AWESOME WIN BY BEN MAHER & CELLA IN THE €450,000 LONDON GCT GRAND PRIX
Saturday 08 June 2013
.jpg "AWESOME WIN BY BEN MAHER & CELLA IN THE €450,000 LONDON GCT GRAND PRIX")
London 2012 Olympic Team Gold Medallist Ben Maher MBE trumped fellow team-mate Nick Skelton OBEin the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in London this afternoon,
All competitors whom had already jumped clear in the previous two rounds, had been invited back into the arena for a third and final jump off to decide who was going to pick up the lions share of the enormous prize fund on offer.
The extraordinary jump off, in which Great Britain dominated in terms of number of competitors qualified, had the crowd on their feet in recognition of the spectacular show of horsemanship playing out before them. An early lead was secured by Germany’s Christian Ahlmann with GB rider Will Funnell and Billy Congo hot on their heels taking second place by stopping the clock just 1 second slower on zero penalties. Scott Brash MBE, with his Olympic Team Gold Medal winning horse Hello Sanctos, a 13 year old bay gelding owned by Lord & Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, put in a fantastic clear round, but just 2/10’s of a second slower than Will to slot them into third place at that point in play.
With just Nick Skelton and Ben Maher left to go, the atmosphere was electric as everyone knew that the current leader could be knocked from his post by either of the final two riders. As Nick, entered into the arena with his team gold medal horse Big Star, the flamboyant 10 year-old bay stallion owned by Beverley Widdowson, the entire stadium fell silent waiting to see what he would do. Taking turns that would have seemed impossible, Big Star made it look easy, jumping clear and stopping the clock 1/10’th second faster than Germany’s Christian Ahlmann who had managed to hold onto the lead until that point.
With everyone believing that Nick had set a standard that was untouchable, they settled back down in their seats to watch Ben and Jane Clark’s 11 year-old grey mare Cella start their round. However, as he drew level with the main grandstand and turned back 360 degrees on himself with just a few strides before the next fence they realised that Ben and Cella could potentially shave a second off Nick’s time if he remained clear. As he came up the final fence, you could hear spectators willing him on, shortly followed by a euphoric roar when he stopped the clock in a faster time with all fences standing.
Knowing he had won the class by the crowd’s reaction, Ben set off around the arena as europhic as he had been in his lap of honour at the Olympics. Punching the air in delight much to the grandstands approval he couldn’t have looked more ecstatic with his win.
The Longines Global Champions Tour in Stratford, London continues through till tomorrow evening. More information and live streaming on the classes tomorrow can be found by visiting www.globalchampionstour.com
RESULTS
1st. Ben Maher / Cella 30.58 seconds
2nd Nick Skelton / Big Star 31.85 seconds
3rd Christian Ahlmann/Taboulet 31.86 seconds
4th Will Funnell / Billy Congo 32.42 seconds
5th Scott Brash / Hello Sanctos 32.44 seconds
6th Luciana Diniz / Winningmood 32.52 seconds
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