Ben Maher and Diva Thake Center Stage in Olympia Grand Prix

Ben Maher saved the best until last to win the Grand Prix at Olympia. Photo credit: Kit Houghton/HPower

For the second year running, Ben Maher saved the best until last to win the Grand Prix at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, on the final night of this buzzing Christmas show.

Ben had been placed in eight classes and easily won the H&M Leading Rider of Show award but a win eluded him until the last moment. Riding the fiery chestnut mare Diva ll for Russian owner Tatiana Korsakova, Ben came off best in a five-horse jump-off to collect the spoils.

“There’s quite a lot to lose in a jump-off that only has five riders so you have to take a few risks,” said Ben. “Diva is quite a tricky horse and she showed off a bit in the prize-giving, but she’s a super jumper who has more to come and she really wants to win.”

The popular Dutchman Maikel Van der Vleuten, who has had a good show with five places and two wins, finished second on VDL Groep Arera C, ahead of Frenchman Kevin Staut (Ayade de Septon et HDC).

Scott Brash produced the first clear round of the class, on Hello Guv’nor, but it was a big atmosphere for this relatively inexperienced horse and after the nine-year-old ran out at a fence in the jump-off, Scott patted him and took him steadily to finish fourth.

Fifth-placed John Whitaker, who has also had a good week with five places and a win, thrilled the crowd with a clear on Argento, but the stallion found himself in too deep to a fence in the jump-off and pulled himself up.

Ben’s €21,250 win was a welcome fillip at the end of a mixed year which has seen him drop out of the world number two spot with a series of mishaps with horses, including the withdrawal of Cella just before the World Equestrian Games.

“It’s been a tough year but I’ve kept working hard,” said Ben, who was taking off for Miami the next morning to ride the horses he has based in Florida.

“It’s all been down to my grooms, who have been running everything behind the scenes while I’ve just flown in to ride. My main aim next year is the European Championships where I’m confident that Britain will qualify for the Rio Olympics. We’ve always had good riders and we will get there.”

To view the full results click HERE

 

Olympia, The London International Horse Show
The first international horse show took place in the Olympia halls in 1907.  Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the event we see today, was started by Raymond Brooks-Ward in 1971.  This year's show takes place on 16-22 December 2014 in the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington London. The show will play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian and is expected to welcome over 90,000 visitors. It is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious equine competitions. The show mixes top class equestrian action, including FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Dressage and Driving with family entertainment, such as the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Kennel Club Dog Agility. The show’s official charity for 2014 is The Injured Jockeys Fund.