BEN MAHER $370,000 VICTORY AFTER STAND-OFF WITH SCOTT BRASH
Sunday 09 February 2014
Ben Maher MBE and Scott Brash MBE took each other head on once again in Wellington, Florida for pole position in the $370,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix on Saturday 8th February.
It was a packed grandstand that watched the thrilling jump off between the world’s top two leading riders at the Palm Beach Equestrian Centre. Riding Jane F Clark’s grey mare Cella with whom Ben won Team Gold and Individual Silver at the European Championships in Herning last summer they put in an absolutely incredible performance to relegate World No.1 Scott Brash to 2nd place.
London 2012 and British course designer, Bob Ellis had set a testing track for the forty five competitors coming forward for the class. With only seven horse and rider combinations managing to achieve clear rounds and progress to the jump off and Ben Maher being last to go the crowds knew they were going to be in for a treat and that the class wouldn’t be over until the very last had gone!
An early clear by Scott Brash and Ursula XII owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris saw him stop the clock in 35.70 seconds and jump into the lead. Holding onto this position until Ben entered the arena it looked as if he had done enough to secure the title as his own, however Ben was not going to let it be taken from him easily and taking a flyer over the last fence, the Rolex oxer, to stop the clock in a time of 35.30 seconds.
Talking afterwards Ben commented “It’s been an incredible 2014 so far. Cella has had a rest since the European Championships last year and she only came back to do a few shows towards the end of last year. She feels fresh and on form. She is just incredible”.
Acknowledging Bob Ellis’s course he further commented “I think a few riders were saying the course was big and that it looked technical, but with the amount of prize money on offer I wouldn’t have expected anything less. It’s huge prize money and it was right he made us work for it!”.
Scott Brash on his 2nd place said “Ursula jumped fantastic tonight. The first round went according to plan and I was happy with her in the jump off. I have been working on keeping her smooth in jump-off’s as she used to rush and would feel a little out of control, this time she kept her had and she jumped exactly as I wanted her to. I am very pleased”.
Today, Sunday 9th saw Scott take 2nd place in the 1.50m Suncast Jumper Classic with Hello Annie, the 10 year old bay mare also owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris. Producing one of only the only three double clears achieved within the competiion they relegated Markus Beerbaum and Don VHP Z to 3rd place whilst sitting just behind Canadian Tiffany Foster and the aptly named Victor.
Results:
1st Ben Maher / Cella (0/0/35.30)
2nd Scott Brash / Ursula XII (0/0/35.70)
3rd Lucy Davis / Barron (0/0/35.98)
4th Charlie Jayne / Chill R Z (0/0/37.04)
5th Audrey Coulter / Acorte (0/0/37.52)
6th Tiffany Foster / Verdi III (0/0/38.61)
1svujitxhxur8.jpg "Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne")
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")