Opening Day of Longines League of Nations™ at World Equestrian Center – Ocala
Great Britain’s Donald Whitaker claimed victory in the $63,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSIO5*-LLN on opening day of the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) on Wednesday, March 18, in Ocala, FL.
Forty-six jumping athletes entered the $63,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSIO5*-LLN with eight producing clear rounds over the track set in the WEC Grand Arena by Irish course designer Alan Wade. Two athletes, Rene Dittmer (GER) and Nina Mallevaey (FRA), opted not to return for the jump-off, leaving six to battle it out for the first major title of the week.
Hopes for an American win on opening day were dashed, however, when Whitaker, the final challenger, left all the rails in place and stopped the clock in 33.64 seconds riding Millfield Colette. The win marked not only his first at World Equestrian Center – Ocala but also his first on American soil.
“I did think it was tough enough,” said Whitaker of the challenging course design. “It took a bit of jumping with a lot of related distances and a lot of choices to be made. It was quite strong for the first day.”
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