Ben Maher & Kavanagh Win Grand Prix in Palm Beach
Sunday 12 January 2014
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida has kicked off with some extremely solid GB performances from the riders flying the union flag in the Palm Beach sunshine.
Week One culminated this evening (Sunday 12th Jan) with a brilliant win by Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV in the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix. The class had seen forty seven combinations come forward with only ten of them qualifying and going forward for the jump-off.
The shortened course, which had been designed by Eric Hasbrouck, caught out many and it was only two of the ten that managed to jump clear. It was Ben’s clear with Kavanagh IV that proved unbeatable in a time of 35.017 seconds thus relegating USA rider Paris Sellon and Heracross to second place with their clear in a time of 40.053 seconds.
Kavanagh, a 12 year-old gelding is a horse that Ben only started riding recently having taken the ride on at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) when he was lent to Ben from his owners John & GB's leading lady rider Laura Renwick. Talking after the class Ben said “I had been kindly allowed to take Kavanagh to HOYS whilst I was resting my other horses and we got on quite well. I then asked if I could take him to Florida as I knew the big arenas would suit him. He jumped well in the Trump Grand Prix last weekend and as a result of the really heavy rain, and me being unable to see where we were going, we made a little mistake. I then saved him for this Grand Prix and I’m pleased to say it’s a plan that’s paid off”.
Further good news for Ben and his support team was the 2013 Noelle Floyd award for Best Groom being given to Ben's long term Head Groom, Daley Fisher. Daley has worked for Ben for the past eight years and has travelled the globe in his role. 2008 saw him support Ben at the Beijing Olympic Games before supporting him at the London 2012 Olympics where Ben secured Team Gold. 2013 saw Daley travel with Ben and the horses to Herning, Denmark and the European Championships where Ben secured Team Gold along with an Individual Silver.
The show continues for the next eleven week’s with some top class showjumping. For more information on the show please visit www.equestriansport.com
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