ELLEN WHITAKER made a great start to the European Championships in Mannheim, Germany, along with a rejuvenated British showjumping team, who celebrated their first medal – bronze – for nearly a decade, plus qualification for the 2008 Olympics.

The youngest rider to reach today’s finale, 21-year-old Whitaker is tantalisingly close to becoming the first British female to win an individual showjumping medal for 35 years. She lies eighth and best of the British quartet comprising her uncles John and Michael, along with another new recruit, repatriated South African David McPherson, in 16th.

“It’s a massive deal to be here,” said Whitaker, who has had a difficult two years. On the eve of the 2005 European championships in Italy, her stallion Locarno suffered a suspected allergy to mosquitos. Then the horse was at the centre of a dispute over ownership and could not be ridden for seven months. New part-owner Dawn Makin read of Whitaker’s plight and came up with substantial finance to keep Locarno.

“Dawn’s intervention was a fairytale,” said Whitaker. “I felt pure delight to be riding Locarno again. But then he suffered a collapsed heel, which turned out to be a congenital problem, so we missed more competitions. My father Steven [brother of John and Michael] has devoted his life to this horse. He was prepared to sell his farm and put his life’s work on the line to keep Locarno for me. I would love to pay him back.”

John and Michael Whitaker were at the forefront of Britain’s domination of the sport in the 1970s and ’80s, but the team became swamped by horsepower-rich nations such as Holland and Germany, who took the team gold and silver at Mannheim.

Relieved team manager, Derek Ricketts, was delighted. He said: “Fantastic. We came with the aim of qualifying but to be back on the podium is something else.”

John Whitaker, 52, demonstrated why he is still at the top, producing a magical clear round on Peppermill to sit in 13th.

Swiss rider Christine Liebherr leads, followed by Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, with one fence covering the top seven in a wide open competition.

Showjumping, today, BBC2, 3.30pm

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