First to go, Max Kühner, set the pace jumping clear in a time of 33.97 seconds aboard Up Too Jacco Blue. Gerrit Nieberg, riding Ben – the horse he rode to victory in the coveted Grand Prix of Aachen earlier this year – was faster down to the final vertical to take over the lead, 0.15 seconds quicker than Kühner. Conor Swail put up a good challenge for third, but ultimately could not match Nieberg’s performance.

Nieberg, whose father won The London International Horse Show Grand Prix in 2000, said: “This is my first time at The London International Horse Show, but I will definitely be coming back – it is an amazing feeling to win here, it’s a great Show. My horse was incredible, he is feisty so I have to try and keep him calm, but he always wants to keep the fences up.”

Earlier in the day The Snowflake Stakes was won by Marcus Ehning riding Calanda. The 1.50m class was run over two rounds, with the top 10 from the first round going through to a jump-off. Britain’s Matthew Sampson set the target as first to go in the second round, jumping clear in 34.31 seconds, however his lead was quickly usurped by Belgium’s Jos Verloy. Those who followed came close, with less than a second separating the leaders, however Germany’s Marcus Ehning took it to a new level, posting a clear in a time of 33.10 seconds with just one rider to go. The final rider to take to the arena, Lorenzo de Luca – a notably quick rider – gave it everything to better Ehning’s time, however with four faults at the last fence slipped down to seventh.

The former London International Horse Show Grand Prix winner said: “I was very happy with my round today, all the people cheering me on always gives me huge motivation to push further and get the win. The crowd is amazing, the Show is amazing, they do a great job here and I’m so happy to be here.”

The GS Equestrian Pony Club Mini-Major was won by Juliana Nelson from Northern Ireland, riding Cumbak Kid alongside Gier Gulliksen riding Equine America Grandino H. The 11-year-old had her foot flat to the boards to post an impressive time of 21.23 seconds, 0.84 faster than Emily Appleby and her partner Guy Williams in second.

Gulliksen said: “I’ve been coming here for 33 years and I can finally retire now I have won the Mini-Major, it’s one everyone wants to win! It’s so great for Juliana, coming all the way from Northern Ireland, she absolutely nailed it as last to go having watched everyone else, it’s fantastic. I was just hoping I wouldn’t let her down by having one down.”

Nelson added: “I got my pony when we were doing the Under 10’s and we used to be quite slow, but we’ve got faster and faster! I’m so happy!”