Ellen narrowly pipped for the top Irish prize

Riding Antonio Marinas Soto’s eight-year-old grey mare Lea Beau, 28-year-old Whitaker beat everyone bar Irish rider Thomas Ryan partnering Quite Zero.

Out of 45 combinations, 12 pairings went into the jump-off, with Whitaker and Lea Beau faultless over the fences but unfortunate to pick up a single time penalty.

But in leaving all the fences standing, the partnership still claimed second place in a time of 51.54 seconds behind Ryan and Quite Zero.

They secured the only zero penalty score of the class to finish on a double clear in 47.95 seconds.

Loughborough’s Holly Gillott took third with her own nine-year-old liver chestnut gelding Dougie Douglas.

Gillott and Dougie Douglas collected four penalties in the jump-off, but their quick time of 44.20 seconds ensured them of a place in the top three, ahead of another British combination, Anna Edwards and Blazer B.

Another Yorkshire show-jumper celebrating a weekend to remember is Whitby’s Rachel Proudley, who looks destined for big things at just nine years old.

Partnering Field Oak Flame, a 10-year-old chestnut gelding owned by her father Paul, Proudley took victory in the Pony 0.70cm Club Championship held as part of the Northern Club Championships at Bishop Burton College.

World No 1 showjumper Scott Brash delivered a stunning British victory in the weekend’s Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix at Horse Guards Parade.

Brash produced a master-class on Hello Sanctos and triumphed after dominating a four-horse jump-off.