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Ben Maher rises to the Challenge at Hickstead

Jun 22, 2012

Ben Maher – one of the likely members of the British Olympic showjumping team – proved his supremacy today when winning the LED Sports Europe Hickstead Master’s Challenge on a borrowed ride. The Herts-based 28-year-old rode Parvati De Breve for the first time a few days earlier, but Ben steered the mare round the course in faultless fashion to win in a time of 45.97sec. “I’ve got her on loan from Laura Renwick. The mare arrived Tuesday, and I rode her once, and then brought her here today,” he said.

The LED Sports Europe Hickstead Master’s Challenge comprises a timed course of fences followed by a row of ascending upright gates. “The gates are a challenge because the horse has been travelling around the rest of the course at speed, so it can be difficult for them to switch off and take them on,” he added. Ben was 3.49sec faster than Jane Annett and Zidane V, who were second, while Anna Edwards and Diaghilev were third.

Earlier this afternoon, Ireland claimed the honours in the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, with Andrew Bourns and Roundthorn Madios taking the top spot. He bought the 10-year-old Irish-bred bay gelding by Clover Hill four years ago in the Aachen young horse performance sales. Andrew is over in Europe in order to take part in some of the FEI Nations Cup series.

Source: Press release from Victoria Spicer, Press Officer for the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead