Maher clinches Hickstead’s King George V Gold Cup
One yr agone Ben Maher began his London 2012 Olympic campaign, jumping for the starting fourth dimension time inwards the spectacular Greenwich arena equally business office of a squad that would shortly claim gilt for Great Britain.
Twelve months to the twenty-four hours later, Tripple X III carried Maher to his starting fourth dimension victory inwards the historic Longines King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, 1 of the oldest in addition to close valuable Grands Prix inwards the country.
The Essex-based passenger had yet to win the class, also known equally the British Grand Prix (with a €200,000 total prize fund), simply it has e'er been 1 of his master copy aims.
“There are a few large classes that every showjumper wants to win in addition to the Hickstead Derby [which he won inwards 2005] in addition to the King’s Cup are 2 of them – I’ve come upwardly about winning this a duo of times in addition to hence it feels cracking to direct maintain finally done it,” Maher said.
Once 1 time again the crowd was delighted to come across a British passenger win on abode soil. “You can’t compaction a abode crowd. I honey jumping inwards England in addition to don’t larn to jump hither equally oft equally I would similar for my sponsors, my owners in addition to my whole back upwardly team.”
A total of 49 riders came forrard for the finale to the Longines Royal International Horse Show, amongst many of the world’s exceed combinations hoping to claim the €66,000 starting fourth dimension prize. But alone 3 could clear the tricky 1.60m high starting fourth dimension round, amongst Maher in addition to Marcus Ehning (GER) in addition to Ulrich Kirchhoff (UKR) going through to a jump-off. Maher was starting fourth dimension to larn inwards the instant circular amongst his Olympic stallion Tripple X III, setting a fast clear inwards a fourth dimension of 48.88 sec. H5N1 struggle downward toll Kirchhoff the win, earlier in conclusion to larn Marcus Ehning picked upwardly four-faults, although he did direct maintain the fastest time.
It was a thrilling cease for a calendar week filled amongst highs in addition to lows for the 30-year-old. Maher won the Bunn Leisure Trophy on Th amongst Aristo Z simply afterward struggled inwards the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup on Friday, picking upwardly 8 faults in addition to xiii faults amongst Tripple X III.
“After Friday’s performance, I didn’t fifty-fifty know if I should hold out inwards the degree today,” Maher said. “But he had been jumping good prior to the FEI Nations Cup, in addition to hence I didn’t know where it came from. I went abode scratching my head, in addition to decided to alter his flake for today. I wouldn’t unremarkably alter it earlier such an of import contest simply I know every pilus on his trunk in addition to I knew it was correct for him. He enjoyed his undertaking today in addition to I felt similar I had my Equus caballus back.”
The starting fourth dimension degree of the day, the Royal International Accumulator, went to Kevin Staut (FRA), who scored the maximum of 65 points to win on the greyness stallion Taran de la Pomme, ahead of Britain’s William Funnell in addition to Billy Balou inwards second.
• Six horses came forrard for the judging of The British Horse Society Supreme Horse Championship, the ultimate prize for exhibit horses at Hickstead.
The judges gave 28 points to both the hack champion Pearly King (Simon Charlesworth) in addition to the hunter victor Oathill Take The Biscuit (Danielle Heath), amongst both horses doing a ‘ride off’ for the exceed prize. In the end, it was Pearly King who took the title, giving rider/producer Simon Charlesworth his starting fourth dimension ever Supreme championship at Hickstead.
“Pearly King came to Hickstead 2 years agone in addition to he couldn’t bargain amongst the atmosphere inwards the International Arena – he lost it in addition to I had to move out the ring,” said Charlesworth, whose three-week-old boy Jack was at Hickstead help his starting fourth dimension Equus caballus show.
“We ended upwardly contacting Monty Roberts, the Equus caballus whisperer, who worked amongst Pearly King to larn over the work of him non standing yet inwards the line-up. He went on to larn Supreme Champion at the Horse of the Year Show simply fifty-fifty so, coming dorsum hither was similar going dorsum into the lion’s den. Today he was amazing though, in addition to he has nada left to prove. He’s my Equus caballus of a lifetime in addition to I’ll never direct maintain some other similar him.”
• In the Underwood Supreme Pony Championship, riding pony Dance All Night in addition to Sami Elliott took the championship for the instant yr inwards a row, amongst Sami’s older sis Lucinda having had the ride in conclusion year. The five-year-old has been to iv shows this yr in addition to has won every fourth dimension out, simply amidst showing the gelding enjoys regular rides along the beach inwards Redcar.
The grandstands were packed for the terminal twenty-four hours of the Longines Royal International Horse Show, which is the official exhibit of The British Horse Society. “The position out of spectators has been upwardly this year, amongst glorious weather condition in addition to 3 of our iv Olympic medallists competing here, undoubtedly attracting the crowds,” Hickstead manager Lizzie Bunn said.
“Having had our squad gilt medallists parading inwards the International Arena on Friday, amongst many Gamesmakers donning their official uniform to direct maintain business office inwards our anniversary celebrations, it’s especially apt that Ben Maher won the characteristic degree of the show.”
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