Days After Winning Famed Equestrian Event on Home Soil, $2,469,002,250 Worth Jockey Goes Candid About ’A Special Win”

Last month was an eventful one for the Whitaker Family. After nearly a decade, John Whitaker won the  National Cup at Hickstead in July. The win was a truly phenomenal event, as the $2,469,002,250 worth Olympian was joined in by his son only one day later by winning another cup at the Longines Royal International Horse Show.

After a week full of joy and thrills, the athlete revealed interesting details about his win. The athlete shared an opinionated article with an equestrian website to share his winning experience and also talked about his first experience of being selected for the Nationals.

John Whitaker talks about his win at the famous equestrian event

On July 29, history was created as the Great Britain team lifted Nation Cup at the Longines Royal International Horse Show. The legendary showjumping rider John Whitaker sealed his victory in his 180th Nations Cup. After his win, the Olympian equine wrote about his win in an article on Horse and Hound. In the article, the athlete revealed that his 2023 Hickstead victory “was the best”. After his legendary win, the athlete’s joy was doubled as his son Robert Whitaker won the show jumping competition, Longines King Goerge V Gold Cup, with his father’s bred horse on July 30.

Further, while talking about the highly anticipated win, Whitaker revealed, “The Nations Cup win was made all the more special because it was so long coming. After 13 years, it was certainly about time we won it.” The rider who had a good feeling about winning the event this year stated that the team’s spirit was high and all the members were supporting each other. Moreover, while talking about the if not being able to win the Nationals this time, John Whitaker said, “ I think it would be desperately sad if we lost the National Cup at Hickstead.”

The British athlete also shared his first time being picked up for the event. Whitaker was joined by equestrian legends David Broone and Harvey Smith to represent Great Britain. The athlete after this achievement realized he has made it. According to Whitaker, it was his five-star ride,  Equine America Unick Di Francport, that kept him at the top of the podium. Further talking about this year’s event, John also gave his own opinion on the Blood rule causing the elimination of the Ireland team at the event.

John Whitaker gives his opinion on Blood Rule.

In the article, the athlete talked about the Blood Rule that led to the elimination of Team Ireland at the National Cup. Irish rider Mark McAuley, who unintentionally caught his ride’s side while jumping a fence and caused the horse to bleed. According to John Whitaker, “I actually think the stipendiary stewards should be able to use their discretion a bit. Mark didn’t mean to do anything wrong.

Also read: Equestrian Community Left Shaken as Injured Horse Worth $607,000 Gets Its Gallop Back to Before Major Race

The athlete also thanked the organizers, Lizzie and Edward, for putting on such a spectacular show. As The arena has held every sort of event, from Under-10S to the National Cup, and has had nine Whitakers and a total of 3,500 horses in total at this year’s event. The athlete ended his article by stating that this event was be one “of the best shows in the world.” After being able to lift a trophy for 13 years, this win certainly would have been an unforgettable one for John Whitaker.

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