Robert Whitaker
British Ranking: 3
Age: 25
Lives: West Yorkshire
Son of international show jumper, John Whitaker, and nephew to Michael Whitaker, Robert is one of the UK’s most talented young riders. Between 1999 and 2002 Robert won two team gold medals at the Junior European Championships and two individual golds at the Young Rider European Championships. Robert joined his first Nations Cup team at La Baule in 2001 at just 18 years of age. In 2003 he won the inaugural British Open title and went on to be selected for Great Britain in the Nations Cup Team in Lisbon where he jumped the winning round to secure victory. In 2005, Robert was selected for a World Class Start and Potential Programme aimed to develop riders to Olympics levels for 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.Robert had fantastic results at last year’s British Open winning the Zinc Management Stakes, the Grandstand Classic and the Puissance. He also came 2nd in the British Open Show Jumping Championship third round and 5th in the British Open Show Jumping Championships Final.
Recent Major Achievements:
2007 - Spanish Sunshine Tour; 1st Grand Prix (FinbarrV)
British Open – 1st Zinc Management Stakes, 1st Grandstand Classic (Nureev), 2nd British Open third round (Lacroix 9), 5th British Open Final (Prima Vera), =1st Puissance (Finbarr V)
Blue Chip Winter Championships; 1st Grand Prix (Lacroix 9)
Royal Windsor; 1st Grade A Comp (Lacroix 9), 1st Martin Collins Grade A Comp (Azucar), 2nd 6 Bar (Finbarr V), 1st Nat 1.40m (Finbarr V) 1st Grade A (Prima Vera), 3rd Royal Windsor Grand Prix (Lacroix 9).
Horse of the Year Show; 1st HOYS Cup, 1st Accumulator (Lacroix 9).
CSI3* Stockholm; 1st Grand Prix (Lacroix 9)
Member of Nations Cup; Dublin 7th (Lacroix 9).
Zurich: 2nd 1.50m A7 (Lacroix 9)
2006 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 2nd The Sheffield Masters (Nureev du Houssoit)
Blue Chip Winter Championships: 1st Blue Chip Grand Prix (Lacroix)
Member Nations Cup Team: Gijon 3rd (Nepos Van Limbo)
HOYS: 1st Puissance (Finbar V)
Belfast International: 1st Puissance (Finbar V), 1st Speed Grand Prix (Karina)
2005 – British Open Show Jumping Championships: 2nd Grandstand Classic (Qualite); 3rd International Classic (Karina)
Lumen: 1st Derby (Karina); 1st A4 (Nathalita)
Great Yorkshire Show: 1st Cock o’ the North (Ublesco)
Hickstead Derby: 2nd Derby Tankard (Nicolette II)
Horse of the Year Show: 1st Easibed Stakes (Nureev), 2nd
Golden Bear Classic (Ublesco); 2nd Speed Horse of the Year (Nureev); Leading British Rider and winner of the HOYS Spurs
Olympia: 2nd Christmas Masters (Finbarr V)