Magnificent Maher lands the Huawei Grand Prix of Rotterdam in a spectacular week for Britain
Monday 22 June 2026
It was definitely Great Britain’s week at Rotterdam CHIO; just two days after helping Team Audevard land the Longines League of Nations victory on new ride Catelly, Ben Maher seized victory in the Huawei Grand Prix of Rotterdam with his more established ride Point Break in an exciting jump-off.
Forty-nine riders faced course-designer Bart Vonck’s 14-fence, 17-effort 1.60m track with 11 on-form riders jumping clear to guarantee a place in the jump-off. And the atmosphere in that jump-off was on a knife’s edge with some world class riders in the mix. The Netherlands’ Willem Greve claimed an early lead with the popular stallion Grandorado TN N.O.P. He was no match for Ben, who cruised into the lead on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 12-year-old Point Break (Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet) by 0.99 seconds.
Nevertheless, New Zealand’s Luke Dee gave him a run for his money on Gangster WW and came within 0.16 seconds of Ben’s time to slot into second.
Ben was pleased with the win today, not having been convinced of the best outcome during his ride in the jump-off: "It didn't quite go according to plan. We had a moment at the green oxer that I thought was worse than what it proved to be in the video. This is a very nice win for me and the team back home. In my career, I've had many highlights, but it has been a while since I've won a 5* Grand Prix."
He went on to praise his stallion Point Break: "He's an incredible horse, one of the best I've ever ridden. His stride is a bit shorter, but he's smart and is so athletic. The way he moves over the fences, it's almost like he doesn't have any bones in his body.
"We've had a lot of second places recently. When you're competing, it all has to fall into place of the day itself and there's some luck involved. To compete at this level week in, week out is challenging. I'm lucky to be able to ride some fantastic horses and have fantastic support at home, so there's no excuse: it's down to me to go and do it. It's nice that today we managed to win and that I can take this victory home with me."
British riders are on the podium in Europe
Elsewhere in Europe, Beth Vernon rode Michael Bates’ home-bred Dirk into third in the Grand Prix de la Ville de Neufchatel Hardelot, in France. Only four from 41 starters provided first round clears to join the jump-off, Beth and the 13-year-old stallion Dirk (Nectar Des Roches x Heartbreaker) coming home on four faults this time to take third spot.
Noora Von Bulow claimed a victory double at Azelhof Jumping in Lier, Belgium, winning two 1* 1.30m classes on the 13-year-old Dyrka Du Carry, beating 50 rivals in the two-phase by 0.47 seconds and topping the 61-strong speed with 0.89 seconds to spare.
At Bedizzole 3* in Italy, Louise Wood finished second twice in the Six-year-old 1.30m classes with the French-bred Kenzo De Mezerville and S.M. Comme L’Orange CH (Comme Il Faut x Orange Van’t Roosakker) before winning the final day’s two-phase on Kenzo by 1.13 seconds.
Image: Rachelle de Leeuw
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