John Whitaker secures double success at Longines Hong Kong Masters

After winning the Gucci Gold Cup on Saturday, Whitaker went to the top of the podium again in Sunday’s Longines Grand Prix, on both occasions riding his horse, Argento.

Thirteen riders produced clear rounds in the first round of Sunday’s Grand Prix competition, but Whitaker proved unstoppable and the rest of the field of riders could do nothing to haul back the British rider.

An amazing clear round second time around by Whitaker gave him the win. France’s Simon Delestre had taken an early lead on Ryan des Hayettes but eventually had to settle for third as he was pushed down by Whitaker and later also by last year’s winner, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckerman on Gotha FRH.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs ended fourth on PSG Future, with world number one Scott Brash of Britain taking fifth spot on Hello M’Lady.

In the biggest class at the Longines Hong Kong Masters on Saturday, there was a British trio on top in Gucci Gold Cup with Whitaker leading the way.

A clear and fast winning round on Argento saw Whitaker take the honours, ahead of a much younger rider in the shape of Jessica Mendoza who finished 0.62 seconds behind on Spirit T. Brash was once again amongst the action taking third place on Hello Annie.

In Friday’s Longines Speed Challenge, France’s Julien Epaillard proved the winner in anther exciting competiiton. Coming into ride early in the competition – where a rail down adds two seconds to the time – Julien riding Pigmalion du Rozel set an unbeatable target time of 59.81 seconds leaving every fence intact in the process.

Brash on Hello Annie came closest to catching Epaillard by claiming second place with a clear round in 60.06 seconds, with The Netherlands Gerco Schröder on Glock’s Prince de Vaux taking third in 60.38 seconds.

The fastest of all in the Speed Challenge was Martin Fuchs, but with a rail down he had to settle for sixth place overall.