Two British champions were crowned this weekend in eventing and show jumping at one of the busiest weekends on the English equestrian calendar
Ben Maher and Tripple X Photo: Samantha Lamb
It was a busy few days in the UK with the Festival of British Eventing taking place at Gatcombe Park and plenty of action at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.
New Zealander Jock Paget Paget is flying high after winning the British Open Championship at Gatcombe Park riding Clifton Lush just ahead of Brit Oliver Townend and Armada while Australian Sam Griffiths riding his Olympic mount Happy Times finished in third place (full report and photo gallery to come)
Meanwhile at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, British Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher won the feature class of the show, the Longines King George V Gold Cup
The Essex-based rider had yet to win the class, also known as the British Grand Prix (with a €200,000 total prize fund), but it has always been one of his main aims. “There are a few big classes that every showjumper wants to win and the Hickstead Derby [which Ben won in 2005] and the King’s Cup are two of them - I’ve come close to winning this a couple of times so it feels great to have finally done it,” said Ben.
Once again the crowd was delighted to see a British rider win on home soil. “You can’t beat a home crowd. I love jumping in England and don’t get to jump here as often as I would like for my sponsors, my owners and my whole support team,” Ben added.
A total of 49 riders came forward for this finale to the Longines Royal International Horse Show, with many of the world’s top combinations hoping to claim the €66,000 first prize. But only three could clear the tricky 1.60m high first round, with Ben and fellow Olympic gold medallists Marcus Ehning (GER) and Ulrich Kirchhoff (UKR) going through to a jump-off. Ben was first to go in the second round with his Olympic stallion Tripple X III, setting a fast clear in a time of 48.88 sec. A fence down cost Ulrich the win, before last to go Marcus Ehning picked up four-faults, although he did have the fastest time.
It was a thrilling end for a week filled with highs and lows for the 30-year-old. He won the Bunn Leisure Trophy on Thursday with Aristo Z but later struggled in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ on Friday, picking up 8 faults and 13 faults with Tripple X III. “After Friday’s performance, I didn’t even know if I should be in the class today,” said Ben. “But he had been jumping well prior to the FEI Nations Cup, so I didn’t know where it came from. I went home scratching my head, and decided to change his bit for today. I wouldn’t normally change it before such an important competition but I know every hair on his body and I knew it was right for him. He enjoyed his job today and I felt like I had my horse back.”
The first class of the day, the Royal International Accumulator, went to Kevin Staut (FRA), who scored the maximum of 65 points to win on the grey stallion Taran de la Pomme, ahead of Britain’s William Funnell and Billy Balou in second.
The grandstands were packed for the final day of the Longines Royal International Horse Show, which is the official show of The British Horse Society. “The number of spectators has been up this year, with glorious weather and three of our four Olympic medallists competing here undoubtedly attracting the crowds,” said Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn. “Having had our team gold medallists parading in the International Arena on Friday, with many Gamesmakers donning their official uniform to take part in our anniversary celebrations, it’s particularly apt that Ben Maher won the feature class of the show.”
Full results are available here
