The FEI World Cup Show Jumping Qualifier, the only one held in this country, the field was led by World No.1, Marcus Ehning (GER). Marcus is joined by four other riders currently in the top 10 rankings including Marcus Fuchs (SUI) No.4, Nick Skelton (GBR) No.5, Gerco Schröder (NED) No.8 and coming to Olympia for the first time, popular Irish rider Jessica Kürten (No.7). There were 36 riders, including 11 British riders, who competed.

'Course-designer Jorge Guilherme from Brazil built a first-round track that tested them to the limit, and 14 horses jumped before Ben Maher recorded the first clear round. Rideability, precision and power were all required if the timber was to be left intact, and turning that was less than precise was punished unmercifully - the sharp left-hand line to the oxer at fence seven taking a heavy toll as did the right-hand curve to the oxer at 11 on the 13-fence course.'

Robert Smith (GBR) riding Kalusha scorched to victory in the sixth leg of the 2005/2006 FEI World Cup Jumping series at Olympia in London. With an outstanding performance in the eight-horse jump-off they were unstoppable.

Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (GER) was runner-up riding Candy and World No. 1 Marcus Ehning (GER) in third with Sandro Boy. However fourth-place finisher Beat Mandli (SUI) now heads the Western European League leaderboard. Fifth place went to the young Ben Maher (GBR) riding the Dutch-bred nine-year-old Nikko IV. Markus Beerbaum (GER) riding Leena took sixth. Another crowd favourite Jessica Kurten (IRL) riding Quibell rode a super round that had her in touch only to have the last down (which was a long gallop down to a large oxer). John Whitaker (GBR) and Exploit de Roulard were eighth.

It must be noted here that Robert Smiths horse Kalusha is known to be unpredictable at times. Leading Rider in Geneva last weekend, the British rider suffered the deep frustration of having to retire after a stop by Kalusha in the World Cup jump-off.

This round however was to be his - Robert Smith now matches Ludger Beerbaum's record of three World Cup wins at Olympia - "in front of your home crowd a win like this is just great" he said delightedly.

1st ...Robert SMITH (GBR) KALUSHA
2nd ..Alois POLLMANN-SCHWECKHORST (GER) CANDY 195
3th ...Marcus EHNING (GER) SANDRO BOY
4th ...Beat MäNDLI (SUI) IDEO DU THOT
5th ...Ben MAHER (GBR) NIKO IV
6th ...Markus BEERBAUM (GER) LEENA
7th ...Jessica KüRTEN (IRL) QUIBELL
8th ...John WHITAKER (GBR) EXPLOIT DE ROULARD

Ben Maher and Niko IV - pictured left - jumped sensationally over a difficult track.

Pictured below - the unmistakable John Whitaker.

Robert Smith and the sometimes testing Kalusha - pictured above left - pulled out all stops to take out first placing and the all important points at Olympia's World Cup.

Marcus Ehning and Sandro Boy - pictured above right - are always a stylish pair and today was no exception.

Winner Robert Smith and Kalusha - pictured left - making the big fences look small!

Below sees Robert Smith and Kalusha with their Tourism malaysia sponsored rug for winning the World Cup class.