‘What the **** simply occurred?!’ Gemma Stevens pips John Whitaker to win London six-bar

“What the **** simply occurred!?” mentioned Gemma Stevens after she and Envoy Merelsnest Z triumphed in an all-star London Worldwide Horse Present six-bar, with final yr’s winners John Whitaker and Sharid second.

Solely these two of 13 starters made it to the fifth spherical, wherein the ultimate vertical stood at 1.95m. Gemma thought it was throughout when “Dime Bar” agonisingly clipped that final fence – however then Sharid ran out twice on the second bounce.

“I don’t perceive!” Gemma mentioned. “Truthfully I can’t imagine it. All I can say is ‘What the **** simply occurred’! I by no means thought that might occur in 1,000,000 years.”

The world workforce gold medal-winning eventer mentioned the stallion, owned by Brendon Stud and the Dime Bar Syndicate, had solely jumped one six-bar earlier than, at this present final yr, and had not competed since August.

“He had a barely sore joint; nothing severe, however needed to have a few months’ stroll work,” she mentioned. “Then we introduced him again, after which have been invited right here.”

Gemma mentioned she was cross with herself in Wednesday’s (18 December) puissance, when she and “Dime Bar” had the wall down on the primary try.

“I’ve solely jumped a few 1.30m courses because the finish of the [eventing] season and it’s a bit completely different coming right down to a 1.80m wall!” she mentioned. “I didn’t journey him proper; I used to be so out of shape, so I used to be simply considering ‘Don’t mess it up once more’!”

Gemma mentioned she was delighted with the best way Dime Bar jumped the final line, however thought the title was out of their attain.

“Me and John Whitaker – I used to be studying his e-book lately, he’s such a legend – so I believed ‘simply don’t give it some thought, take into consideration me and my horse, making an attempt to do our greatest’,” she mentioned.

“I truly thought my horse jumped rather well; he didn’t contact the others, I believed it was throughout however I used to be thrilled both manner, then John had the difficulty. That is actually unbelievable.”

Gemma paid tribute to the ‘kindest, most delicate horse you possibly can think about”.

“I knew he might bounce an enormous vertical, it’s simply placing all of it collectively,” she mentioned. “He’s extremely popular, however all the time desires to do the best factor.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Enthusiastic about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all elements of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by means of to worldwide championships.