Robert Whitaker continued his successful campaign to regain the British Open title by claiming third place on new ride USA Today in today’s second leg of the Championship race. However, he now ties with his cousin Ellen on the top of the leader board as she produced a foot perfect double clear to snatch first place in the second leg from Robert and German rider Daniel Deusser, who was her closest rival, on her Horse of the Year Show Champion Equimax Ocolado. Ellen and Equimax Ocolado are in fantastic form and will definitely be giving Robert something to worry about going into tomorrow’s third round. Who will win the battle of the Whitakers?

The newly sponsored, Equiport Classic resulted in a win for Belgium’s Dirk Demeersman and the chestnut gelding Tymoon Caloo Meerchen. The pair’s perfect round finished in a time of 55.39 seconds. There was an unusual tie for second place as wildcard Tina Fletcher riding Promised Land and John Whitaker on Argento both finished clear in an equal time of 59.10 seconds. Ellen Whitaker and CS Online narrowly missed second place in time of 59.42 seconds to settle for third place.

The British Open Indoor Cross Country kicked off the evening entertainment. Twenty four international event riders took part and were cheered on by the packed arena. With an impressive record in this competition Mark Kyle and his twenty year old grey gelding Drunken Disorderly repeated last year’s success by winning the class with a super speedy clear round in a time of 54.72 seconds. Being last to go meant that Mark knew exactly what he had to do to beat, Lauren Shannon, who trains with Mark, and her bay mare Quixotic who’d raced round the course in 55.61 seconds. Oliver Townend, who finished second in last year’s class, took third place with a clear round in 56.95 seconds.

Sam Hutton has made a real impression in the national classes at the British Open this year, two wins in two days! First he took the BEF World Class Development Programme Pathfinder yesterday and then today he sealed the deal in the PCA Rising Stars Championship jumping a perfect double clear, both with 8 year old gelding Astral 57. Nineteen combinations lined up for this Championship with a healthy nine clears going through to the jump-off, including crowd favourite Robert Whitaker. Sam rode a perfectly executed round to clinch the title on a time of 38.74seconds, rounding off a magical two days for him at the British Open. What a star for the future.

The BEF World Class Development Programme Championship is a hotly fought contest with Britain’s best young riders battling it out for qualification throughout the year for their hard earned place in the Championship and to set them on the path to future success. Many illustrious winners have graced the winners lap, including William and Ellen Whitaker. It was Emily Davies’ night tonight and she stormed to victory ahead of Ireland’s Antony Condon who was in superb form but had to settle for second with the experienced Eurocommerce Lanapoule. It was real spectacle and a treat to see such talented young riders coming through the ranks.

In the new British Showjumping, British Riding Club & Pony Club Team Competition sponsored by Horseprint’s Pop Up Spooky Fillers, Team Royal Leisure reined supreme. The team comprised 128cm rider Jodie Hall-McAteer on Hollyoaks, 138cm rider Millie Howell riding Montana Dawn and 148cm rider Emily Bell with Cuckolds Tiptoes. All teams included a rider for each height section and were assisted by an international show jumper who acted as a Chef d’Equipe, walking the course with the teams and giving vital coaching tips and guidance. One of the leading British lady riders, Tina Fletcher, guided Team Royal Leisure to victory. Jodie, Millie and Emily jumped superbly, only accumulating 4 faults in a total time of 29.40 seconds. Narrowly beaten into second place was Robert Whitaker’s allocated team, Team Rowallan, consisting of Sandy McLean, Kerstin Deakin and Isla Mowat who also finished with 4 faults in a fractionally slower time of 30.26 seconds. Third place went to the team coached by Ellen Whitaker, Team Stainsby Grange, which included Katie Waldock-Smith, Katie Pownall and Romilly Simmons who also finished on only four faults in a time of 33.64 seconds.