Equestrian: Global Champions Tour

familiar territory, because this place was the heart of London 2012.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it is in a process of transformation.

The main stadium is gearing up for the London anniversary games at the

end of July, and then the north end of the park will be open to the

public. Everywhere else, workers are making sure that it is perfect, this

will be the heart of the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic games.

That does not look how I remember it. Inside the aquatic centre, they

have taken off the sides, they have -- it will be replaced by class.

Major swimming Championships can be staged here still, but it will be

open to the public. You cannot just click your fingers and transform and

Olympic venue into something that is safe and practical for public use,

that is why it is taking so long. It will be open in the spring, and for

the European Championships, you will see more moments of history. But we

are here for another golden British sport, showjumping. Remember

London? Our first gold medal for 60 It is crunch time for Britain! A

lovely round. Just the start Britain once. Beautifully ridden! He has got

us off to a gym and start yet again. That was Nick Skelton at his very

best. The crowd go mad! Britain are on the old Trail! This could be the

first gold medal since 1952! Britain for Nick Skelton, the culmination of

an -- a lifetime. It has regenerated interest in the sport, and that is

one of the reasons we believe this has been chosen as the venue for the

Global Champions Tour. This is the richest event ever staged in this

country, the first new major showjumping event since Olympia

started in the early 70s, so let's find out a bit more about what it

The Global Champions Tour is the most valuable and glamorous series

in showjumping. London is brand-new on the map, there are 13 events this

year, in the hotspots of Europe, before it heads east in the autumn

to Shanghai and the final in Doha. The best riders in the world

competing. It is the first time it has been in London. You will see the

best horses in the world. It was established by the 1992 Olympic

champion. He decided something was missing from world showjumping so

instead of waiting for somebody to set it up, he went and made it

happen. We have 13 legs in the whole year, we end up in Qatar in

November. There is London, Monte Carlo, Vienna, Lausanne, it is one

fabulous city after another. Global Champions Tour is like the

Diamond league or the Formula 1. At the end of the year, if you are at

the top of the league, you win a big prize. There have been three legs so

far and a British success in Madrid, Michael Whitaker with the winner 's

cheque. That sees him in 18th place Queen's grandson. Nine months ago, I

was asked to put on a Global Champions Tour leg for the first

time in London. I thought, yes, why not? A gold medal! Nick Skelton

steps up. After the success of the Olympics, across all of equestrian,

it was important that we had a showpiece legacy event after

Greenwich, and this is it. After the Olympics, coming back, it feels like

the Olympics, because we are living in the village, so good memories.

are in front of the home crowd again, it was great in London in the

summer, and if it is half as good as that, it will be good. People

recognise what we are doing, and hopefully we get the people in to

follow us. He has always looked a class rider. So, who is here? It is

the best in Britain. The best in Europe. And, indeed, the best in the

world. I had a good show in Lisbon and Madrid. We will see how it goes,

you never know with horses, but Cedric is in good form. It is a big

chance to have a good result in London, because of the Olympics,

really bad. I have one of the best horses in the world, he is the most

winning horse in the world, and in the Global Champions Tour he has won

the majority of the prize money. bring my Olympic horse to this

place. We will do our best. I sold my horse, he is not here, but I have

got a good substitute. She was third at Olympia. British riders tend to

come forward when they are in their home country, so between our Olympic

team, we can produce some good results. Nick Skelton, Big capital

to start is on form. He is one of the best there is, it gives you

great chances. I would not want to swap him with any of the horse, so I

will stick with him. You have got to ride well and trust your horse and

have luck on your side. You can be in front.

You can tell how much the riders are looking forward to this, and so our

way. These men would have loved to have been riding for this sort of

prize money in London. How important is it that London is part of this?

Totally important. It has come on the back of the Olympics, the

enthusiasm, and they brought the global tour here. The money now, it

has totally transform the sport. In its seven or eight years, prior to

that, top professionals were struggling to make a living, they

had to sell their best horses. Now, totally different. When you can jump

for this money, it is unbelievable. So is the level of competition.

Unbelievable standard. Is it fair to say the, apart from the Olympics,

this is the highest quality event staged in the UK? No doubt. I bought

a course at the Olympics, and I did so today, and you cannot believe

that horses can jump comfortably around this kind of course, because

if you built this a huge years ago, nobody would have jumped it. This is

built in a very small area, we are just outside the Olympic Park, we

have got student accommodation behind us, but this is the arena,

with an all-weather surface, you can do it anywhere. This is why the

sport has got more global, you do not need the glass arena -- the

grass Arena. The Arab countries can build this kind of facility, and

they can compete. It has brought a lot of countries into the sport that

were not there a fuel years ago, it is totally global now. Perfect

conditions, it is slightly cloudy, I like trees, and this feels like

showbiz showjumping. Yes, it is glamorous, sexy, cool, big money,

all of the stars, the showbiz people want to be involved. It feels great

to be here. One of them is Bruce Springsteen, because his daughter

Jessica has been competing here. She did not make it through to the live

round that we are going to show, but he will be back here playing later

this summer. Again, that is important, it feels cool. Yes, if

you go back, it was the sport to be in, and then it lost a bit of

profile. It has come back again, without a doubt, and the Olympics

was the icing on the cake. The prize money is important to the

competitors, as far as you are concerned, it is all about the

quality of the horses and the riders involved.

