Worthwhile trip to Amsterdam for Whitaker
A TRIP to Amsterdam to compete in the CSI Four-Star International competition turned out to be more than worthwhile for Michael Whitaker. The top class of the weekend was the BMC Amsterdam Grand Prix with a first prize of about £20,000.
Michael and the dark bay gelding, GIG Amai, proved they were still on great form after winning the World Cup Qualifier at Olympia just before Christmas. They had one of six clear rounds in the jump-off and put in a perfect round to head the leaderboard.
Whitaker, who is based in Nottingham, also took second place in the 1.4m speed class riding the 12-year-old chestnut gelding, Simon 11.
They jumped a fast clear round but were just 0.4 seconds off the time set by Germany's Daniel Deusser who took first place.