The opening CSI5* Jumping class of the Show came from the 1.50m Ivy Stakes, a two-phase competition, which featured many of the world’s best riders. It was first to enter the impressive International Arena, World No.10, Julien Epaillard who set the pace with a double clear in the time of 27.03 seconds, however, his lead was quickly usurped by Spain’s Mariano Martinez Bastida. Wilm Vermeir’s tight turn to the second-to-last oxer proved a worthwhile risk as he, partnered with the talented nine-year-old gelding Top Invest 313 Z, claimed the provisional top spot with 26 horses left to jump.
The crowd was delighted to see double clears from British riders Robert Whitaker and Tim Gredley; however, neither could match the time set by Vermeir. Despite the impressive standard in the class, with six of the Top 10 riders in the world competing, no-one could rival Vermeir’s performance, leaving the Belgian to take the victory.
Continuing with the speed theme, Joseph Stockdale and Ebanking set the tone in the Champagne Taittinger Mistletoe Speed Stakes, the second CSI5*-W class of the day. Entering the International Arena as first to go, the pair delivered a smooth and faultless round, establishing the initial benchmark.
However, it wasn’t long before London 2012 Olympic champion and Paris 2024 silver medallist Steve Guerdat took the lead. True to his reputation, Guerdat produced an exceptionally fast clear round aboard his 10-year-old mare, Looping Luna. Their daring line between the third fence and the fourth triple combination proved too tight for any other combination to replicate, showcasing exceptional precision and skill.
Three-time FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final winner Marcus Ehning and his mount, DPS Revere, mounted a strong challenge, applying pressure on Guerdat but ultimately fell short by more than two seconds.
The crowd was thrilled to see Raymond Brooks-Ward Memorial Trophy winner Oliver Fletcher deliver a clear round with BP Pocahontas. Donald Whitaker also joined Fletcher and Stockdale as the only British riders to finish with clean scorecards. Despite their efforts, none of the British competitors were fast enough to Guerdat and Ehning, with third place going to Francesco Turturiello of Italy.
Reflecting on his win, Guerdat shared his enthusiasm: “I am really very happy. London International Horse Show is one of my favourite shows, and I love coming here every year. I had a really good round today – Looping Luna jumped exceptionally well, and it’s great to start the week like this.”
Earlier in the day, the GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini-Major brought together eight talented Pony Club members from branches across the country to showcase their show jumping skills in a unique format, pairing them with international riders. Among the standout partnerships was John Whitaker and his granddaughter Evie, who rode her sister’s pony, Blue. Reflecting on the experience, John humorously remarked, “Forget the Olympics, this class has more pressure!” With an average time of 23.57 seconds over six fences, the young riders and their ponies delivered impressive performances. The top honors went to Lily McBride, partnered with Matthew Sampson, whose sharp turns with Poynstown Little Albert Einstein secured them the win with a margin of 0.65 seconds. McBride, from Fermanagh, edged out Zetland Hunt’s Alex Leggott and Blossom’s Ukkepuk Van Uuyversputten, who finished in second place with his partner Lorenzo de Luca.