All four of great returns Gold medal winning team are here, Nick Skelton,

Ben Maher, Peter Charles and Scott Brash. But they have stiff

opposition, up against the man who beat them to individual gold, Steve

Guerdat from Switzerland. Also back in London, riding a horse called

London, Gerco Schroder, who took the silver medal at the Olympics, and

the world number one, Christian Ahlmann from Germany. The defending

champion is Edwina Tops-Alexander, she won in 2012 and 2011. As we

mentioned, the current leader is from America, Laura Kraut, Nick

Skelton's other half, which she is out to beat him. And this is how it

works. All of the riders took part they get into the arena, everybody

for themselves. It should be an exciting competition, we are live

until 5pm. First, highlights of the relive, we hope, those wonderful

moments from Greenwich. The first is the reserve rider, from the

Olympics, Tina Fletcher. Hallo Sailor has been jumping for Britain

and elsewhere. Graham suffering after a knee operation. Tina hit her

knee last night, she is suffering. This horse is jumping. A horse with

top scope, has the ability to jump vertical. You have got to get home

under 79 seconds to make sure you get inside the time. A tight five

strides. No fillers. Still clear. The last line is very difficult. She

has taken four. She jumped it. The first clear round goes to Britain.

It is Tina Fletcher and Hallo have seen a lot of courses in

Europe... Having another look, a big stretch, watched the ride. She was

quite a long way off, but she made it happen. Now, the man who

eventually lynched the Olympic team gold medal, Peter Charles. This

horse has already hit the big time, went well at Christmas. Started

quite late this season, but he is already beginning to show a lot of

form. This is a big test, though. She has got a lot of blood, she has

got her own way of going. She sticks her nose out a bit. Pete rides her

very sympathetically. He allows her to go forward in her own style.

Lovely, clean jump over that vertical. The riders have got to

cruise around the corner is reasonably quickly to make sure they

do not get any time faults. Does not look as though the time is that

tight. It is not tight if you keep on rolling. Peter is still clear, he

will be OK full-time. A clear round, the second one for great written, so

free clear rounds so far. It is a very good start. The clear rounds go

through to the second round. He is beginning to build up a really good

rapport with this French horse. You can see her trying her heart out,

not always delivered. Today was the day that he was really going to put

this horse to the test. This horse has always promised to be a top

Grand Prix horse. He has never enjoyed the tight indoor atmospheres

and this arena is like an indoor show. It might interest the audience

because it is actually 80 metres by 50 metres, which is not big.

horses are jumping the fence is very close to the crowd. It can make the

horses tents but looking good at the moment. A super careful horse.

by the start who is becoming one of the top names in breeding. He has

gone forward and jumped it as well. Four clean rounds and three of them

for Britain. This is a world class field and of course a lot of big

can distract the horses. As you see there, he is a bit uptight.

Tops' wife Edwina Riding this extraordinary horse. Twice the

winner of the global champions league, 2011 and again in Doha in

2012. This is a top-class combination, on form. These two have

won so much money over the years. A brilliant partnership. Definitely

the smallest horse in the competition, barely 15-2. A massive

heart. Edwina will have to move on around the corners to make sure she

gets on in time because it doesn't throws his big horse into

everything, stretching out over an extra one there. She is just

inside. The time is interesting because the fastest clear rounds

will go last and the slowest will go first. She will get an early draw.

She will make the jump off but she will be one of the first horses to

go. Let's have another look at the horse here, jumping the last fence.

She put the five strides in, kicking on and if she had not ridden that

strongly for the last strides she might not have got it. She judged it

to perfection. Now Laura Kraut. Heading the global champions league

after three rounds on this, the horse that she helped America to win

in Hong Kong. It is a horse that is going as well as ever. It was the

winner earlier. Barely 16 hands but what an athlete this horse is. This

sport is such an amazing contrast between the combinations, you get

cold guys riding power horses and these women on little elegant

horses. This horse has been a wonderful servant for Laura Kraut

over the years. It is interesting because the ladies have had a great

run in this globe you'll champions tour. -- global champions. Laura and

Edwina had a great shootout, didn't they? A little bit slower. Is she

going to get inside the time? she is through to round two. Laura

Kraut for the USA. You see Laura patting her horse. She absolutely

loves Cedric. She is saying, good boy, you have done it again. He's

got springs in his heels, this little horse. He makes an immaculate

medallist, Gerco Schroder with London, the horse involved in a

bankruptcy case after London but the courts gave him the horseback. Out

he goes, I think. A very silly fence to bring down on with a horse of

that calibre. Very disappointing. He is widely acclaimed as one of the

best riders in the world and this horse is right up with the very

best, so that's a big conditions with the ground, the

temperature is just right, not too hot, everything set up for top-class

jumping here. And the course testing the best, in 11 clear rounds,

including beer bound for Germany. 12 good ones have already gone out. 18

go through to round two but I think with his back legs. That is show

jumping, very fine margins on those light poles. Now it is Nick

Skelton. This combination was so key in the Olympic gold medal. He hasn't

jumped too much in this current global champions tour but he will

certainly be trying. This horse is back on fire, hopefully right at his

best at the right time. One of the difficulties for the riders and

their team is to manage the horse to have him best when they want him and

I suspect Nick will have been trying to have him absolutely tiptop here.

He is a master horse man, it is all about picking your horses when you

really want them. He is riding with his normal attacking style. He has

added a stride to the last and he jumped it, he is clear. Clear round

number 12 and Britain really having a tremendous go. That is the fastest

times so far and at the moment Nick is in pole position. If he goes

through clear in the next round he will be last to go in the jump off.

Now the Olympic individual gold medallist for Switzerland, Steve

Guerdat. This horse won the world championship in 2006. Steve Guerdat

is a wonderful horse man and of course his win in the Olympics

really showed what a class act he is. There is the Olympic champion

Gan, middle part of the combination, hit it pretty hard in front. --

champion gone. Saudi Arabia and cat are have got clear rounds. -- Qatar.

