Equestrianism: History repeats itself as Whitaker shares top prize again

John Whitaker, who had been joint winner of the Puissance at the London International Horse Show last year on Exploit du Roulard, shared the top prize on the same stallion again last night having jumped five clear rounds, the last of them with the massive red wall standing at 7ft 3in. The other joint winner was Ben Maher, the victor in this year's Hickstead Derby, on Eperlaan du Fouquet.

Markus Beerbaum had earlier given another reminder of the strength of Germany's show jumping riders when partnering the bay mare Leena to win yesterday's Clarion Events Christmas Cracker ­ the pre-qualifier for tomorrow's World Cup when riders go in the reverse order of merit.

Yesterday he defeated Switzerland's Markus Fuchs on La Toya III and two Britons: Mark Armstrong on Thesaura, and Tim Stockdale on Corlato.

The relatively inexperienced eight-year-old grey mare, Corlato, with whom Stockdale finished fourth, had been so wound up by the heady atmosphere of Olympia that a quieter stable had to be found for her. Though off her food as a result, she proved her potential in the arena with a swift and polished clear round.

Stockdale's partner, the 17-year-old Fresh Direct Glenwood Spring, won the earlier Pounds for Points with a demonstration of fast and accurate jumping.