DATELINE: Thursday, 27th April, 2006

After a night which saw a light and thunder show to rival anything we have seen before, the temperatures climbed this morning in KL and the humidity seemed to rise incredibly - on arrival at the Putra Stadium, the first thing which we noticed was the coolness of the warm up arena - it was fabulous and nobody was bothered by the outside temperatures and this is of major concern for horses and riders when the temperatures are so high.

The International Grand Prix Tour Competition is a 1.45m Speed Class and the listed 16 combinations were in for a great time from the incredibly supportive and vocal crowd - as the revised start time of 4pm approached the stands began to fill and there was a definite buzz of excitement throughout the place.

Heading the start list is youngster Charlotte Morse, riding for Hong Kong and Charlotte also completes the list as last rider being the only rider with two horses in the class. Her first horse, the 10 year old Hollywood/Flemmingh stallion, O'Jasper - pictured below left - started off nice and careful but after lowering the hibiscus fence midway through the track the wheels fell off a little and they finished with 12 faults in 56.93secs.

Italy's Juan Carlos Garcia was next to go and he and Markgraaf had a rub at the first part of the final double but the rail at the vertical stayed in place and they came through the finish flags to the roar of the crowd as they pipped Ehning by a fraction finishing with no jumping faults in 50.46secs.

Finland were the next to try and take the lead in the Putra Cup so generously sponsored by Kuala City Hall and Mikael Forsten set the place on fire with his incredible ride on the 12 year old chestnut mare Melansa - pictured below - and the crowd raised the roof when they came through the finish flags with everything in place and startling time of 46.31secs taking the provisional lead.

Malaysia's first rider into the ring was encouraged every fence by the home crowd who were hoping that Qabil Ambak and Opium Metodo - pictured below left - would bring home the results - sadly they lowered the Kuala Lumpur fence to finish with 5 faults having a fence and a time penalty added.

Alison Firestone was next to challenge the Finish rider who was holding the lead at this stage - Firestone, riding the 9 year old dark bay mare, La Supra had a hairy moment to the first fence but things came a little better after that although the rails still fell leaving this combination with 12 faults in 60.60secs.

Swedish rider, Helena Gabrielsson, riding for Sweden but based in Malaysia did not have an easy time with King Power Aladdin who just couldn't bring himself to jump the big oxer which was fence number three and they saw elimination when the horse refused to go up and over.

Second rider from Finland was Noora Pentti and the 14 year old stallion son of Calando, Evil Cagliostro -pictured above right - this horse obviously knows his job and his rider allows him to do it without too much interference - a joy to watch this combination play over the course today.

Russia's Ljubov Kochetova and Coro Piano sadly had to leave the arena after the very first jump they took when nerves obviously got to Ljubov and they jumped the incorrect first fence.

Ramsy Al Duhamy and Ocelot - pictured above left - took on the Franke Rothenburger track for KSA today and the horse looked fresh and happy to be jumping but the freshness took it's toll when an oxer in the middle of the course fell finishing with 4 faults in 51.95secs.

With just five combinations to go, Finland's Mikael Forsten was holding his lead - Vladimir Beletskiy for Russia was the next to try and take the lead with but when a late fence fell they finished with 4 faults in 50.60secs leaving the placings as they were!

Mexican rider, Alberto Michan and Iva tu du Rouet - pictured above left - took a fly from fence one to two making as much time as he could there and he then took some excellent turns showing he wanted to win the class but when the clock finished this combination had the first part of the last double down for four faults in 49.70secs.

Norwegian Geir Gulliksen comes to Malaysia direct from Gothenburg where he was second in the big speed class and so looking for another good result with Clear Round's Then Party - pictured above right - and this horse with the expressive ears was listening to Geir every step of the way but when the clock stopped they couldn;t quite bump Finland off the top, slotting provisionally into second spot with their clear in 48.48secs.

The 19 year old Charlotte Morse is the final rider who can deny Finland the win, riding her second horse in this class, another stallion, Lanceretoo who looked quite fresh and tricky though this class - he was unsettled after having a rail and Charlotte and Lancerretto then jumped the wrong fence to hear the bell ring for elimination - a sad way to leave the arena but this young lady has two lovely stallions and rides them sympathetically and will no doubt be a force to reckon with in the not too distant future.

And so the first Senior class was over - and all that remained was the prize giving ceremony and the light show around the arena. combined with the music had the crowd clapping along as they waited for the winner and placegetters to enter the arena.....................................