It looks like he has retired. There is no doubt that the course is

proving worthy of the London round of this global champions tour. Now

Michael Whitaker. With Viking he won the first round in Madrid in very

good form. He is 18th place so far. Viking is an 11 new Roald now but

this man can pull a white rabbit out of a house and he rides this

difficult horse so well. He has got better as the combination has got

more miles on the clock. I have to say that this horse is sharp, he has

all the ability and I think he is getting calmer as he gets older, he

doesn't shake his head so much. I think the fact that Michael doesn't

jump him so often is helpful. Michael riding with his normal

style. Here are the five strides. He is karma because normally he would

have rushed down there. -- he is more calm. He has a difficult choice

to make. Will he go four strides or five strides the last? He gets the

five and he is close to it, he touched it, but he is clear. He is

really enjoying the moment. Britain looking in a very strong position.

Only one per nation at the moment but it is five British clear runs.

Viking a lot smoother and more calm than he has been and that was lovely

style, plenty still in the tank for the forthcoming rounds. Michael

pretty pleased with that. another member of that golden London

team, Scotland's Scott Rasch. The horse owned by Lord and Lady Harris

and Lord and Lady Kirkham. He did not have huge experience before

London but whenever it has mattered this man has come good in a big way.

Scott appeared on the scene a few years ago and he is going to be

there along time. He has the backing out, he has the horses and he is

super cool. A wonderful rider to watch. Two of the London team clear.

Will it be number three? And still with his five strides. Keeping up a

beautiful flowing rhythm. He has got before. A class run. Three of the

four have gone clear, Britain looking very strong. But a long way

to go in the London round of the Global Champions Tour. Such a call

cookie, that man. He is so stylish, so much in chewed with his horse.

Just had a little bit of luck with German clear at the moment. The

world number one, with the horse tallow blazered. They had an Olympic

Games to forget. As he said in the build-up, they are determined to

make their mark. So interesting, looking at the different styles.

This is a Germanic way of riding, very up right, very tall, and hugely

powerful, so different from the ladies. He is the conscience of

professional, if you look at how he has got his horse totally under

control. He is not the world number one for no reason. When you think

that 16 out of the world 's top 20 ranked riders in the world are

higher in London this afternoon, this is a competition very much like

those hazy days in London a year ago. Christian Ahlmann has made it

look so easy. Not the quickest time. Lovely, clear. 17 clear

rounds, the top 18 go through. At the moment, Robert Smith is just

hanging in there, but still some more to come. Germany with two, the

only other country that has got more than one, Great Britain. A lot left

in the tank, he was not struggling to jump anything. Wait out over the

last fence, very comfortable. the last of the golden team from

those London Olympics, Ben Maher with the super grey horse. Jane

Clark was president of the American International Federation, she had a

lot of top horses that were jumped by American showjumpers, but she

fell out with the Federation, and then Maher has become the recipient

of some super horses. This horse is definitely world-class. This is a

new combination for a lot of the viewers at home. Very successful in

America on the Sunshine tour. If you watch this horse go, she canters a

bit her own way, she does not like anything bothering her. Just to keep

anything from imitating her. A very Three of the British gold medal team

are part of the seven, two for Germany, and 149 nations. This is

pretty fast. Is it the quickest time? It is. Then Maher will go last

in the second round, and Nick Skelton will go second last. In 11

nations through to the second round, and Britain have seven of the

18. He was really going for it, he wanted to get into pole position. He

has kept motoring. That makes a big difference to the jump off. Joy in

the British camp, not surprisingly. Here is the position to go into the

second round. Luciana Diniz, the very good Portuguese rider. We go in

the reverse order of this. A great performance from William Funnell.

The Brazilian was the bronze medallist in the Olympics. Christian

Ahlmann, the world number one, is through. Laura Kraut is the leader

through. Nick Skelton and then Maher will be going to last. It is

important, especially when there are so many clear rounds, you have to go

later for the jump off. How is the horse feeling? He is in good form at

the moment. He is better when he is not too fresh. He was too fresh in

Madrid. I have worked him a lot more sense, he won in Rome two weeks

ago, so this is the next class back. For do, it is a new ride, what sort

of a horse is this? How will be course suit you? She likes to run

and jump. Luckily, the ring is not too small this week. I was aware of

the time, I just wanted to leave her alone. It is a different ride, but

the course suit the big horses. So far, it is working. She seems very

sensitive, you write her with a cover over her nose. When she was

younger, she shook her head a lot more. She does occasionally now, but

it is more her security blanket. She came with it, we leave it on, she

likes to do it her own way, and I leave her alone and trust her.

look forward to seeing you write again. How much are you feeling the

Olympic spirit, being back in London? It is great to be back in

London, we really appreciate having it here in London. So long as we do

not repeat the individual from London, we will be all right!

you, did you think this is important for British showjumping? It was very

popular before I was even born, and we need big prize money, it is

drawing big sponsors, and our country has proved that we love

equestrian, and we need more events like this. Good luck. They will be

going second last and last, because they were the quickest rounds of.

Graham has done a fantastic job of hopping around as much of the course

as he can! How much of a test will this be? The distance will be

difficult to tell, but it is big. There were big jumps in the last

round, it shows the standard, 18 clear rounds. This is a big, stern

course. The distance from the corner to the combination, that will be one

of the most difficult lines, and the last line. But I would think there

will be between five and eight clear rounds. Looking at the 18 clear

rounds, we will start with Edwina Tops-Alexander, she rides a tiny

horse, 17 years old. How amazing a relationship is that? They have a

wonderful relationship, a lovely horse. 17 years old, he puts his

heart and soul into every jump. It shows how they have produced him to

last as long as that and still be giving his best. He has had some

really good form, and if he gets into the jump off, he can go as fast

as any. Andy had a proper look around, where do you think the

problems will come? It is difficult from the gate, coming off the

corner, a difficult line, because it is so tight. Very delicate fences

could cause problems. Who would you make the favourite? That is a

difficult one! I think that's a trick could come good again, with

Laura Kraut. He jumped brilliantly. But Maher was looking like he meant

business in the last round. He has got a very good chance. The riders

have been cleared out, they will have a short warmup, and then they

come in, the slowest first. All of these horses jumped clear, this is a

difficult and different course. We will see how the competition

unfolds, they will try to not think about the prize! It is only when you

have a jump down when you think about what you have missed! Let's go

saw so many mind-boggling achievements 12 months ago. Memories

that will never, ever be forgotten. For many, a life changing Olympics.

