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British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010

Equestrian events have been part of the Olympic Games since 1900 with show jumping being integral since 1912. One hundred years on, all eyes will be on the picturesque venue for the London Olympic Equestrian Games, Greenwich Park. With its natural rolling and tree lined features, it’s visually stunning and the stadium in front of the Queen’s House promises to be one of the finest settings ever seen in an Olympic Games.

But gone are the days when Harvey Smith and David Broome were household names through their love and ability in the show jumping arena and most people would be hard pushed to name their successors in the sport, despite the fact that the sport continues to grow in the UK.

While Show Jumping was once regarded as the staple diet of the TV show Sportsnight with Coleman for instance, coverage of the sport has declined over the years. However national events are once again enjoying more TV coverage through the BBC and SKY Sports and new personalities are standing on the brink of stardom.

In order to develop equestrian sports and encourage more people to  ride in the UK, it is very important that the nation can identify with these new personalities becoming idols for both the older & younger generation. The UK boasts some of the best riders in the world but do we really celebrate their success?

Within the British Showjumping association’s ranking list, the top ten positions host competitors who have experienced huge success and fame. With an average age of 51, John and Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton, Robert Smith and Tim Stockdale all know how it feels to be at the ‘very top of your game’ and ‘achieving success for your country’, but outside of the equestrian world what recognition have they received?

Actively competing at the top level in any sport at the age of 51 is a remarkable achievment in itself, but Show Jumping still remains the poor relation in fan recognition to it’s ‘big brother’ Horse Racing, despite offering just as much spectator excitement.

With jumps twice the size of most Grand National fences, show jumping has its own infamous obstacles like Becher’s Brook, such as the crowd favourite Puissance wall. In the Puissance class riders face the daunting wall that stands at 1.8 meters in the first round (of which there are a maximum of five rounds). The record height for this class is, incredibly, 2.4 meters. To put this height in perspective, it’s slightly shorter than a telephone box, almost twice the height of Becher’s Brook and is more than a foot taller than Peter Crouch, an ostrich and a grandfather clock!

Interestingly, it’s the talented pool of GB youngsters, including several Whitaker offspring, that are currently making their mark on the national and international show jumping circuit. Three young riders in particular have already experienced great success and have their sights firmly set on the Olympics.

Ben Maher
Current No 1 show jumper in Great Britain, 25 year old Ben has achieved success from a young age. Following gold medal results with the GB Pony and Young Rider teams, Ben has represented his country on 13 occasions and his major achievements include being part of the 2009 European Championship Team and competing at the Beijing Olympics with Team GB in 2008.

Robert Whitaker
Ranked 3rd* in the UK, 27 year old Robert is son of the legendary John Whitaker and has inherited his unique talent and style. Another successful Pony, Junior and Young Rider competitor, Robert claimed seven gold and one silver team medals, and an individual bronze medal in his early days. Robert then went on to represent his country on senior teams 19 times. In addition to his senior team success, Robert has won many illustrious individual titles including the British Open Show Jumping Championship title for a record three times (2003, 2008 and 2009).

Ellen Whitaker

Ellen Whitaker
Currently ranked 9th on the British Showjumping ranking list, 24 year old Ellen has been aptly named the Golden Girl of show jumping with her talent, charm and endearing looks. The Maria Sharapova of show jumping knows no bounds where results are concerned and has an impressive CV of achievements. In her early days Ellen was part of the Junior silver winning team, fast forward and she has represented the British team on 15 occasions. Ellen was part of the senior European team that qualified Great Britain for the Beijing Olympics and only missed out on her Olympic place because of an injury to her horse.

With only three major indoor equestrian events in the UK, British riders highly regard these events as an imperative part of their training for the Olympic Games. Working towards their preparation for London 2012, Britain’s top ten riders, including Ben, Robert and Ellen have been invited to compete at this year’s British Open Show Jumping Championships on 7th – 10th April at Birmingham’s NEC.

The Show features international show jumping classes, including the Puissance, where riders tackle the famous wall that often achieves heights of over 7ft. Additionally, visitors will also witness Indoor Cross Country, which has previously featured leading riders including Zara Philips MBE, alongside stunning equestrian displays and entertainment. It’s a must for any sports enthusiast or family looking for a great day out. For further information and tickets visit www.britishopenshowjumping.com or call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301.