News

Win for Ben Maher in opening event of GCT Monaco

Jun 30, 2012

British rider Ben Maher seized first place in the opening CSI 5* of the Monaco weekend taking full advantage of his last place on the starting list. In the glamorous setting of Monte-Carlo Ben turned up the heat with his lively chestnut gelding Aristo Z and burned up the course to take top spot. French rider Michel Robert was first in and had been leading the event from the word go, finishing in a time of 57.00 on Catapulte. A string of leading riders had tried but failed to beat Michel’s time which stood until the 46th rider, Ben Maher, entered the ring.

Ben was fast from the start and took a daring inside turn to fence eight, the Jaeger-LeCoultre oxer, before powering over the double combination and the final jump to finish clear in 56.06.

Cindy van der Straten-Marie achieved third place in 58.56 with a polished fast round on her bay stallion Sherman Sitte. 

It was a jet set start to the weekend’s sport in Monaco, with a dazzling line-up of riders in the first 5* class sponsored by the Monaco Equestrian Federation. Michael Whitaker, Denis Lynch, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Christian Ahlmann were all on parade. And there were new faces including British rider Ellen Whitaker, from the Whitaker show jumping dynasty. Irish rider Jessica Kürten returned to the GCT circuit. And American rider Jessica Springsteen, daughter of “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen rode a strong clear on Temmie in 65.70. Marta Ortega, from the family behind the multi-billion euro Zara and Massimo Dutti fashion brands, also jumped clear.

Source: Press release from Global Champions Tour