News
McLain Ward wins $75,000 Big Ben Challenge
Nov 16, 2015
McLain Ward of the United States scored yet another victory in the $75,000 Big Ben Challenge, presented by Hudson’s Bay Company, on Saturday night, November 14, to close out international show jumping competition at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of The 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto.
Eight horse-rider combinations advance to the all-deciding jump-off. When Ward entered the Ricoh Coliseum, Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts held the jump-off lead with a clear round in a time of 42.03 seconds riding H&M Legend of Love. Wasting no time around the short course, Ward guided HH Azur home in a time of 40.42 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard. Fellow American Reed Kessler challenged Ward’s time with Cylana, but the clock told the final tale, with a time of 41.44 seconds placing her second between Ward and Philippaerts.
Ward enjoyed an exceptional week of competition at the Royal Horse Show, winning a total of four international classes - two riding HH Azur and two with his newest mount, Carneyhaugh Manx - and was awarded the title of Leading International Rider.
With Kessler second and Philippaerts taking third, New York’s Georgina Bloomberg took fourth place. The first rider on course, Bloomberg posted a clear round in a time of 45.66 seconds riding Caleno 3. Nicola Philippaerts, twin brother to Olivier, had four faults in the jump-off to place fifth riding H&M Harley vd Bisschop. Jonathon Millar was the top Canadian, taking sixth place with a rail down and two time faults riding his father’s 2012 London Olympic Games mount, Star Power. Two-time Olympic team gold medalist Beezie Madden of the United States had eight faults in the jump-off aboard Breitling LS, as did New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley riding Barnetta, to finish seventh and eighth respectively.
Source: Press release from the Royal Horse Show