Sweden's Kittel wins FEI World Cup Dressage at Olympia

LONDON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's Patrik Kittel and Delaunay clinched victory at the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League at London Olympia on Wednesday.

Kittel jumps to strong lead on Western European League table and looks well on his way to the World Cup Final to be held in Paris next April.

Britain's Emile Faurie with Delatio, scored 80.405 points to finish a surprise second place just 0.155 percentage points behind the Swede.

"I take my hat off to the showjumpers," said Kittel. "I don't know how they do it - I've done three shows in a row and now it's 'give me a glass of champagne and get me to bed', because I'm totally exhausted."

This win means even more to him because his only other visit to the London venue was a disaster. "The last time I was here was 13 years ago and I finished last. I went home in the lorry feeling really bad but my wife, Lyndal, said you have to go back, Olympia is an amazing show and you can't leave it another 13 years."

British riders were holding the top three places after Richard Davison opened the second-half of the day's action, but fourth-last to go, it was Dutchman Edward Gal's score of 79.340 that Kittel was chasing when second-last into the ring.

Faurie, a three-time Olympian and European team gold medallist, threw down a powerful challenge with a sensational test from Delatio and has set British Dressage fans' hearts fluttering with excitement all over again.

"I'm in shock at the percentage score, not the performance, he was so great in the ring and I'm in love with this horse," he said. "I was hoping to go one better than yesterday (when they finished fourth). I don't know him that well yet because I'm only riding him a few months and I just wanted to do him justice," he added.

"I had too many mistakes tonight, but I'm pleased with Zonic," Gal said. "You don't have an atmosphere like this anywhere else." Enditem