Maher the Star at GCT Spain

By Staff Report May 7, 2012

Great Britain topped the charts on the second leg of the Global Champions Tour in Valencia, Spain, May 4-6, with Ireland coming in second.

The nations took prime podium spots at the GCT Grand Prix of Spain, with GBR’s Ben Maher jumping to victory on Tripple X III in a fast, clear 41.35. Michael Whitaker was in second place with a 42.17 tour. Irish rider Denis Lynch came in third on 40.91 (with four faults in the jump off).

With the GCT Grand Prix counting toward Olympic qualifications and $454,882 (€285,000) at stake, the pressure was on at the CSI 5* 1.60m class. The go-list included some of the world’s most talented speed teams, including the USA’s Richard Spooner and Cristallo (who finished 11th in the field of 40).

Speaking at the press conference after the trophy ceremony Maher said of the 10-year-old stallion Tripple X: “He jumped amazingly today. He had the whole of February off, ready for the long season ahead. I was in Florida with him recently but we did not have many good results so we rested him, and it worked.”

The U.K.’s Whitaker said of his own mount, Viking, he “is getting better and better. He is not the easiest one but at least he gets it done.” Third place rider Denis Lynch said of his round on Abbervail van het Dingeshof: “I…was unlucky in the jump off. Although I was quicker, Ben was the best man on the day.”

Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda and French rider Penelope LePrevost took fourth and fifth places. Maher and Whitaker were the only ones to log three clear rounds on Frank Rothenberger’s big, challenging courses.

Following Valencia, the second stop on the GCT 2012 tour, Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) is still leading the GCT ranking, followed by Lynch and Marco Kutscher (GER). Edwina had a fence down in the second round of the grand prix on her top horse, Cevo Itôt du Chateau, but due to her April win at the opening show in Doha, Qatar, she is still the rider to beat this season.

Tops-Alexander, the overall 2011 GCT champion, said the changes at the top of the ranking table add a dramatic edge to the championship: “This is top sport and this is what makes it exciting. Denis had a fantastic day today. There is a long way to go, this is only the beginning of season. A lot can change and the best one will win.”

GCT president Jan Tops lauded the location’s natural beauty, and said it’s “very horse-friendly, with nice big arenas, permanent stables and great facilities. The timekeeping with Longines and the organization gets better and better. It was nice to see some different names on the podium and on the ranking, which makes it exciting going forward and I am sure everything will come down to the last moment this year.”

Alvaro Arrieta, CEO of local organizer Oxer said the company is proud to host the Spanish leg of the GCT. “It is our fourth edition and we are very pleased to host the GCT in these new facilities in Oliva Nova.”
Alvaro said the new venue is a big change from the City of Arts and Sciences in downtown Valencia, but added that he’s “really happy with the result. It has been a success.”
On Friday, French rider Roger-Yves Bost delighted the crowds at the GCT CSI 5* International with a high-speed victory aboard his “very fast” horse Castle Forbes, while Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat came in second on the appropriately named Ferrari. Winner “Bosty” lit up the competition with a stunningly quick round in the 1.50m class setting a time of 60.89 on his bay stallion Castle Forbes Vivaldo van het.

After the lap of honour Bost said, “He is a very fast horse and I’m very pleased. We won a lot of classes at 1.50m. I’m also pleased because I changed plans and decided to ride him in this class.” It was a repeat of his display of acceleration and daring riding at the Saturday speed class at the first GCT of 2012 in Doha, Qatar, where he won on Castle Forbes Cosma.
The cracking pace of the winning round in Spain was considerably ahead of the competition. Guerdat, who had a time of 63.57, praised Bost’s performance and said of his own second place: “I didn’t have a perfect round, but I have a very fast horse.” British rider Nick Skelton was a strong challenger for the podium and finished third on 63.98 on Unique.

For many of the top riders the road to the London Olympics is starting on this tour, where the chefs d’equipe of various national teams are closely watching the competition for some of show jumping’s biggest prize money.

The contenders next head to Hamburg, Germany ― the next of 11 events left in the series ― where starting May 16 U.S. riders Lauren Hough and Laura Kraut join Spooner.

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