Ben Maher hits form in front of a home crowd at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London

Tuesday 12 August 2025

Ben Maher takes victory in the Global Champions League and narrowly misses out on a Longines GCL Grand Prix win in three days of thrilling competition at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London.

Ben partnered Daniel Deusser to lead the Shanghai Swans to their third Global Champions League victory of the 2025 season in front of the backdrop of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in the heart of London.

High stakes drama and world-class talent was abound in the capital city as the Shanghai Swans rose to the top of the leaderboard, earning coveted points in leg nine of the 2025 Championship to the delight of the home crowd.

The GCL calendar’s month-long, mid-summer break meant than many riders came in with fresh horses, while multiple teams debuted new combinations following this year’s mid-season transfer window.

Double-clear efforts proved to be elusive for all 17 teams during the first round of the day on course-designer Uliano Vezzani’s deceptively technical, 15-obstacle, 1.55m track. Poles fell in equal measure from the first jump of the day the to last, with only seven combinations on the startlist managing to finish Round one on a zero score.

This didn’t include the Shanghai Swans as, although Daniel posted a flawless clear on Gangster V/H Noddevelt, Ben clipped a rail with the 14-year-old Ginger-Blue but proved almost five sec quicker.

Two Brits were the speediest in round one, Scott Brash taking the top spot in an early effort of the 53-strong individual speed competition with Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s Diamantino 11-year-old Hello Valentino.  Sienna Charles was a little over two seconds adrift on the Typhoon S 11-year-old Chawton, but it was sufficient for second place.

Among several shake-ups taking place during the afternoon were championship leaders Valkenswaard United, who moved from first place into last in Round one after an uncharacteristically tough day at the office for Marcus Ehning on Coolio 42 and Gilles Thomas with Luna Van Het Dennehof.  Fortunately, the pair were able to claw their way back thanks to a speedy, double-clear effort in Round two, helping them to maintain their hold on the leaderboard.

Round two still created its problems as course-builder Uliano Vezzani demanded precision and delicacy at 1.60m over a 16-effort track in a series of related distances, including a treble combination.  Drama reached fever pitch with an unexpected elimination when the Istanbul Warriors, winner of the Paris GCL and at 2024 London, encountered a refusal and dropped them out of the competition. 

Earning their third win of the season, the Shanghai Swans sealed victory with their trademark, icy-cool-under-pressure performances in round two, entering the arena as last to go with two fences in hand.  Daniel Deusser jumped clear on Otello De Guldenboom and, although Ben Maher came home on four faults with Point Break, finishing on a total two round score of eight faults, victory was in no doubt.  They claimed a fence in hand over second-placed Basel Cosmopolitans with the Mexico Amigos in third, also on 12 faults.

Speaking of his hometown advantage, Ben said he was relishing every minute at GCL London: “We don’t get too many chances, here, to ride at home, so it’s always great for me, and to have all my family here this week. This is very close to home, a great city, and a great start to the week – thank you to Daniel!”

Daniel echoed his teammate’s sentiments: “Of course, in the situation today, when we are last to go in, I’m first to jump, and there’s only one rider left, then it’s very good to have someone like Ben behind us. The pressure is high, you have to jump clear or four, and to have Point Break and Ben as the last rider to go is for sure an advantage.”

The valuable 30 points gained here puts the Shanghai Swans into third on the leaderboard following leg nine of 15 legs, now just six points behind the leaders Valkenswaard United.  The Cannes Stars sit in second only one point ahead of the Swans. 

Ben also featured in the climatic Longines Global Champions Grand Prix of London – one of the jewels in the LGCT calendar – and although the sell-out home crowd were hoping for a British win, Ben narrowly missed out by less than half a second. 

Forty riders – including some of the world’s best – lined up to face course-designer Uliano Vezzani’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.60m track with 10 reaching their initial goal to make their way into the jump-off.

There was standing room only on the picture-perfect British summer’s afternoon with the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea providing a beautiful backdrop and the atmosphere crackled with tension and energy as home hero Ben lit up the jump-off in dramatic fashion.  

Twice a previous winner of this class (2013, 2019), Ben and the ultra-consistent 11-year-old Point Break were early to go in the jump-off – and made a statement.  Taking an incredible 5.3 seconds off the leading time at that stage, they set the arena alight and sent the crowd inro a frenzy.  The inspired round relegated Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels at only his third show and in his first 5* Grand Prix with new ride Chacco’s Lando OL – a former ride of William Whitaker. 

