WHITAKER TOPS LIST OF BRITISH QUALIFIERS FOR OLYMPIA’s 30TH BIRTHDAY

The organisers of the 30th Olympia International Show Jumping Championships, London (19th-23rd December 2001) have published the list of British qualifiers for this year’s show, which will offer the highest prize money offered at Olympia. The ten automatic qualifiers taken from the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) Riders Ranking List, for the £232,000 plus event, are: -

Michael Whitaker, Scott Smith, Robert Smith, Tim Stockdale, John Whitaker, Andrew Davies, Damien Charles, Mark Armstrong, Veronique Whitaker, Nicky Boulter.

Whilst there are no surprises in seeing the names of Whitakers, Stockdale and Davies in the top ten, the name Scott Smith, currently the British No.2, stands out. Smith is clearly a man on a mission, his last BSJA ranking was 38th and his only previous visit to Olympia was to compete in the Young Show Jumper Finals in 1986.

With the 2001 show finishing the day before Christmas Eve, the top quality entertainment will take on added festive spirit. To accommodate the proximity to Christmas, the show, which traditionally runs from Thursday to Monday inclusive, will, in 2001, run from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. The World Cup Qualifier remains on Saturday with the biggest prize money competition, the Grand Prix, staying on the final evening of the show, Sunday.

The dazzling Cossacks and serene beauty of the Westphalians will be mixed with family favourites, the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National and Pedigree Dog Agility. Whilst the traditional Finale will provide a spectacular end to every performance and put everybody in a party mood for Christmas.

There will be ten performances at Olympia from Wednesday 19th December – Sunday 23rd December. The box office can be contacted on 0870 733 0733 or visit the website at www.olympiashowjumping.com. Tickets are priced from £11 with concessions for groups, seniors and children. For Private Boxes please call Daniella Lipman on 020 7370 8206.