Victor Bettendorf and Doha de Riverland Triumph in the Longines Christmas Cracker
Two Wins in Two Days for Bettendorf at the London International Horse Show
December 19, 2025 at 8:13 PMBy a.dunne
Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf is indeed a victor - twice, so far, in one show, and both wins at 1.55m. Today (Friday), he piloted the 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Doha de Riverland around a clear jump-off course. The day before (Thursday), he won the Champagne Taittinger Speed Stakes with a different Selle Francais mount - Encore Toi du Linon, an 11-year-old mare.
ClipMyHorse.TV is broadcasting the London International Horse Show HERE.
A Good December for Donald Whitaker and Jessica Mendoza
Britain's Donald Whitaker finished second with the 12-year-old Oldenburg Millfield Colette, just 0.13 seconds behind Bettendorf. Last week, Whitaker won the Trophée de Genève, a 1.60m class, with the same mare.
Jessica Mendoza came in third with In the Air. Mendoza and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare won the Prix des Communes Genevoises last week at CHI Geneva, also a 1.55m class. Mendoza had won the Brilliance Auction Snowball Stakes (1.50m) earlier in the day with I-Cap CL Z.
Sanne Thijssen of the Netherlands finished third with Cupcake Z. She is also having a good latter part of the year with the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare, proving they are a formidable indoor pair. Thijssen won her first FEI World Cup™ qualifier aboard Cupcake Z - the opening leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League in Oslo, Norway, in October.
Thijssen finished fourth in Thursday's Champagne Taittinger Speed Stakes.
While no U.S. riders are competing in London this week, there was a North American finisher in the class - Canada's Kara Chad, who was 8th.
It came down to pure speed as just one of the 12 in the jump-off pulled a rail. Less than one second separated 1st and 5th places.
Top 12 Placings:
1 Victor Bettendorf (Luxembourg)- DOHA DE RIVERLAND - 0/28.45
2 Donald Whitaker (Great Britain) - MILLFIELD COLETTE - 0/28.58
3 Sanne Thijssen (the Netherlands) - CUPCAKE Z - 0/29.01
4 Jessica Mendoza (Great Britain) - IN THE AIR - 0/29.13
5 Marc Dilasser (France) - MAKE MY DAY Z DU GEVRES - 0/29.37
6 Tom Wachman (Ireland) - DO IT EASY - 0/29.55
7 Daniel Deusser (Germany) - PEPITA VAN T MEULENHOF - 0/30.68
8 Kara Chad (Canada) - IGOR GPH - 0/30.98
9 Jack Whitaker (Great Britain) - CASTELL 22 - 0/31.63
10 Lorenzo de Luca (Italy) - ZIRANO - 0/33.48
11 Robert Whitaker (Great Britain) - VERMENTO - 0/37.53
12 Rik Hemeryck (Belgium) - NAVARRO VAN HET EELSHOF - 4/31.08
Of the 35 entries, 13 advanced to the jump-off, though one rider - Marcus Ehning of Germany - withdrew before the jump-off.
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