British riders prove they are a force to be reckoned with in Wellington - Well Done to Ben Maher

Monday 06 February 2012

British riders prove they are a force to be reckoned with in Wellington - Well Done to Ben Maher

The fourth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington hosted the $80,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday. Nineteen countries were represented in the world-class event with eighty one starters, the largest recorded weekend Grand Prix field.
 
This years Olympic Games course designer, Great Britain’s own Bob Ellis set the track, skilfully narrowing down the field from eighty one to ten for the jump off. It was on form Nick Skelton that took the top spot jumping clear in 45.93 seconds. The only other clear in the jump off was American rider Charlie Jayne riding Urbanus, coming home in 51.70 seconds.
 
Nick was partnering Beverley Widdowson’s 9 year old bay stallion Big Star. Following the win Nick spoke about his ride aboard the talented young horse in this class, stating;
 
 "He jumped fantastic. I'm really pleased. He had one down in the WEF on Thursday, but I think he was a little bit rusty. He hadn't jumped for a while. Today he was really very good. I'm very lucky to be riding him. I don't know what more to say really." 
Nick then went on to praise Bob Ellis on his course for the evening.
 
 "I'll be a bit biased really because he's from my country, but Bob's a great course builder," he smiled. "With eighty one starters and he got ten clear rounds, I think that was an amazing job. Fair play to him; he did a very good job. I thought there would have been twenty. It was a good course."
 
Week four concluded with the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic which saw British riders sweep the broad with four of the top six placings. Taking the win jumping clear in a jump off time of 44.67 seconds was Peeblesshire based Scott Brash. Scott was partnering his father Stanley’s 9 year old bay gelding Whisky Mac IV. Picking up second place was Ben Maher from Hertfordshire. Riding Louise Flower’s 9 year old bay gelding Rowan this combination jumped clear in a time of 45.608 seconds. Splitting up the British riders in third place was American rider Andrew Welles riding Boo Van Het Kastanjehof jumping clear in a time of 46.121 seconds. Fourth place came back home with Tina Fletcher from Oxfordshire. Tina was riding the 11 year old bay gelding Unique IX owned by Lady Pauline Harris, jumping clear in a time of 47.365 seconds. Ireland took 5th place with Cian O’Connor riding KEC Alligator Alley. Bring home the fourth placing for Britain was sixth placed Nick Skelton. Following on from his win the previous day Nick this time partnered Beverley Widdowson’s 11 year old bay mare Unique XVIII.
 
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
 
Final Results:
$80,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix Saturday 4th February 2012
1st Nick Skelton (GBR) riding Big Star – 0/0 in 45.93 seconds
2nd Charlie Jayne (USA) riding Urbanus – 0/0 in 51.70 seconds
3rd Andres Rodriguez (VEN) riding Caballito – 0/4 in 46.06 seconds
4th Daniel Zetterman (SWE) riding Glory Days – 0/4 in 46.22 seconds
5th Beezie Madden (USA) riding Cortes C – 0/4 in 46.34 seconds
 
$25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic– Sunday 5th February 2012
1st Scott Brash (GBR) riding Whisky Mac IV – 0/0 in 44.67 seconds
2nd Ben Maher (GBR) riding Rowan – 0/0 in 45.608 seconds
3rd Peter Welles (USA) riding Boo Van Het Kastanjehof – 0/0 in 46.121 seconds
4th Tina Fletcher (GBR) riding Unique IX – 0/0 in 47.365 seconds
5th Cian O’Connor (IRE) riding KEC Alligator Alley – 0/0 in 47.65 seconds
6th Nick Skelton (GBR) riding Unique XVIII – 0/8 in 48.016 seconds
 
 
End

 
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