But Germany’s Christian Kukuk and the legendary Checker – who finished second here 12 months ago – provided a masterclass of precision and speed to flash through the finish, stopping the clock 0.38 seconds in front to claim the win.

Although they have never won a 5* Grand Prix together, Ben and Point Break really delivered today: “Proud, really proud of him – he’s incredible. We have to win one of these for him one of these days… it’s been close a number of times now!”

For some, fortune was not on their side.  Harry Charles, a sensational winner here last year, couldn’t quite replicate the magic with Sherlock this time and the pair dropped to ninth on four faults.

Brits landed a top two on the 2* Grand Prix podium, Pollyanna Gredley taking centre stage and the win from George Whitaker.  Only eight of the 32 starters negotiated the track cleanly, Pollyanna and the Kannan x Revenge 12-year-old having the edge by 0.58 seconds over George and the home-produced Peanut. 

Second to Ella Dalton and Hurricane VDL in day one’s 45-strong Hunter Woodshavings 2* 1.40m speed by 0.77 seconds, George and Peanut went one better and headed the Actiph Water Trophy.   

A field of 41 tackled this 2* 1.45m course, George skilfully steering the Barricello x Quasimodo Z 12-year-old on the shortest route with tight lines everywhere to secure victory by 3.61 seconds.  Fellow Brit Tallulah McKenzie Smith filled second place on Coyotte Pommex Z.

Scott and Hello Valentino finished third on the podium in Saturday’s feature 5* Lugano Trophy.  Fourteen of the 43 starters accessed the jump-off with Scott and the Swedish-bred mare finishing 1.63 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Gilles Thomas and Luna Van Het Dennehof. 

 

Rachel Proudley is the Puissance queen at Royal Dublin

Rachel Proudley has quickly developed a knack for winning over the big Puissance wall and, just a month after winning her first one at Bolesworth International, she took on the Royal Dublin Show – and came away triumphant.

Fourteen came in front of an enthusiastic crowd and only two were left in the main grass arena to face an enormous red wall standing at 2.15m.  First to go Rachel, riding for HK Horses, gave a classic display on Easy Boy De Laubry Z, the Elvis Ter Putte x Ogano Sitte 11-year-old soared over and never looking like touching a coping brick to set the target.  However, they were declared the winners as Ireland’s Paddy O’Donnell opted to withdraw Kilcorig Elysium at this point.

Matt Sampson chased hard in his inimitable style in the 30-entry Royal Dublin Society Speed Stakes to claim third on the podium with the 15-year-old Fabrice DN, 0.46 seconds off the pace set by Ireland’s Mikey Pender on HHS Fortune. 

 

Charlie Jones takes a 3* Grand Prix second place at Canada’s Summer Fort Welcome

One-time leader Charlie Jones had to settle for second in the $75,000 Steel Craft Doors 3* 1.50m Grand Prix with Capitale 6 at Summer Fort Welcome, ThurnderBird Showground in Vancouver, Canada.

Fourteen competitors set off in the jump-off with Ireland’s James Chawke, who touted two rides in the jump-off, posting a quick clear in the opening draw on Nicara Van Berkenbroeck Z.  And it seemed he’d done enough, as the next five failed to catch the speedy pair.

But Charlie Jones is always a threat in a jump-off and here was no exception as he set sail with Morning Star Sporthorses’ Cassini I 14-year-old Capitale 6 and knocked half a second off the time. 

Nonetheless, James had his second ride in the favourable final draw and used it to his advantage: “I knew Charlie and Kara Chad were fast, but I got to watch them and made a better plan for Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z,” he said, after claiming victory by only 0.09 seconds.     

 

Mandy Beger records a win in Austria

Mandy Beger (nee Goosen) claimed victory in the Gold 2* 1.45m at St Magarethen, Austria, with Starlet. 

Sixteen of the 38 starters posted initial clears to join the jump-off, Mandy and the Big Star nine-year-old flying into the top spot to land the win by 0.29 seconds.   

Izac Ketteridge jumped to the top in the Six-year-old Final with Airscape.  Only five of the original 23 starters returned for the jump-off over a 1.25m track, Izac and the Escape Z x Oklund gelding winning by an impressive 2.90 seconds.

 

Sam Hutton takes a Grand Prix podium place in The USA

Sam Hutton jumped into second place in the Grand Prix in Traverse City, The USA.

Nine of the 43 starters returned for the final decider of the $32,000 2* 1.45m Grand Prix, Sam and the Zinedine 11-year-old Zidan 10 finishing 1.52 seconds behind the winner.  

Image: Longines Global Champions Tour / Global Champions League 

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