You can see the arena, they have done H in this job of tucking it in,

it ended in to the limpet Park. -- out. Steve Guerdat. Gerco Schroder

missed out. A lot of stars will not form, and here is another one, the

reigning European champion from Sweden. Rolf Goran Bentsen. He bowed

out in round one. Although we have seen the highlights of the 18 that

went through, there are a lot who are licking their wings and have not

made it through. The arena here has gone in quite late, but the actual

surface, tremendous, a lot of water on it. This is the order for the

jump off. Edwina Tops-Alexander, twice the global champion. The

French rider is an interesting one, he won a lot in Hong Kong in

February, he has been in good form. Do not discount the Brazilian rider.

A great round for the Swedish rider. Luciana Diniz has got a great record

in these competitions. The three British riders at the end, that is

exciting. Looking at the last three, quite amazing to have the British

straightforward line. Cruising around the top. Down to the

arena. To the edge of the arena. Not a lot of room for the combination.

This line can cause problems. A skinny one. It is a long way round.

A time limit of 77 seconds. The double, and into the finish. It is a

big test. The horses have already jumped one round, so fitness will

play a part. After the second round, we go into a jump off. Not too many

finals do not go through to a jump off. Fasten your safety belts, get

comfortable, we are a way with Edwina Tops-Alexander. The chestnut

we have a jump off with the clear rounds, they remain in this order,

so this is the disadvantage of going first in the second round. If you

are watching at home, this order will not change. Every single rider

is coming into the round clear. A double clear, they will definitely

jump off. Little bit of a tight six strides up there, but that suited

this horse. We thought this horse would probably jump another double

clear so that is a bit of a surprise. On the other hand, if

there were no runs better than four faults, they would jump off. Here is

the big gate. Very big oxer, square at 160. These fences at this side

are in shadow. I think it is OK, because it is pretty uniform. Now

comes the water fence. Just that niggling fence, inside the time

pretty comfortably. There is the penalty, four penalties, 68.70.

Edwina, who is currently seventh in the league. There he is, the little

horse, jumping the last fence. Every early intercourse can have a fence

sometimes and that is a disappointment for Edwina. -- every

is riding as well as ever and has some lovely young horses that are

getting better and better. Interesting you mentioned the ages

of the horse. A 10-year old might not sound that young but at this

level it is still relatively inexperienced. Most of the horses

competing will be 12, 13, 14, and when they get to 17 they are getting

close to the end of their career, so it is a fairly short window when you

consider it takes eight to ten years to get them to that level. The horse

jumping with his normal very didn't see that one coming. We are

getting a few shocks here. That is another one that really looked like

they were going to jump a double clear. Ludger Beerbaum, the world

number one on many occasions. light touch on that last fence. It

is such a cruel sport at times, he jumped an immaculate round and it is

a wide open fence with the water tray underneath it and they can take

their eye off the top rail. Now it is Laura Kraut on this wonderful

15-year-old, Cedric. What a horse it has been for her. Tremendous

performance which helped team America win the gold medal in Hong

Kong, and still going as well as ever. She was well paced in Rome. --

well placed. Could they be our first clear? The form combination was

absolutely brilliant. She is letting this horse cruise forward and jump

dutifully, not interfering with him at all. She had to push for that

oxer. This is where Ludger Beerbaum had his fence. She has taken another

one but she has jumped it. Right underneath the last fence. What a

superstar he is. She is based in Europe a lot of the time nowadays.

She has a lovely yard in Warwickshire so we have the

opportunity to see her in Europe a lot of the time and you can see how

much fun that is. There is the big date and the long stretch down to

the oxer. Just made it work. Didn't he do well to jump the last fence?

What an athlete. The one rider from Saudi Arabia and part of the bronze

medal team in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He is riding this lovely

12-year-old. From the stable that won the world title in 2006. Saudi

Arabia really the first Arab nation to get right onto the world stage

clear, tight, two strides. They really need to bend their backs down

that combination. That oxer across the top end, it is really a power

jump. He just got caught out. He did not really have the grant to jump

it. Double clears are pretty scarce. They were fourth in the Olympics.

Fences down for the one Saudi Arabian, Kamal Bahamdan.

Laura Kraut away in the distance and she will be heading over to us in a

moment but not until the Irish rider has run. She said that she had

shortened Cedric up to get six strides in between the second to

last and the last fence. Let's see if we can grab a word. Laura,

congratulations, that was very lovely. Isn't he clever? He is just

wonderful. He jumped even better this round, I think, when he is more

relaxed. At the last fence he saved me, I eased off and he accelerated

and I don't know how he did it but he is great. You debrief Nick. How

do you think the course will see Big Star? Every course suits Big Star! I

just told him it is very short and that the time is not a problem. I

don't tell him too much because he knows what he is doing! Laura, well

done, are only clearance so far. In the ring, Mark McAuley from

Ireland. Both his parents competed in Ireland but he is riding in

Italy. He has had a fence down as we can see but he jumped a lovely first

round. He is a young lad with a lot of style, a lot of feel for his

riding, and sometimes you come to the first fence almost a bit

relaxed, it is by far the easiest fence, then the egg oxer across the

middle, that is a proper power jump, and that comes down as well.

