British hopes for SJ World Cup final

Richard Davenport and Michael Whitaker carry British hopes in show jumping’s World Cup final

Richard Davenport has received a last-minute invitation to compete at this weekend’s SJ World Cup final at Leipzig in Germany.

Richard, 22, will join Michael Whitaker, Britain’s only other competitor in the final, with Martin Dawes’s 12 year-old chestnut gelding, Grand Marnier.

Michael Whitaker will behoping to equal if not better his third place in last year’s final, riding Anne Bedford’s 13 year-old dark bay stallion, Handel II.

Handel has been rested since sustaining a high flexor tendon injury in s’Hertogenbosch, which has been healing well.

The rest of the world

Michael and Richard will be competing against 38 of the the best riders in world, including title holder Marcus Fuchs (SUI), and the FEI’s top three ranked riders, Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Ludo Philippaerts (BEL).

A strong challenge is also expected from Germany’s Marcus Ehning, Lars Nieberg and Ren‚ Tebbel, while few would bet against Rolf-G”ran Bengtsson (SWE), Jan Tops (NED) and Jerry Smit (DEN) being among the top placed riders.

Read more international sj news:

• SJ studbook for Germany
• Feast of jumping at Royal Show
• New international SJ series

Carol Phillips

H&H website editor

Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.