In a super class, The Christmas Cracker, a one round with jump off class, had the capacity audience again sitting on the edges of the seats...........36 starters with 13 going through to the jump off - and it was an international smorgasbord in the jump off with Sweden, France, Austria, Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Egypt and Australia represented.

The track today was not difficult but time was the issue for many - 12 out of 26 came through the finish flags with time penalty, with 6 of these having no jumping penalties!

Second into the ring gave us the first clear on jumping and time, Sweden's Svante Johansson and the 10 year old stallion Saint Amour 125.

Britain's Robert Smith was one of the unfortunates who had clear jumping but collected one time fault keeping them out of the jump off.

Britain's young guns, Ben Maher and Tim Gredley both fell foul of the last fence having jumped clear till that point and then Ireland's BIlly Twomey also suffered from Last Fence Syndrome leaving 3 speedsters out of what was going to be a fast and furious jump off!

So to the jump off started with Svante and he and his stallion set a tough standard as they jumped clear in 34.76secs which was a beatable time but all fences had to stay standing!

Second out was Timothee Anciaume for France riding another of the very talented stallions, 10 year old Lamm de Fetan and they too jumped clear cutting nearly a second of Johansson's time stopping the clock at 33.88secs.

Austria's Gerfried Puck in his distinctive bright green jacket out in a clear round in 35.90secs for Austria riding 11th Bleeker, a 14 year old gelding by Prominez.

Sydney Olympic Gold medalist Eric Van Der Vleuten also posted a clear which put him provisionally into second place when he stopped the clock at 34.35secs in the saddle of VDL Groep Tomboy, a 10 year old gelding by Emilion out of an Ahorn mare.

Geoff Billington has been sharing his time between competing and commentating and in this class he rode a class first round to get into the jump off on Pedro IV, -pictured below - a 12 year old Koriander/Voltaire gelding. It was in the jump off things went a little astray as Geoff got lost on course which brought forward offers of buying him an on course GPS to help him find his way! He finished before going through the finish flags with an elimination................

The Whitakers still get the loudest cheers as they come into the arena and when Michael rode in on the wonderful 15 year old mare Portofino - pictured below - , the roof was nearly raised with the cheering - and then the cheers got louder, as this master of the jump off fairly blitzed around the course taking out strides where possible and also where seemingly impossible - and the result was incredible!

All fences standing and the clock stopped at 32.67secs - the bar was raised now!
Young Scott Brash from Scotland - pictured below - , who got a late call up to his first Olympia as a senior rider got to this jump off by jumping a cool and collected first round which saw great approval from the enthusiastic crowds and all was going well till third last fence from home fell leaving them with 4 faults in 34.14secs - but make no mistake - this is a young man who will be seen in the winners circle!
Eight out in this 13 horse jump off was Ireland's Cameron Hanley and S.I.E.C Livello - pictured below - , the 10 year old Limbus/Ahorn stallion and they put in a very respectable jump off where all fences were left where they were put and the clock stopped at 34.77secs.

Reigning European Champion, France's Kevin Staut is just off the mark when he lowered the last fence to finish with four faults in 32.94secs.

Pictured below - Staut on the 9 year old stallion Major de Coquerie by Ahorn out of a Jalisco B mare.
Ellen Whitaker was next to go - and when you see her jump, where speed is involved there is no doubt that she is part of, what has to be the greatest jumping dynasty of all time - and today she beat the master at his own game when she took control of the jump off track, cutting strides out, taking the gallop where it was offered and never taking a pull anywhere - result...all fences standing and clock stopped at 32.54 secs to take provisional lead!

Pictured right - Ellen Whitaker and Equimax Ocolado, as 12 year old gelding by Habsburg out of a Calvados mare.

Just three left to go - Abdel Said for Egypt is the youngster of the show and is another who got a late wild card to jump in Olympia, and at just 20 years of age this is quite an achievement.

Abdel has been on the senior circuit for a little over 18 months now after living in the Netherlands for

9 years fulfilling his ambition to ride internationally. Abdel has made many friends on the senior circuit and has been lovingly named The Flying Carpet as he loves to go very fast in speed classes and jump offs - a name he does not take umbridge with, and in fact likes the title!

Today, in the saddle of Avenir, the 9 year old Phin Phin gelding - pictured below left and right - he has had since June he showed just how fast he can go when he broke Ellen's lead stopping the clock in 32.12secs with all fences in place!

But Said could not count his money just yet - the two yet to come could well take the win from him!

Robert Whitaker, never known to take a leisurely walk around a course was next out on Casino 43, a 14 year old Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier and they were going great guns until fence 6 in the middle of this jump off track fell, leaving them with four faults in 33.68secs.

Last to go, and one who was well capable of stealing the win from Abdel today is the petite Australian on the tiny 13 year old gelding Cevo Itot du Chateau - pictured below right - and there was no question Edwina Alexander was there to do her very best to take the win as she flew through the start flags, cutting corners everywhere and it was the tiniest of pulls to the final fence that saw this combination clear in 32.20secs to take second place behind Abdel by 0.08sec.

So the win in the Earls Court Olympia Christmas Cracker class went to the gorgeous, smiling Egyptian who was so proud and speechless at his first major International win, Abdel Said and Avenir.

We chatted with Abdel after his win and he was still in delighted shock but was quick to give credit to his horse and to give thanks to the support of Team Harmony (Princess Haya) adn his parents, particularly his mother who moved to the Netherlands with her horse mad son to support his ambitions.

Abdel also said that due to his busy competition schedule he hadn't managed to find time to train with his great supporter, coach and friend Emile Hendrix - but he did spend the past week training with him in preparation for his Olympia debut - and no doubt both are delighted with his result today.

Abdel has already qualified to ride in Kentucky at the World Championships and will be be looking for more results before then and then to also go on to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

For full results from this class click here and for the course plan from this class click here
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