Equestrianism: Whitaker makes mark with safety play: Rising to the challenge without rearing up proves difficult for man and mount

JOHN WHITAKER produced his own brand of daring to win last night's Woodhouse Leading Jumper of the Year on Everest Grannusch. It was his second successive victory in this contest at The Horse of the Year Show - which he won with Gammmon last October - and he achieved it by playing safe at the double.

His brother, Michael, had cut inside a display of flowers on My Mesieur only to hit the second element of the double in the fastest time of the jump-off. David Broome also risked all on Lannegan, but was caught out in the same way.

Ireland's Jessica Chesney, last of 11 into the jump-off, played for safety to jump the only other clear round and finish second, ahead of Michael Whitaker and Broome.

The Olympic Star Spotters Championship may sound a grandiose name, but it did not seem far-fetched when Alison Bradley and Endeavour won the title. Both Bradley, 23, and the seven-year-old stallion she rides for Nene Fruit and Veg look brimful of promise.

That Bradley is competing at all is a tribute to her courage. In April last year the 5ft 2in rider suffered a ghastly injury when she was kicked by a horse and lost her right eye. The accident occurred at the Bicton Show in Devon, where the horse she was leading was hit by a football that some small boys were innocently kicking around.

But her nerve has not suffered. She rode a clear round to gain her first Horse of the Year Show victory, defeating Tracey Newman by 2.04sec.

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW (Wembley Arena): Olympic Star Spotters Championship: 1 Endeavour (A Bradley) clear, 29.25; 2 Everest Catchphrase (T Newman) clear, 31.29; 3 McGreedy (E Gascoigne) clear, 35.47. Touch of Class Accumulator: 1 Everest Vantage (G Luckett) 37.46sec; 2 Roddy's Revenge (J Whitaker) 38.48; 3 Impulse (P Charles, Irl) 39.16. Paul Fabrications Foxhunter Championship: 1 Fleurance (J Popely) clear, 29.54; 2 Grenadier George (M Jones) clear, 30.19; 3 Energise (C Nichol) clear, 31.83. National Junior Foxhunter Championship: 1 Ultra Gold (S Scott) clear, 28.89; 2 Triple Flash (I Henderson) clear, 29.84; 3 One of the Mob (L Henderson) 4 faults, 26.88. E P D National Grade A (Section C): 1 Impressionist (D Inglis) clear, 48.56; 2 Leisure Queen (A Newsham) clear, 49.82; 3 Belotti (P Bevan) clear, 51.95. Woodhouse Leading Jumper of the Year: 1 Everest Grannusch (J Whitaker) clear, 26.80sec; 2 Diamond Exchange (J Chesney, Irl) clear, 33.03; 3 Everest My Mesieur (M Whitaker) 4 faults, 25.07.

(Photograph omitted)