Maher wins the Olympia Grand Prix on home soil.
The London Olympia Horse Show came to an end yesterday with the Olympia Grand Prix and there was a win for home rider Ben Maher. The British rider triumphed with his mount Diva II (Kannan), the 9 year-old sorrel with British origins (Anglo European Studbook) and owned by Tatiana Korsakova.
5 pairs made it through to the jump-off, which included 3 British riders. In addition to the winner Ben Maher, there was also Scott Brash with Hello Guv’nor (Diamant de Semilly) and John Whitaker with Argento (Arko III).
The Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano rode to an excellent 6th place finish with KWPN Admara (Padinus). Gaudiano collected 4 penalties in the second run which prevented him from making the jump-off.
3 pairs scored clears and they were the winners Ben Maher and Diva II (40.17 seconds), Holland’s Maikel van der Vleuten on VDL Groep Arera C (Indoctro) in 40.66 seconds and third ranked Kevin Staut with the young Belgian mount Ayade de Septon, an 8 year-old sorrel from (Wandor van de Mispelaere), in 40.96 seconds.
The top-ten was as follows:
1st Ben Maher GBR Diva II
2nd Maikel van der Vlaueten NED VDL Groep Arera C
3rd Kevin Staut FRA Ayade de Septon
4th Scott Brash GBR Hello Guv’nor
5th John Whitaker GBR Argento
6th EMANUELE GAUDIANO ITA ADMARA
7th Martin Fuchs SUI PSG Future
8th David Will GER Colorit
9th Robert Whitaker GBR Catwalk IV
10th Edwina Tops Alexander AUS Failight van’T Heike
Click here to see a full list of the results: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/978/sta_erg/25_ergENG.htm?style=longines
www.olympiahorseshow.com