Ben Maher Takes Third in $85,000 FEI CSI3* Salamander Resort & Spa Grand Prix
Monday 16 February 2015
Last Friday (13th February) saw Ben Maher MBE fight off some stiff competition in order to take third place in the FEI CS13* $85,000 1.60m Salamander Resort & Spa Grand Prix held during Week Six of the Wellington Equestrian Festival.
Ben from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire was aboard a brand new ride, 13 year-old bay gelding Valinski S owned by Michael Dorman. The horse only arrived with Ben on Monday and he got off to a flying start after delivering one of only six double clears produced during the class.
Thirty-nine starters came forward for this class and nine moved forward into the jump off. Home rider Kent Farrington delighted American fans by securing victory on Blue Angel for the second year in a row after producing their double clear in 38.85 seconds.
Dutch rider Harrie Smolders took second on Don VHP Z with a double clear in 39.64 seconds and they were closely followed by the British combination of Ben and Valinski S, who secured their double clear in 40.62 seconds.
FEI CS13* 1.60m Salamander Resort & Spa Grand Prix Results:
1st Kent Farrington & Blue Angel (USA) 0/0 38.85 seconds
2nd Harrie Smolders & Don VHP Z (NED) 0/0 39.64 seconds
3rd Ben Maher & Valinski S (GBR) 0/0 40.62 seconds
4th Luis Pedro Biraben & Abunola (ARG) 0/0 42.06 seconds
5th Erynn Ballard & Appy Cara (CAN) 0/0 43.07 seconds
6th Charles Jacobs & Cassinja S (USA) 0/0 43.63 seconds
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