Show History - 1970s

1972:

There were only 300 advance ticket sales so Raymond Brooks-Ward set off down Kensington High Street persuading, cajoling and bullying anyone and everyone to come to the show! Nelson Pessoa won the Puissance on Odean K. David Broome and Ted Edgar won the fancy dress.

1973:

Nelson Pessoa again won the Puissance, the time on Alcatraz. Major British wins were Graham Fletcher who won the Victor Ludorum on Buttevant Boy, and Harvey Smith who won the Dunhill European Trophy on Volvo. There was a rodeo display by Cutting Horses from America who also took on a team of polo ponies captained by Johnny Kidd, father of the international supermodel, Jodie, in a Barrel Racing Competition.

1974:

The Christmas finale was based on Dickens London. With the tradition of Olympia the cast of the finale is made up by children of the competitors and organisers and members of a local Pony Club. The Bratuchin family of Cossack riders gave a spectacular stunt riding display. Alwin Schockemohle won the Puissance and Switzerland's Paul Weier, who was to return to Olympia in 1987 as course designer, won the Grand Prix on Wulf.

1975:

After three years the show changed its name from The Dunhill to the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships, and Colonel Sir Michael Ansell replaced Mary Dunhill as President. Mary Chipperfield brought her racing camels to the show for the first time. They were to become a regular feature at the show with Ted Edgar and the immortal &8220;Colonel of the Camel Corps&8221;. Hartwig Steenken won the puissance on Earl, and David Broome won the first of his three Grand Prix wins on Philco.

1976:

The tenor voice of Harry Secombe resounded around the arena in an unusual finale &8220;Christmas Eve at Pontypridd Market&8221;. Descendants of the stud founded in 1735 by George II, The Hanoverian Stallions from Celle, Germany visited the show. New Forest ponies performed a musical ride, Appaloosa horses paraded and the pantomime was &8220;Alice in Ponyland&8221;. Hartwig Steeken, by now used to success at Olympia, reinforced his hold on the major classes at the show by winning both the Puissance and the Grand Prix on Goya.

1977:

Dogs took centre stage at Olympia for the first time, but not agility dogs. John Evans, his border collies and Welsh Cob gave a fascinating demonstration of sheepdogs at work. Mary Chipperfield brought her 14-year-old African elephant Womba for a Tug of War. Since the start of the show no British rider had won the Puissance, but this record was broken in 1977 by Fred Welch on Rossmore II.

1978:

Olympia made history as every newspaper in the land carried the news that 21-year-old Nick Skelton on Lastic broke the 14-year-old British High Jump record. The pair jumped 7'75/16" to beat the 1937 record set by Don Beard and Swank of 7'61/4". One of the most popular Olympia displays first took place in 1978 - The Metropolitan Police Activity Ride. The German junior dressage quadrille added overseas flavour, and Mary Chipperfield's Racing Camels and Donkey Sulky racing proved hilarious.

1979:

HRH The Prince of Wales lead a team of show jumpers and polo players to victory over Captain Mark Phillips' team on the opening night, watched by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The Garde Republicaine de Paris, whose history dates back to the 17th Century, performed a classic execution of equestrian artistry in the &8220;Reprise de la Maison du Roy&8221;. The Pedigree Chum Dog Agility Stakes also made their debut.