Leading showjumper of the show - Willi Melliger of Switzerland.

The brain child of Raymond Brooks-Ward, the Olympia International Show jumping Championships are now in their twenty seventh year. Held between the 17th - 21st December, at Earls Court Olympia in Kensington, London the show proved as popular as ever this year, with every seat taken for the ten performances.

Germany's Ludger Beerbaum shows interesting style!... but was runner-up to Willi Melliger - the second most successful rider of the show.

The show has something to offer everybody and exudes Christmas bonhommie. It opened on Thursday with the Petplan Family Pair Relay, a real fun event. This was won by show jumper William Funnell and his eventing wife, Pippa, who also helps at the award ceremonies throughout the how. William and Pippa, riding Henkie and Comex, finished over two seconds ahead of second cousins Paul Barker and Joanna Andrews, who also had a fence down. Last years winners, father and daughter combination John and Louise Whitaker finished third having lowered two poles.

John Whitaker & V.V. Grannusch display the balance & turns needed to win.

John Whitaker continued to have a good afternoon, winning the first International class on his nineteen year old gelding, Virtual Village (V.V.) Grannusch. Not competing in the first class of Thursday evening John left it to brother Michael to bring home the honours on the Westfalian gelding V.V. Two Step.

In the final jumping class of the day John was pipped to the post by Germany's Ludger Beerbaum "..the danger man of showjumping." Riding his grey Selle Francais Stallion Champion Du Lys Ludger finished just over a second ahead of Keeley Durham's faithful servant V.V. Welham, returning to top level competition after a long lay-off; another of John's veteran rides, Welham is now eighteen, but he looked as youthful and athletic as ever.

The Garde Republicaine performed twice a day.

The serious business of International showjumping was indispersed with the grace and precision of La Garde Republicaine, the breath-taking exploits of the Ukranian Cossacks and the hilarity of the Shetland Pony Grand National.

The Garde Republicaine

La Garde Republicaine is the military body that has ensured the safety of Paris for eight Centuries. At Olympia they performed La Reprise des Douze. The twelve horses and riders displayed equitation at it's highest level, incorporating all the great principles of riding and discipline. The apparent ease with which they remained in perfect rythym hid the skill and technicality of their performance.

The breathtaking skills of the Ukranian Cossacks.

The skills of the Ukrainian Cossacks were immediately apparent as they hurtled around the arena at what appeared to be break-neck speeds, anywhere other than astride. Riding backwards, under and to the side of their horses the Cossacks displayed the skills that would have kept them alive during warefare from the thirteenth century onwards.

The Ukranian Cossacks gave displays at every performance.

Pills and sense of timing as they avoided swathing sabres. Their evening show also included an equestrian pyramid in which cossacks stood on the horses quarters and even on their colleagues shoulders as they galloped out to the cheers of admiring crowds.

The racing Shetlands were stolen for the fancy dress.

Raising money for CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) the Shetland Grand National added more speed and colour to each performance. In many cases the age of each pony exceeded that of his brave jockey. Eighteen year old Parkview Lloyd was ridden by the youngest of the ten, twelve year old Suzie Davis. Thirteen year old Lee Miles travelled all the way down from the Shetland Isles to give the event an authentic feel and following in her fathers footsteps from an early age, Natasha Eddery (daughter of Pat Eddery, once Champion Jockey in Britain) started as favorite most of the time. Each pony was sponsored for every race, the proceeds going to CLIC. Since it's inception the event has raised over 180,000 for charity.

Pelynka Jetsetter Cavalier King Charles Spaniel co-winner of the Paris Relay goes through the bending poles.

The "doggie" fraternity was catered for with the exciting, and sometimes, hilarious antics of the Pedigree Chum Agility Finalists. Leaping fences, climbing bridges and seesaws, sweeping through bending poles and diving through tunnels, the dogs varied in speed and agility almost as much as they did in height.

And through the tunnel.

Small breeds included Jack Russell Terriers, Minature Poodles and King Charles Spaniels whilst Working Sheepdogs dominated the larger breed classes. Other breeds included Whippets, German Sheperd Dogs and less well known breeds such as the Hungarian Vizla, the Tervueren and the Gronendael.

"Edryn Star", a Komondor, shows off his agility.

However he undoubtable star of the show was a Komondor called Edryn Star, owned by Chris Bolton. Looking more like a floor-mop on legs, Star ambled his way over or through each course with utter contempt for Chris's urgency and won everybody's heart.

Ireland's Peter Charles shares a joke with Brazilian Rodringo Pessoa - the world showjumping champion at just 26.

Friday opened with the Young Show Jumper of the Year Competition, for riders aged 21 and under. Paul Barker first won the event in 1994 as seventeen year old. This year, his last as a Young Rider, he took first place on his mothers Faraway Hills and, just for good measure, fifth place on R. Dennis' Townhead Shabara. Paul, who had the advantage of going last in the jump-off,jumped clear in both rounds as did second placed Louise Whitaker who was just over a second slower than Paul riding It's Smartie for ex-International showjumper Malcolm Pyrah. Louise was also elventh on her mothers Perepliot, having had one fence down in the first round.