Ben Maher triumphs at London Olympia horse show
THE first day of international showjumping at Olympia culminated in a stylish victory for Ben Maher and Milena 8 in the Christmas speed stakes.
“She’s a brave horse and been on form recently,” said Ben. “She hasn’t been overjumped and she’s fit and she responded well today.”
Ben and the 14-year-old Caretino mare, owned by Peter Ward, held off the challenge of a strong field of 24 riders including Scott Brash, who came within a second of Ben’s winning time with Sebastian to finish runner-up.
Marcus Ehning and the eight-year-old stallion Campbel 5 impressed in third place.
Earlier in the day, Ireland’s Dermott Lennon rode a classy round with Loughview Lou-Lou to land the Christmas Pudding Stakes.
The 14-rider jump-off proved a real thriller and Dermott, fresh from a win in Geneva last week, just took the advantage from John Whitaker and the ever-consistent Dazzle II.
“I watched Laura [Renwick] and a few others go early on, but I wasn’t trying to beat anyone, just go as quick as I could,” said the Irishman.
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The first international showjumping class, the Welcome Stakes two-phase, was won by Norway’s Geir Gulliksen with Rusedski II, while the Pony Club mini-major relay went to the team of Laura Renwick (Parvati De Breve) and Katie Waldock-Smith of the Enfield Chace Hunt branch of the Pony Club riding Duncrynes Jungle Bunny.
Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound, out 22 December, for full report, pictures and all the news from Olympia.
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.