Ireland's Peter Charles Snatches Olympia Puissance

In a display of remarkable horsemanship, Ireland's Peter Charles tonight
(Friday December 21) snatched the coveted Accenture Christmas Puissance
prize at London's Olympia, clearing a wall of 2m17 (approximately 7 feet 3
inches) in a final two-horse jump-off against British ace John Whitaker.

Germany's puissance champion, Franke Sloothaak, made it to the fourth round
of tonight's competition, but faulted at 2m15, leaving just Whitaker and
Charles to battle it out for the prize of £4500.

Whitaker, first in on <Steps Helksinki>, lost his stride on the approach and
clipped the top layer, leaving Charles with the daunting task of going clear
on Sarah Gallagher's <Sagratt> at 2m17. A calm and foot-perfect approach
gave them the Puissance prize, and zero faults over five rounds.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT: CSI-W OLYMPIA 19-23 DECEMBER 2001

THE ACCENTURE CHRISTMAS PUISSANCE
International Jumping Competition
Table A
Friday, 21 December 2001
1) SAGRATT; Peter CHARLES (IRL)
Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00/0.00/0.00 Prize Money Stg£4500
2) STEPS HELSINKI; John WHITAKER (GBR)
Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00/0.00/4.00
3) PARAMO K; Franke SLOOTHAAK (GER)
Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00/4.00

15 starters