whitaker (Cristallo’s Double Take) – every picked up a smattering of faults, earlier than Trevor and Kannoon Blue raised the bar.
From right here, it was Eire versus the remaining Whitakers. Robert Whitaker and the good Vermento have been drawn because the penultimate mixture to begin, and Robert’s father, showjumping legend John Whitaker (Equine America Unick Du Francport) was the ultimate rider to problem for the title.
Robert caught Trevor on time, however a rail on the Evoke oxer dropped him to 3rd within the closing outcomes. John, a contact steadier, additionally had a pole on the butterfly upright to complete fifth.
“I’m proud of the best way the horse carried out – he jumped superb. He’s had somewhat break, and he’s very contemporary; most likely a bit disillusioned I didn’t win it, however that’s showjumping for you,” stated Robert.
Superb comeback
Sandy confronted an anxious wait to see how far his tactical, speedy jump-off efficiency may elevate him up the leaderboard. Their second place was all of the extra particular for the journey this pair have been on collectively.
“It’s exhausting coming again in with 4 faults, being the appropriate begin of the jump-off, and probably not realizing what you’ve bought to do,” stated Sandy.
“He’s such a giant, scopey, quick horse that we threw down the mark, and it practically paid off. I didn’t suppose we’d find yourself as excessive as we did, however I’m completely delighted.
“Lexi, my groom, walked him off, so I used to be capable of go and watch – and I practically fell off the sting of that bannister! I assumed, ‘We’re getting nearer to it right here’. It bought to some extent the place we have been assured high 5, then high 4, then high three, and earlier than you knew it, we have been second.
“I’ve been using Gino F for seven years, he taught me to leap the large courses and he’s been unbelievable. Simply over a yr in the past, he sustained a nasty damage and needed to be on field relaxation – we didn’t know if he’d bounce once more. So to be again at this stage once more with him a yr later is simply unbelievable.”
Vet Peter Schofield was key in attending to the underside of Gino’s damage. It’s all the way down to him, in addition to the care and rehabilitation supplied by Sandy and his crew, help from these concerned in his mum’s using college, and every day journeys to a Scottish seashore, that the horse recovered .
“It took plenty of time, and now he’s again and feeling superb,” stated Sandy.
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H&H senior information author
Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound crew in 2015, Lucy has reported from main world sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the total spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and courtroom circumstances.
