Equestrianism: Clear victory for Whitaker

Robert Whitaker secured his second win of this year's London International Horse Show at Olympia when he rode Finbarr V to the only clear round in the fourth jump-off for the Christmas Eve Six Bar. With fences being raised for each round, the last obstacle reached a height of 6ft 7in. The first prize was in safe keeping for 24-year-old Whitaker when his two remaining rivals Robert Smith on Ronaldo and Jean-Marc Nicolas on Joal de Madame had the last fence down.

Finbarr, who stands 17.1 hands, is well suited to jumping big fences. Because of his size, however, he can get weary. "He felt a bit like an old diesel tractor," Whitaker said after sharing first in the Puissance here last year. But he felt "happy and fresh" yesterday and the rider is hoping to say the same this evening when Finbarr tries for the 12th puissance victory of his career.

London International Horse Show (Olympia): Christmas Eve Six Bar: 1 Finbarr V (R Whitaker, GB) clear in 4th jump-off; 2= Ronaldo (R Smith, GB) and Joal de Madame (J-M Nicolas, Fr) 4 faults in 4th jump-off. KBIS British Equestrian Insurance Speed Stakes: 1 E T Royal Volo (T A Hansen, Nor) clear, 57.14sec; 2 Okometa (A Pollmann-Schweckhorst, Ger) clear, 57.44; 3 Exploit du Roulard (J-M Nicolas, Fr) clear, 58.52. KBIS Event Horse of the Year: Flint Curtis (O Townend). KBIS Show Jumper of the Year: Arko III (N Skelton).