-- the big oxer. Certainly this round is definitely sorting out the

riders. It is that big bigger. Some of the horses are slightly tired. We

are just seeing a few poles coming down now. The sun has come out.

There is actually quite a chill wind in the arena, it is not red hot this

afternoon, as the one Irish contender boughs out, Mark McAuley,

with Par Trois. It is a very tight turn that comes very quickly on a

big angle for that oxer. You need a lot of power. Now the world's ranked

number one, Christian Ahlmann, Taloubet Z. He won his first medal

in 2004 in Athens and has gone well in the global champions tour. He

could be a real live contender with this round here in London. Christian

jumped the first round so comfortable, so totally within

himself, and obviously does not have the best draw but if he does get

into the last round I think we will has so much in the tank. He needs to

be quick to shorten up here to get out of the combination. Just got

away with it. That is probably one of the toughest things for a horse

fence, this horse will find it very it. Lovely round. He won in hamburg.

The first prize is 148,000 euros. He the combination. It is a double

clear, he is still in there. So much power and ability. Christian has to

sit up here and try to shorten him. The middle part nice clean and he

just got away with that touch coming out. Now it is the single rider from

11-year-old. Jumping a nice tidy round. Just had that one silly fence

down. It is interesting, when you get a lot of horses into a second

round, some really rise to the occasion is, others, a little edge

comes off them that last fence takes quite a lot of jumping with that

water fence underneath it. riders from Qatar, helped by Jan

Tops, have made huge strides very quickly in the sport. This Frenchman

has been on fire. This is Patrice Delaveau. Two Olympic Games, he has

been in the showjumping world for a long time. This horse is only nine

years old, it won four out of five competitions in Hong Kong in the

Masters in February. It has also shown some of that form recently. He

has got a team of horses, better than he has ever had. A very

impressive first round here. dynamics of showjumping change so

much. Some of these riders can win sizeable and out of money. He won

several hundred thousand dollars in Hong Kong. 300,000. That is changing

the sport, as it becomes more global. France did not have a good

Olympic games, and they have not had a good competition so far. Kevin

Stout, Penelope Leprevost and Roger-Yves Bost have been

eliminated. But he is the man in form. The competition is beginning

to build. Three clear rounds, one for the USA, one for Germany and one

for France, and they will definitely go against the clock. This is great,

it is building up into the jump off that we want to see. Patrice

Delaveau is the man in form, with this wonderful horse. Only nine

years old. He is one to watch in the jump off. The first of the seven

from Great Britain, William Funnell. He is riding Billy Congo. Still

quite inexperienced at this level. 12 years old now. The vector has

produced a lot of good horses. William said this was the day he was

bit of forward pace to give Billy Congo that bit of extra scope and

thought that he had it, but he is clear. Britain has got at least one

through to the jump off. His wife is in great form in Yorkshire, and so

is her husband. There he is, jumping the combination. He gave the horse a

superb ride, he got away with the touch. He did not get height, you

harrowed the surface and make sure it is fair. For clear rounds so far,

is that right? I thought we would get between five and eight, and I

think we will edge towards eight. That was a great round, testament to

his preparation, because that was a top horse, lost a bit of form, but

he is jumping better than ever. horses get caught in behind us, they

get checked over. We'll is relatively rare in showjumping, he

reads a lot of his horses, and he bred this one. There is nothing

nicer than doing that. It is a long process. Unlike racehorses, you are

talking at at least eight, the top of their game, but he has done it as

well as anybody. He is a stallion, a lot of the horses are. Is that

difficult in terms of containing their temperament and keeping the

weight off? Yes, all stallion is different. That is why he lost a bit

of form, he got a bit spooked. He has brought him back, he looks a lot

more chilled out and better. They get better every year. We have had

nine riders so far, four of them have gone clear, we have got nine

the Global Champions Tour. He is very capable. Based both in Europe

and South America. He has been part of Brazilian success for the best

just fell foul of the combination. A few riders had a rub and got away

with it, but he did not. That was a bit unlucky. He looked to be

silly fence down. He is lying third in the leak at the moment. He went

very well in Madrid. But he will not feature in the jump off, we have

Funnell. He has jumped clear. It was not without its nervous moments.

thought I had had a stride, I had a job to squeeze the six in. I was

waiting to hear it fall, but it stayed there. Otherwise, he jumped

super. It is great to be here, hopefully we can jump another clear

round. How big is this for you, to be in with a chance of winning the

big pot? You do not get a group of top riders together apart from here

or at the Olympics, so it is lovely to be here. That gives it an extra

thrill. Let's hope I can do it again! Peter Charles is now in the

enthusiast for Peter's talents. He would love to get to the 2016

Olympics, and he would love the price today. You took the words out

of my mouth. He has a habit of coming good when there is a lot of

prize money at stake. He is the most unbelievably focused rider. He

concentrates so brilliantly. You heard him there, he shouted out. She

was too quick and too forward, that is a shame. That combination is

quite short and tight. One or two raiders -- riders have got away with

it, but not Peter. That is a big disappointment for him, he has

jumped to lovely round here. Really unlucky. That man goes second last

for great Western. And Ben Maher will go last. But Peter Charles will

not go through. For riders have gone clear. She has got a chink in her

armour, she stuck her nose out in the combination and shot forward

slightly. She did not get her shoulders up. A good crowd, very

much wrapped in the tension. Tina Fletcher with Hallo Sailor. She was

the reserve in London, it would have been lovely for her to get into the

jump off, but the first fence has gone down. It can be a brutal sport

at times. She jumped one of the best clear rounds in the first round.

