Wednesday 27th of March 2024
Showjumping

Olympia 2015: The Alltech Christmas Puissance

David Simpson and Richi Rich winners of the Alltech puissance Credit: Kit Houghton

David Simpson and Richi Rich winners of the Alltech puissance Credit: Kit Houghton

We are only hours away from the Alltech Christmas Puissance at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Here are a few facts and figures you need to know!

This year, 12 riders take on the spectacular red brick wall to see who can jump the highest of them all. With a maximum of 5 rounds and a starting point of 1.80m, who will be crowned Olympia’s 2015 Alltech Puissance winner?

Great Britain’s Laura Renwick rides her family owned Roller Coaster, who was second behind Ben Maher in 2012 along with our only other GB rider Guy Williams.

Guy won the 2011 title on Richi Rich but this year rides Mrs Lindsay Doran’s Depardieu van T Kiezelhof, winner of the Olympia Christmas stakes in 2011 and the Derby Tankard winner 2015 at Hickstead.

Ireland’s Trevor Breen is on board Loughnatousa W B, the two times Hickstead Derby Champion and puissance joint winner at Horse of The Year Show in 2012. Nine other top horse and rider combinations will come face to face with the Olympia Puissance wall to provide an exhilarating competition for first prize.

TV Showing Times:
BBC Red Button & Online Live 21:00 – 22:15
British Eurosport Live 21:00- 22:30

John WHITAKER (GBR) riding Zantos II  3rd place Credit: Kit Houghton

John WHITAKER (GBR) riding Zantos II 3rd place Credit: Kit Houghton

Start list:

Number Horse Rider Country
24 Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet Anthony Condon IRL
100 Continuo Hilmar Meyer GER
132 Leonard De La Ferme CH Pius Shweizer SUI
110 Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier Cian O’Connor IRL
21 Depardieu Van T Kiezelhof Guy Williams GBR
92 Grand Balou Victoria Gulliksen NOR
186 Quadros Marco Kutscher GER
124 Fantomas de Muze Karline De Brabander BEL
87 Roller Coaster Laura Renwick GBR
60 Loughnatousa W B Trevor Breen IRL
177 Sunshine Jos Veerloy BEL
89 Amorado Odth Emanuele Gaudiano ITA

 

 

DID YOU KNOW:

The British Puissance Record:

GBR’s Nick Skelton Jumped to victory on the famous Lastic at Olympia in 1978 setting the British record at 2.32m. Then a high jump competition consisting of a sloping brush fence and timber rail, it has over the years transformed into the intimidating red brick we all know as the ‘puissance wall’ today.

The World Puissance Record

Germany’s Frank Sloothak flew a huge 7ft 10 ½ in (2.40m) aboard Optiebeurs Golo at Chaudfontaine in Belgium 1991, Beating his previous record of 2.35m on Leonardo.

Olympia’s Puissance Record:

The Prestigious Christmas Puissance title is held by Frenchman Patric Caron and Gai Sarde who cleared an impressive 7ft 5 1/4in (2.26m) in 1980.

The Highest achieved since at Olympia was in 2006 when John Whitaker, Robert Whitaker and Markus Fuchs were joint 1st clearing a height of 7ft 4in.

Recent Years Winners:

2012:  Ben Maher (GBR) riding Noctambule Courcell were the only combination to make the 4th round with the wall at a mighty 7ft 1. They won the title following a drop of one brick at this height.

2013: Luca Maria Moneta- Quova De Vains cleared the brick wall at 7ft 2in to take first prize.

2014: David Simpson- Taking over the ride from Guy Williams, the grey mare Richi Rich III gained her second Olympia puissance title flying over 7ft 3in.

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