Daniel Deusser wins Olympia Grand Prix at London International Horse Show at Olympia

Riding Equita van T Zorgvliet, Deusser took full advantage of a late draw in the competition to claim victory in fine style over some of the world’s best showjumpers.

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander finished second with home rider and Longines FEI World Cup leg winner Scott Brash taking third.

A starting field of 31 horse and rider combinations came forward to tackle the course set by Kelvin Bywater and it proved a challenge for many of the competitors with only six riding clear rounds and progressing to the jump-off round.
USA’s Olympic gold medallist Laura Kraut was first to go and was nearly jumped off Cavalia at the last fence, having hit three rails.

Germany’s Marcus Ehning had two rails down on Gin Chin van het Lindenhof, whilst both Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Corbinian and Brash on Hello Guv’nor incurred four faults.

Tops-Alexander however produced a fine clear round on California in a time of 48.42 seconds. However the last to go pairing of Daniel Deusser on Equita van’t Zorgvliet executed a beautifully accurate round, going clear in a time of 45.67 seconds to seal victory.

Monday also saw home rider Laura Renwick and Norway’s Geir Gulliksen make it through to the fifth and final round of the Six Bar, at which point both competitors decide to share the spoils rather than jump again.

In the Holly Speed Stakes, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny marked his first visit to Olympia by recording a second victory at the Show.

Riding Fixdesign Funke van’t Heike, the pair went clear in 46.78 seconds for what ultimately proved the winning run. William Funnell, riding Billy Angelo, was the first to break the 50-second barrier with a clear round in 47.92 seconds, and he managed to hold on to second place with none of the 11 riders after Kenny managing to trouble the two leaders.

Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson hung onto the top spot in the H&M Leading Rider of the Show rankings at the culmination of another week of thrilling equestrian sport at the traditional pre-Christmas event at Olympia.

In addition to Sunday’s memorable Longines FEI World Cup Jumping leg which saw a victory for Scott Brash by edging out compatriot Ben Maher to lead a Great Britain one-two, Dutch rider Harrie Smolders won the H&M Ivy Stakes.

In doing so, Smolders, a member of the Dutch team at the Rio Olympic Games, claimed his first Olympia win when his four rivals in the jump-off all faulted,

France’s Kevin Staut finished second on Unna de Kerglenn, with Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker holding onto third on JB’s Hot Stuff.