Hallo Sailor not concentrating. The first fence is one of the smallest

fences. He made a bad mistake. Tina was desperately unlucky not to make

it onto the team. She was the reserve rider for the Olympics. This

is a true championship horse, he has got the scope and ability to jump

these fences. The ladies who bought the horse for Tina and others,

tremendous owners. Owners are so important in any sport. He got much

better as he went round, just did not concentrate at all at the

beginning. He jumped beautifully around the second half. We have

jumped 12 of the 18, six to go. Britain with one of the four double

clear is that we'll go against the clock. The first fence was not

unlucky, it was a proper mistake. The second one came down on the back

rail, which is different for Hallo Sailor. You will recognise a lot of

these fences, they were designed for London. They are still part of the

legacy, it is good to see them here. They play an important part of the

colour and excitement of this wonderful Global Champions Tour in

stallion. -- a mayor. He has been given the privilege of riding it for

Sweden. He jumped one of the best first round that we saw from

anybody. It is uncanny, watching him right, --. We were talking about

owners, as far as Germany is concerned, the owner has been in

place for the best part of 20 or 30 years. She has had some wonderful

fireworks in the jump off. He will be one to be reckoned with. Sweden

order as they do in this round. Laura Kraut will go first, Christian

Ahlmann second, then Patrice Delaveau, William Funnell, and then

this man. Just one sticky moment. Brilliantly recovered. Have a look

feel and style about him. He looks as though he enjoys pressure. That

is the impression I got from the Olympics. When you are riding at

this level for this kind of money, it is a fair bit of pressure.

Beautifully smooth through the combination. This lying down here

combination. This lying down here has not caused as many problems as I

combination. This lying down here has not caused as It is quite a

tight turn to the gates. Come on, Scott, just these three jumps.

Lovely round, copybook! What an inspiration move it was when this

man was taken to the world Equestrian games in 2010 because he

learned from this and put it to such good effect. What a round. Britain

has two of the six. He will be around for a long time, Scott. He is

stylish, effective, the horses really like him and he is brilliant

have been very complimentary of the whole venue, the stabling where the

boxes are parked. It is all been put together very well. It is Peter

Phillips' very first event of this level as a director and he has a

very very professional team with him and the time they have had, they

have done a very good job. Now the Brazilian born lady, very stylish,

Luciana Diniz. Winningmood is a horse who is very often in that

mood. He has a very good track record in this series. He is short

coupled and really powers off the three of the champions tour rounds

so far and lies second behind Laura Kraut in the league. Looking good.

Lovely stylish way of riding, fluent. Gets in close to the last

and she has jumped it as well. stylish, and this is becoming a very

strong international affair. Portugal join the USA, Germany,

France, Britain, Sweden. He is getting a big pat and he deserves

it. Here he is heading on into the double, second to last fence. He

jumped a bit to the side to make room for himself there. What a

lovely horse he is. Three left to go, all British. Michael Whitaker to

go first. He won the first round on this horse in Madrid. Michael

missed off the Olympic team. He loves to be involved at the top end

of the sport. Yes, he is riding as well as ever but he has some

youngsters, particularly his son Jack, who looks to have all of the

natural flair of his family. A great inspiration to Michael. Michael

worked hard to shorten up Viking's exuberant style through the

combination. Brilliantly ridden there. Michael, we want to see you

looked easy for Viking and Michael Whitaker gives us clear round number

eight. Britain have three. And one of those three is with me

now, Scott Brash. What were you expecting jumping with Hello

Sanctos? He is in really good form, I think it will be a fast jumpoff.

There are some good ones there so we will have to be clear and fast.

tend to be quite aggressive in a jumpoff. Is that your attitude,

fast? Yes, and sometimes it works to your disadvantage that he is quick

so I will definitely try to do that. It seems odd to say but some people

do go for a gentle clear with the jumpoff. Not this man, Nick Skelton.

Big star. Can he be an even bigger star than he was a year ago in

London. This horse is so exuberant, so much power. Nick shortening him

up for the combination. And he just had a little touch there. He has so

much stride. He got away with that one. It would be so interesting to

see Nick's tactics to the last fence. Will he have a stride and try

to keep his hocks underneath him? Yes, he has added a stride and he

has jumped it, he is through. crowd love that. It really is

building to a potential cliffhanger, with nine clear rounds.

And Britain right in there with a tremendous chance. Nextel and makes

it clear round number nine. -- Nick Skelton. So much power under the

bonnet, Nick Hass to control that, he needed to set up and control him.

Here is the little touch, just moved the pole very slightly. Last ago in

round two, it is then Maher on Cella. -- Ben. This mare jumped

corners. She wants to have her say. She has a little shake of the head.

Well, that was another one through the combination that he was really

lucky to clear it. He can't afford Teamed up with his horse on the

Florida circuit during the winter, he got very excited about the

potential of his horse and it is showing today. Ten clear rounds and

Britain has five of those. Can you believe it? Here is the combination,

very lucky in the middle. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

Thankfully for Ben it stayed. He is seems a big strong horse to ride.

don't think there has been a better rider to watch in full flight. He

loves going up to the jumps, he contains the jump. The only one

that, to me, was the most difficult, the middle of the combination,

because he has so much jump. Only the slightest of touches. He was my

favourite before the competition. You also gave a big shout out to

Cedric, who Laura Kraut rides. He seems much more relaxed. He seems to

be a bit more settled. It is the American way of riding. They like

the horses to go in the chilled out fashion. A great, great rider, great

competitor, and that is why she is head of the league at the moment.

