Kurten wins Jump-off
There was a thrilling climax to the Rolex FEI World Cup Qualifier, highlight of this afternoon at the Olympia Horse Show in London, when Ireland's Jessica Kurten on the mare Libertine won a scorching jump-off against the clock.
Favourite for the event, Dutchman Albert Zoer on Oki Doki, surprisingly had a fence down and, for a while, it looked as if the diminutive Malin Baryard-Johnson of Sweden on Butterfly Flip had done a fast enough time to take the spoils, despite gritty efforts by Britain's Tim Stockdale and the popular veteran John Whittaker.
But Kurten and her game mare appeared to have the bit between their teeth and produced a stunningly quick and accurate clear round of 38.54 seconds - with only Nick Skelton left to go.
Skelton, on the great Arko, pulled out all the stops and cut corners in an exciting attempt to beat the time, but despite also recording a clear round, the partnership finished .23 of a second slower than the Irish pair.
A beaming Kurten - who has been been suffering a stomach complaint all week - said: "I knew Libertine could do it - I trust her - but I felt a bit weak myself. She is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and has given us the best Christmas present ever."
Britain's Nick Skelton finished second on Arko, with Malin Baryard-Johnson on Butterfly Flip third for Sweden.
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