Equestrianism: Beerbaum family maintain dominance
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Your support makes all the difference.The German Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who had been out of action for two months with a collar-bone injury, demonstrated her return to form when riding Shutterfly to win yesterday's British Grand Prix on the closing day of the Royal International Horse Show.
Born in the United States, Meredith switched to German nationality in 1998 after her marriage to Markus Beerbaum, whose brother Ludger is European champion and top of the world rankings.
Having won the King George V Gold Cup here on Saturday with a stunning clear round on Champion du Lys, Ludger Beerbaum missed yesterday's jump-off with a single error on Gladdys. He was, therefore, free to give his sister-in-law a few tips before she went into the jump-off to defeat Frenchman Reynald Angot on Tlaloc by 0.33sec. "Shutterfly has unbelievable talent in terms of scope and quickness and general ability," Michaels-Beerbaum said of her winning mount. "He's one of the best horses in Europe."
The Grand Prix was one of nine contests in the Gold-Zack Riders Tour – and the only one to be held outside Germany. Despite drawing a blank yesterday, Ludger Beerbaum is still out in front on points earned so far. If he retains his advantage he will collect an enticing reward of £158,000 in Munich in November.
Richard Davenport had the distinction of being the only Briton to contest the Grand Prix jump-off, in which he finished sixth after one mistake on Grand Marnier. The 22-year-old rider was also best Briton when runner-up to Beerbaum in the King's Cup on Enjolouse de l'Eaugrenee, the former mount of his younger brother, James.
Three members of the Whitaker family featured in the prize-giving for the King's Cup. John was third on Steps Helsinki, after faulting at the triple bar when making a spirited attempt to better Beerbaum's time. His brother, Michael, was sixth with two jump-off errors on Handel II and his son, Robert, was seventh on Quinten II, who was too onward bound after the water in the opening round and paid the penalty by taking a pole off the fence that followed.
Britain will no longer be sending a team Hungary or Slovakia to compete at Budapest or at Bratislava. Nick Skelton, who had been due to ride at both shows, has pulled out on medical advice following a fall at Chester on 21 July in which he was severely bruised after the horse trod on him.
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