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Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton One-Two in Washington International Gambler’s Choice England’s Michael Whitaker broke the one thousand point barrier and edged fellow Brit Nick Skelton by seventy points for the victory. The Gambler’s Choice class features an array of jumps with point values based on the degree of difficulty of the obstacle. Riders design their own course and accumulate as many points as possible in the 50 second time allotted. The riders then have the option of the final fence, The Joker, with a value of 200 points. If they clear the Joker, the 200 points are added on, if it’s knocked down the points are deducted. Riding Iqbal Des Hayettes, Whitaker sliced and diced his way around the Steve Stephens designed course to an initial total of 850 points. The successful effort at the Joker brought his total to 1050. Whitaker was the only rider to top 1000 points. McLain Ward and Oasis, riding second in the order, made an early bid to make it two wins in two years in the Gambler’s Choice, taking the early lead with 970 points. Great Britain’s Nick Skelton edged Ward out of the top spot eleven horses later. Aboard Russel, Skelton piled up 980 points, a total that would top the leader board. It was then, with only three to go in the class, that Whitaker grabbed the lead from his fellow countryman. “Of course I had the advantage of going later on and I had a chance to see everyone else go and try and figure out the best course. Obviously the key is finding the best course and leaving all the fences up,” Whitaker said with a smile. “And, I got to that fence on the end of the ring again which no one else who did my course was able to do.” Iqbal Des Hayettes is a brand new mount for Whitaker. “The first time I showed him was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and he was second, third and fourth,” Whitaker said. “This is just my fourth class together with him and he’s been absolutely brilliant.” Whitaker who returned to the Washington International for the first time since the move to the MCI Center, likes the new facility. “I showed a number of times at the old building (Capital Center),” he said. “But this place is fantastic. A really good atmosphere. I really like it here.” For Whitaker, who spent the winter in Florida this past season, it was nice to be here in the fall. “It’s a nice change to be over here. Well not really a change,” he laughed. “I’m spending quite a bit of time over here. More than in Europe I think. I plan to return to Florida again this winter and see what happens.” For Michael Whitaker a win in the main event on Saturday night would make the trip really worthwhile. The $100,000 President’s Cup sponsored by Salamander Hospitality, LLC highlights this year’s jumper division and will take place on Saturday night, October 29, 2005. Friday is the all new AOL.com Night at the Washington International Horse Show featuring two exciting show jumping events, the $20,000 International-Open Jumper Accumulator and the $25,000 AOL.com International Open Puissance classes. Official Results-Class 213- $20,000 International-Open Jumper Gamblers's FEI Art. 270 -2005 Washington International Horse Show October 25-30 2005
PHOTO CREDIT: Iqbal Des Hayettes and Michael Whitaker of Great Britain Win WIHS Gambler’s Choice. Photo by Diana DeRosa Photography. For complete results for all classes at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show please go to: www.ryegate.com |
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Washington,
D.C. –October 27, 2005 – It was a one-two finish for Great
Britain on Thursday night in the $20,000 International-Open Jumper Gambler’s
Choice class at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show at the
MCI Center in Washington, D.C. 
