Ben Maher is the Austrian Master
Sunday 22 September 2013
Ben Maher, the leading rider on the World Ranking List, notched up another title yesterday at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Vienna by winning the Vienna Masters.
The class, with a total of forty-two competitors all hoping to secure the €61,000 prize fund at stake, was fierce with eleven of the combinations going clear in the first round. Joining Ben in flying the flag for Great Britain was Michael Whitaker with his own 9 year-old grey mare Eli van de Kolmen. Ben was aboard Jane Clark’s 12 year-old bay gelding Urico whom he last competed in Calgary coming 2nd in a 1.50m class.
The second and final round of the competition saw almost half of the field notch up penalties with only six of the combinations going clear once again. It was Ben and Urico though who led the field by stopping the clock in a time of 42.45 seconds proving themselves unbeatable with almost a two second lead. Germany’s Marcus Ehning with Cornado NRW slotted into second place with Michael Whitaker coming in third on a time of 45.06 seconds.
The Masters brought the Vienna Global Champions Tour to a close with all eyes now on the final which takes place at the magnificent Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre in Doha between the 21st – 23rd November.
Further information can be found at www.globalchampionstour.com
1svujitxhxur8.jpg "Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne")
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")