Ben Maher, riding Tripple X III, was a popular home winner of The Longines King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead on Sunday, just 48 hours after his below-par performances left Great Britain on the verge of FEI Nations Cup exit at the group stage.
Maher, a member of Great Britain’s gold medal winning team at the London Olympics a year ago, produced one of just three clear rounds from 49 starters to force a jump-off with Ulrich Kirchhoff (Ukraine) and Marcus Ehning (Germany). After then posting a second clear, Maher had the luxury of watching on as both Kirchhoff and Ehning were unable to match his efforts meaning he collected the first prize of €66,000 and the much coveted King George V Gold Cup title.
Afterwards Maher was quick to praise the Hickstead venue and patriotic home crowd. “You can’t beat a home crowd. I love jumping in England,” he added.
Attention now turns to the final group round of the FEI Nations Cup in Dublin on Friday [9 August] where Maher will be hoping he – and his fellow British teammates – can rediscover the form that helped them take the Olympic title some 12 months ago. “I’ll probably be riding Cella in Dublin,” he said.
“Tripple X will travel to Ireland but will probably find it tough going.”
Britain needs a top three finish in Dublin to be absolutely certain of qualification for the FEI Nations Cup [Show] Jumping Final in September. Speaking last Friday after Great Britain’s disappointing performance in its home round of the FEI Nations Cup [finishing fifth equal of the eight teams competing] British boss, Rob Hoekstra, was understandably frustrated. “In the end there were just too many faults,” he said, “but you never know, we may yet go to Dublin and win it!
Source: DSG
