Cian O’Connor crowned the 2016 Leading Showjumper of the Year at Birmingham’s Horse of the Year Show

O’Connor, who was individual bronze medalist at the London Olympics four years ago, guided Super Sox home and claimed a top prize of £13,200 in a thrilling jump-off.

Thirty two horse and rider combinations came forward to contest Sunday’s highlight class, of which only eight progressed to the jump-off round, seven by virtue of clear rounds.

In a dramatic final showdown, O’Connor and Super Sox came home clear in a time of 32.49 seconds, winning by just four hundredths of a second from runner-up John Whitaker, on his Rio Olympics ride Ornellaia.

Great Britain’s Robert Bevis and Courtney Z finished third with a clear round in 33.49 seconds, with France’s Robert Breul on Arsouille Du Seigneur finishing just outside of the podium positions by claiming fourth with their clear round coming in 33.98 seconds.

Earlier in the weekend, Holly Smith won The Thistledown Puissance on Quality Old Joker.

The Great Britain Nations Cup rider, competing in just her third puissance after previous appearances at Liverpool and Arena UK, only decided to enter the puissance on Thursday.

However it proved a wide decision to as the pair cleared 2.20 metres (seven feet, three inches) in round five to take the £5,100 top prize.

Frenchman Julien Epaillard denied Great Britain’s Guy Williams a memorable treble when he won the 1.50m NAEC Stoneleigh Stakes on Friday’s day three of the Show.

Williams had won two opening international classes, and he looked to have done enough with Titus after clocking a jump-off time of 26.80 seconds.

Epaillard, who won the Horse of the Year Show leading rider Grand Prix two years ago, had other ideas as he steered Cristallo A LM home in 24.89 seconds to take the £7,300 top prize.

It was a jump-off with a twist though as riders could plot their own route, provided they jumped six fences, and it proved an exciting contest, with Britain’s Robert Smith completing the podium places in third aboard Cimano E.