They are clearing the arena at the moment because they've ring it down

to a very few fences. The riders do not get the chance to walk the

course so it adds to the advantage of going late. Not only do you know

what time you have to beat, you have also watched the course. Yes, they

all will anticipate jumping clear. As you rightly say, the later in the

draw you have, and especially with ten, it makes an awful lot of

difference. Showjumping does continue here in Stratford tomorrow

afternoon and there is coverage on the BBC on the red button if you

would like to watch more Showjumping. We also have over this

weekend the European boxing Championships from Belarus. And the

athletics Diamond league is live from Oslo on Friday. The same bolt,

who was beaten by Justin Gatlin and over 100 metres earlier this week,

he will be running the 200 metres. -- Usain Bolt. We have half the

field for the jumpoff so it might be a British rider taking first. Let's

take a look at the course they are facing. We start with the oxer that

was number eight, the gate, and then down to the big oxer towards the end

of the arena. A bit of a tight turn here, back to the double and then an

option. Inside, big vertical, towards the end of the course,

galloping now, all the way round what was five, six, seven, middle of

the combination, left on its own, last jump.

Unfortunately one of the riders who didn't make it into the jumpoff was

Tim Fletcher. It is really tough out there. What do you make of this

jumpoff line-up? You have a lot of the best riders in the world there.

It will be a very tight jumpoff. You have to put the money on Nick. It

will be quick. For you, how did it feel riding around that arena?

a fabulous arena. They have done a great job, the grounds are

fantastic. With five British riders in the jumpoff, half the field, do

you think we are entering a new golden age? I hope so! All of the

British riders did pretty good today. You have the top riders of

much does money focus the mind and how much can it add to the tension?

You have got to feed the kids! It is really important. You cannot believe

the expenses you have, not just the stuff, the transportation, it is

phenomenal. Every year, you need to win a major all be there or

thereabouts to balance the books. One like this will put you into

positive equity. You said it was very important that bookish riders

can win this prize money so they do not have to sell their horses. What

kind of value are we talking about? That is Ben Maher's horse. How much

is he worth? It would be difficult to put a price on, but there would

not be a horse that was not worth 1 million. I would put Nick Skelton's

horse at eight or 10 million. Unbelievable money. Laura Kraut has

just gone past, she will be the first of the ten in the jump off.

She is on the lovely grey horse somebody can put an early fast clear

on the board, it will set the others going. It looks like an enormous

course. 148,500 euros, the prize, it is enormous. You get a clear round,

fireworks could begin. A brilliant combination going first, they are in

form, let's hope she goes for it and sets a target, so then we will have

a quick jump off. And a tight turn. It looks very tight. But never count

against these riders. He can run forward very freely. She has taken a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

the stride out. This is the term, and acute angle. You get one or

possibly two strides for the horse to see the fence. It did not come

off on that occasion. But the first to go, you have got to go for it.

Now, Christian Ahlmann, the world showjumping. He was the victor in

Hamburg. This is his best horse, though. We have seen him jump to

steady rounds, now we will see him open the stride up. A big striding

horse, he is cruising around the was quick. 31.86. Not a lot of

shorter routes possible. There is not a shorter route, the only

possible thing, down to the last fence, he took one more stride than

you could possibly take. It will take something special to beat that.

Now, Patrice Delaveau. Only a nine-year-old, but with that money

at stake, he will not worry about the age. This horse covers the

ground quickly. There is no doubt that he will take the stride down to

the last, I would think. effortless stride, it is all about

the turn after the double. He got away with the rub. He is not quite

as quick, he might have to gallop to quick enough over the first part of

the course. It is quite a big gap, two seconds is a lot. Christian

Ahlmann has really set a serious time. Three gone, seven to go. The

time to beat, 31.8 sex. -- 31.86. William Funnell has never, ever had

such a big moment in his showjumping life. He might have won the

Hickstead Derby, but if he could win this, he would put himself on the

map in a big way. Come on, Billy careful. He is in touch. The crowd

urge him on. Not quite. It will be he who dares at the last. He goes

second at the moment. That is a super round, he will go home with a

big payday. He will not win, but that was brilliant riding. He did

not quite take the chance on the last fence, but he was in touch. If

he can hold on to second place, he will still win 90,000, two. And 60

seconds of third place. We do not need to worry too much about his

bank balance at the moment. What a round from Christian Ahlmann. There

is still a tiny debate left at the final fence if somebody wants to

take it. Perhaps Nick Skelton is the one to do that. This is Henrik von

different teams. He will have given him some instructions. He has got

such a lovely attacking style, he is taken. Did not really take off. He

ends up with a slow time as well, in comparison. Not working out. He

drops down to fifth place. Christian Ahlmann leads. William Funnell

second, Patrice Delaveau third. is the first fence that came down.

The next one, the angle was way too acute. The horse had no chance to

take off. You can see how light the polls are, coming down easily.

left to go, four of them British. The young man from Scotland, Scott

Brash. An 11-year-old horse. There will be some owners sitting on the

not hanging about. He is in touch. Will he dare? He is going to have to

thought for a moment he was in there with a shout, but not to be. He goes

into third place. Christian Ahlmann has set a pace. Incredibly fine

margins. It was the turn back to the second last. He gave himself a bit

more room to jump the big one. A brilliant effort, into third place.

Great Britain second and third. still free to come. But here is the

lady from Portugal. So stylish. costing valuable time. She will have

to make up a bit of time somewhere. He has not got the biggest stride.

