CHIO Aachen 2025: Ben Maher Clinches the RWE Prize of North Rhine‑Westphalia

Ben Maher and Point Break delivered a master‑class at the CHIO Aachen 2025, seizing victory in the RWE Prize of North Rhine‑Westphalia after taming one of course designer Frank Rothenberger’s most unforgiving tracks.

A Track That Tested the Best

Forty‑three world‑class partnerships faced a route that opened with a slightly uphill triple combination, flowed into two single fences split by a water ditch and finished with a double of verticals built from razor‑thin planks. Those planks became the afternoon’s nemesis, dashing clear‑round hopes at a rapid pace.

Christian Kukuk set the tone as pathfinder, piloting the ten‑year‑old Chageorge to a credible four‑fault result on the stallion’s grass debut. Clear rounds looked out of reach until the 34th starter, Ioli Mytilineou aboard La Perla vd Heffinck, proved perfection was possible and briefly took the lead on her first appearance at Aachen.

Maher’s Faultless Finish

Last into the arena, Ben Maher summoned trademark composure. Point Break, the eleven‑year‑old Swedish stallion by Action‑Breaker, answered every question to post the second—and final—zero‑score round, forcing a two‑way jump‑off.

Maher returned first and executed a calculated, risk‑free line to stop the clock clear in 46.78 seconds. Mytilineou, chasing hard, clipped the second fence and later the final plank, ending on eight faults and confirming Maher’s triumph. Kukuk’s earlier effort secured the final podium place.

Voices From the Arena

“The course never rode comfortably, but Point Break was completely with me—alert, athletic and precise,”
—Ben Maher

“There’s always Ben,” Ioli Mytilineou laughed, adding: “My mare gave everything in only her third 1.60 metre test.”

“Checker is in great form. On the right day, anything is possible,”
—Christian Kukuk on Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix

Head of Sport Birgit Rosenberg hailed “fantastic sport” and welcomed “fresh faces” in the top three, while Rothenberger joked that the infamous planks will now be “burned.”

Final Standings – RWE Prize 2025

1. Ben Maher & Point Break – 0 / 46.78 s
2. Ioli Mytilineou & La Perla vd Heffinck – 8 / 48.12 s
3. Christian Kukuk & Chageorge – 4 faults (fastest first round)

Looking Ahead

All eyes now turn to Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen 2025, where Maher and Point Break aim to repeat their winning form against arguably the sport’s deepest field.

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