Maher-velous in London!
By Angelique Van Eijk June 10, 2013
Ben Maher and Cella (Photo by Stefano Grasso / GCT)
Hometown hero Ben Maher took top honors in the Longines Global Champions Tour CSI-5* London Grand Prix on Sunday, sealing a patriotic victory on Cella on June 8.
Second-place Nick Skelton, another Londoner, made it one of the most electrifying jump-offs in grand prix sport riding his Olympic gold medal stallion Big Star to eclipse by only .01 of a second Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, who rode Taloubet Z to third in the 1.60m class, which was Table A (two rounds plus jump-off).
Maher and Skelton were part of Britain’s gold-medal 2012 Olympic show jumping team, and the GCT event brought them back to the Olympic Park venue, for a class that featured some of the same eye-catching jumps.
Laura Kraut and Cedric were the top placed U.S. duo at ninth.
Ben Maher in London (Photo by Stefano Grasso / GCT)
The U.K. leg of the GCT reshuffled the tour rankings a bit, allowing Lucinda Dinz (POR), who placed sixth on Winningmood, to overtake by one point Kraut in the No. 1 slot. Ahlmann is snapping at the ladies’ heels in third with less than five points separating him from the top.
Alvaro de Miranda (BRA) and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) are in fourth and fifth. Michael Whitaker (GBR), Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER), Daniel Deusser, Denis Lynch (IRE) and Skelton complete the Top 10.
The Top 20 of the championship series ranking is packed with world show jumping talent, setting up a high-calibre race towards the final in Doha, Qatar, in November.
London Grand Prix winner Mahr said: “The Global Tour is the main attraction for most riders through the year. This event in London has been great for building public popularity back into our sport.”
Ahlmann noted, “It was really good. We got to bring three horses as there were lots of good classes and it was amazing sport. It was a lot of fun for the riders and owners.”
Marco Kutscher and Cash won the final 5* class of June 9 in blistering style finishing almost a second faster that on-form Ben Maher and Tripple X III.
The Longines Global Champions Tour now moves to its fifth stop, Cannes, on the French Riviera, June 13-15
You can view Stefano Grasso’s beautiful photos and watch video commentary from Michael Whitaker, Harrie Smolders and Ludger Beerbaum in the GCT London Gallery at http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/2013/london/gallery/
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Nick Skelton and London Mayor Boris Alexander. (Photo by Matt Alexander / PA)
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