Abdul Billington

International rider Geoff Billington called Malaysia’s Abdul Salim who was his Liaison Officer at the KL Grand Prix to say he watched the KL Grand Prix on the ‘tele’ on Eurosport with some mates in Great Britain. He said he was waiting for the footage where he fell from Ashley and was prepared to tell them that it wasn’t him but a local Malaysian rider named Salim!

No Can Do Lah

Jump-Off’s quest to get John or Michael Whitaker to autograph a can of beer so that it could be auctioned off at next year’s RDA Ball proved futile - we didn’t want empty cans!

Of course we are only joking. Look closely at the photo above and you’ll find proof that at least one of the Brits did in fact drink something other than beer or wine while they were at the KL Grand Prix. That’s a 100 Plus that Geoff Billington is holding. Bet he didn’t drown his sorrows with 100 Plus after falling off in the Grand Prix though.

Virtual Intelligence

Now we have virtual racing: "I-Race was primarily developed as a horseracing 'management' game, similar to the popular football manager games currently available, which could be used on a variety of platforms.”

Damien Cope, managing director of The Gaming Channel in Great Britain says it is "a successful betting product, which is cheaper to produce than real horse racing."

What? A computer game that’s cheaper to run than real horse racing? That’s so unbelievable. Give the man a prize.

Who’s Your Daddy!

At a certain Royal club, a Committee Member (a.k.a. “Misery” of Jump-Off XIV fame) is said to be circulating a petition against the newly appointed manager of the club. I guess we know who holds the reins in that club.

The Roti Man and the Melbourne Cup

Gigi and Alfred Michael have made a new life for themselves in New Zealand. Alfred, a former champion amateur race rider and Elimina cross-country course builder returned to NZ where he has citizenship a few years ago. Gigi (nee Lim), an active showjumping judge in Malaysia before she left, followed and the couple was married in April 1999.

Always an entrepreneur, Alfred has built a successful business called Roti Man, marketing good old Roti Canai in New Zealand. Gigi has a part share in a racehorse called Our Jim Beau which Alfred selected. It has already won 5 races and is now in Sydney being prepared by legendary Cup King Bart Cummings for the big money Australian races and hopefully a tilt at next year’s Melbourne Cup.

What Colour?!

It was November 1998 and India had sent an all-Sikh Eventing team to the Asian Games. While they were quite happy to don body protectors when they went across country, they were less happy to exchange their turbans for ‘skid lids.’ The FEI Chief Steward would not be swayed by their arguments, and they duly wore riding helmets whenever they jumped. Of course, it didn’t stop the joke going around that actually their turbans were the very latest in eventing safety technology - “Hair Bags.”

To read previous editions of Jump-Off, click on the links below:
Jump-Off XXIV - 28 Nov 2003
Jump-Off XXIII - 15 Nov 2003
Jump-Off XXII - 25 October 2003
Jump-Off XXI - 1 October 2003
Jump-Off XX - 1 September 2003
Jump-Off XIX - 12 August 2003
Jump-Off XVIII: Not-The-Equestrian Awards - 17 July 2003
Jump-Off XVII - 14 June 2003
Jump-Off XVI - 24th May 2003
Jump-Off XV - 25th April 2003
Jump-Off XIV - 31st March 2003
Jump-Off XIII - 6th March 2003
Jump-Off XII - 12th February 2003
Jump-Off XI - 16th January 2003
Jump-Off X - 12th December 2002
Jump-Off IX - 14th November 2002
Jump-Off VIII - 19th September 2002
Jump-Off VII - 6th September 2002
Jump-Off VI - 13th August 2002
Jump-Off V - 2nd August 2002
Jump-Off IV - 15th July 2002
Jump-Off III - 27th June 2002
Jump-Off II - 20th June 2002
Jump-Off I - 14th June 2002

Other fun:
Rodrigo to ride for Malaysia
Jump-Off's New Years Resolutions - 29th December 2002
Selling Terms

Thanks to all contributors to this edition of Jump-Off. You know who you are, and we know who you are. No one else does or ever will, unless you’d like them to. If you have a story that you think should be in Jump-Off, please send an e-mail to jumpoff@equestrian.com.my