She is working really hard. I do not think so. She goes behind both

William Funnell and Scott Brash. She goes into fourth place. Christian

second last in something under 26, they cannot make it home quicker

than Christian Ahlmann from there. She did brilliantly, because this

horse has not got the biggest stride. It is not easy for him to

cover the ground. That was very fast. Well written. Do not bite your

fingernails, sit tight! Keep those fingers crossed, Michael Whitaker

the first of three for Great Britain. 31.86 to beat. This horse

has a massive stride. Just a bit forward, that is the problem with

the horse. He can just take the to go into fifth place. He is. He

goes into sixth place, with the four faults. Still not quicker than

Christian Ahlmann, he has set the pace. He jumped really neatly, he

seemed to be OK, and just clicked a front leg onto it. His chance was

gone. There could be a few million jockeys watching this around great

Britain and riding with Nick take the chance with the last fence.

He is a long way off, and he has jumped it. He is half a second up.

He has done it! 100th of a second. That is amazing! Christian Ahlmann

cannot believe it. Justice is going to be served at Stratford this

afternoon. They were the best combination at Greenwich last year.

He has the sash on already and he is going to have to take it off and put

it on to Nick Skelton. If you came here this afternoon wanting drama,

you are certainly getting it. competition has lived up to all

expectations and it is not over yet because this man will give it 200%,

Ben Maher and Cella. The time to absolutely motoring. He is up.He is

quick enough to win it. He has to take the stride out to the last.

is. If he jumps the last I think he can do it! He has taken it for Great

Britain! He has taken a second off the time! Disappointment for Nick

Skelton but it is a fantastic run. The crowd standing, as they should

be, because that was a world-class Grand Prix has really shown what

Great Britain can do. Beverly and Gary will be disappointed but very

proud of what their horse and Nick Skelton have achieved this

afternoon. The first two places for Britain. Christian Ahlmann in third

place. Scott Brash in fifth. Four out of five the great written, what

an achievement. When you are down the riders we realise we have seen a

world-class competition. -- when we look down the riders.

He was the last ago, he has won the biggest prize ever been given in

this country. Ben, you made that look so smooth and so easy. Thank

you. She is an amazing horse. We have had a tough time in the last

couple of months and I doubted myself in the last couple of rounds

and just tried to do a job today. In the end, the first round paid off. I

was last ago, I knew what I had to do and she was unbelievably fast.

She gives the fences plenty of room but you seem not to interfere with

her. I am just a passenger, not a pilot, which is normally not my

style, but it is what she likes. It is a new owner for me and she is

having a good weekend at the moment with her horses. She had her horses

with the Americans before, didn't she? Yes, but she has dressage

horses here, so if she is spending some time over here now. -- so she

is. Cella is standing over there. She is so calm now but you said she

is sensitive and she needs gentle handling. I have to be very light

with my hand and the smallest pole I take in the wrong direction she

tends to throw her head back. We had a bad round in Rome a couple of

weeks ago, I don't think she was very well and we rested her, got her

ready for this week and she is a great horse. Winning here, in

London, does this matter? You can't compare it to an Olympic gold but is

this commercially the biggest success of your career and in your

top three moments? Absolutely. It is always great to win in London.

Obviously the prize money helps but it is lovely to be here, great

weather, great sport, and it is good to show the organisers of the global

tour that we can hold an event as well as anybody. We will jump in the

Grand Prix next week. It was a joy to watch you. Congratulations.

Let's look at the two rounds head-to-head. On the left, big Star,

on the right, Ben Maher. Ben Maher definitely looked quicker here. He

was already the best part of a second as he turned out of that.

They then galloped to the last. Look at that round. Ben really won the

jumpoff hubbub Lee after he turned to the combination. -- after he

turned. Laura Kraut in second, Christian Ahlmann in third, Michael

Whitaker in six. The world's best take part in this Global Champions

Tour and we have seen it this afternoon.

And into the top ten in terms of the overall league. Do you reflect on

that, thinking, that was good, or is it frustrating? You have to be happy

with the way that Big Star has jumped. You can't be too displeased.

At this level, with so many good horses, it is important. Ben has the

key draw. You won't get to jumping the net anywhere in the world.

was amazingly smooth but yours was really exciting. You were only a

couple of seconds behind Christian. I like to do it nice and stylish, I

just flap around. -- I don't like to do it. Do you think we are in a

golden age? I think so. I had my doubts in Rome but animals are not

machines. We got blown out of the water in the Nations cup but days

like today and everything is fine again. Are you loving it?With a

horse like that to ride, anybody would love it. Nick Skelton, who has

finished second to his British team-mate Ben Maher. They are

congratulating each other there. Great live sport on the BBC, with

action tonight, Argentina against England in the rugby union, that is

second and fourth. Do you get money for fourth? I hope so. It was great

to be in the shake-up. When I looked down the ten, they are the fastest

horses in the world. To be out there with these medallists, I don't know

how many Olympic medallists we had, it is great. It would have been nice

to get on the podium but it is nice to have a British winner or so.

you continue on the league and go to glamorous locations around Europe?

go to France next week and then home and then Monte Carlo. You and your

wife pepper are the biggest equestrian partnership in the

country. Does she know how you got on? She is watching on the TV. She

is pretty pleased. She rode the horse for a year, two years. It is

all a team thing. It is a team effort for the British riders as

well will stop well done. Nick Skelton and Ben Maher have made

their way into the arena to be presented with the cheque and the

trophy. If we had written it out at the beginning, beautifully sunny

day, a British top two, people would say we were dreaming. Absolutely. I

have been involved in this sport for more years than I care to think

about but I have never seen a better jumpoff. Nick Skelton, when he did

that, I thought, nailed on winner. Ben Maher, there is nobody quicker

than him. It is so exciting to watch because the two British men are so

different as riders. Nick Skelton in his interview said that he flaps

around. He has his own style but he is unbelievably effective. Ben Maher

is calm and stylish but show jumping, you do your own way. They

are both brilliant. Does sport get much better than that? I was doing

the commentary and I was beside myself with excitement. Thank you

both and to the guys in the commentary box. Thank you to the