International Success Continues for British Riders in this week's International Round-Up
Wednesday 02 October 2024
Ben Maher speeds to a win in St Tropez
Ben Maher used speed and skill to secure a four-star victory at St Tropez – Gassin Polo Club in France, with Jane Forbes Clark’s Ginger-Blue.
A quality field of 81 competitors came forward in the 4* 1.50m speed over French course-designer Gregory Bodo’s twisting 12-fence track but no-one could match Ben’s smooth, daring round. Trusting the 13-year-old Plot Blue x Royal Bravour mare, Ben negotiated the fences cleanly to take a 0.57 second win.
Joe Stockdale was in the money on Saturday, steering Equine Rescue Services Kandleford into second in the 50-strong 4* 1.45m two-phase, the Kannan 14-year-old finishing 1.02 seconds off the pace.
Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s Ebanking was on target for Joe with the fastest time of the class in the 4* ClipMyHorse 1.50m, but one error denied them victory. Twelve of the 66 starters returned for round two, Joe and the Etoulon x VDL Sheraton 10-year-old stallion looking on great form, but the penultimate rail fell to drop them down the line.
“It was so close! We had the fastest time, but the penultimate fence left us in fourth place. I’m super-pleased with him and it was a great way to round off his two weeks in St Tropez,” said Joe.
Charlie Jones hits the heights in Sacramento
Charlie Jones captured the top-billed $50,000 Pro Series Equine Grand Prix with Capitale 6 to finish the Sacramento International Horse Show on a high.
Sixteen riders came forward over the 1.45m course and five mastered the track to qualify for the jump-off. Charlie, 25, and the Cassini I x For Pleasure 13-year-old were on form after winning the feature Grand Prix at Del Mar just a few weeks earlier. They were again on top, showing a clean pair of heels to their rivals, forging ahead to claim victory with almost two seconds in hand.
“The crowd is always amazing here, they always get into the sport and that’s what it’s all about. I’m really happy to be here and I’ll be coming back for sure,” said Charlie, who is now based in Canada.
Ronnie Jones and Key West score a victory double at the Valkenswaard/WBFSH Jumping Global Champions Trophy
Ronnie Jones scored a winning double with Ruth Dowie’s handsome Key West in the Sires of the World qualifiers at the Valkenswaard/WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy in The Netherlands.
The consistent pair hit the ground running on day one, heading the 20-strong 13-fence 1.40m two-phase, designed by Uliano Vezzani, by 0.61 seconds. The fences went up to 1.45m 24 hours later for the 12-fence speed class but that didn’t faze the Otangelo x Phin Phin nine-year-old stallion and they finished out in front in the speed class to beat 18 rivals with more than three seconds to spare.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go their way in the Sires of the World Final. Again, facing a 1.45m course, Ronnie and Key West made their only mistake at this prestigious meeting, coming home on four faults. But it was sufficient for third in the Individual competition – only one clear was evident, France’s Stephane Dufour on Diego de Blondel. Their round also counted towards the Sires International Team competition alongside Roelof Bril (Iberico) and Bas Moerings (Jesther) as the KWPN Royal Dutch Sport Horse team finished second, eight faults behind the winners, Selle Francais.
Tabitha Kyle jumped into third in the concluding 2* Grand Prix with TJ Hall Ltd’s Desterly. Twelve of the 52 competitors forward over course-designer Cedric Longis’ 13-fence 1.45m track accessed the jump-off with Tabitha and the 16-year-old Tolan R daughter jumping another clear to finish 1.58 seconds behind the winner, The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten on Elwikke.
Tabitha also picked up third in the Six-year-old Individual with Sing Z. Thirty-three combinations contended the 1.35m speed track with Tabitha and the Copycat Z x Contact Van De Heffinck gelding 1.65 seconds off the pace.
Katie Speller guided Z7 Pink Panther (Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality) into second in the 27-horse Six-year-old Consolation 1.35m speed 0.76 seconds behind the winner.
Chris Smith is in the money in Bonheiden
Chris Smith was in the ribbons all week at Bonheiden, Belgium, with his versatile string.
Chris claimed second in an early 2* 1.45m on his wife Nicola and father-in-law Jim Barry’s home-bred Messarado Blue. Sixteen of the original 61 competitors qualified for round two, Chris and the Messenger x Indorado nine-year-old mare slotting into the runner-up spot by 3.47 seconds.
Chris scored a win in Saturday’s 2* 1.35m, Jane Jackson’s Monti Obolensky x Arko III nine-year-old Chaplin De Leau outpacing his 58 rivals to record a 1.84 second win. The pair went on to take third in Sunday’s equivalent two-phase, 0.54 seconds off the pace.
Ashdale Allstar jumped into fourth in the 2* Small 1.40m Final for Chris. Seventeen of the 58 riders reached the jump-off, Chris and In Time Consultancy’s eight-year-old Big Star x Luidam mare finishing almost two secs off the winning time.
Antonia Platt eased Marvin Van De Waterhoeve into third place in the 2* Grand Prix.
Course-designer Luc Verboven’s 13-fence 1.45m track reduced the 55 starters to 16 for the jump-off, Antonia and Falco x Game Boy 13-year-old posting another clean sheet to finish 3.34 seconds off the winning time set by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet aboard Argentina De La Marchette.
Sameh El Dahan is less than half a second away from winning Gorla Minore’s Grand Prix
Sameh El Dahan clinched second place in the feature 2* Grand Prix in Gorla Minore, Italy, with Joe Sloan and Joanne Sloan Allen’s home-bred WKD Toronto.
A total of 56 riders tackled the 1.45m track with 13 cracking the code to access the jump-off, Sameh and the 11-year-old WKD Toronto (Tornesch x Carnaval Drum) only 0.35 seconds behind the winner, Switzerland’s Edouard Schmitz on Karel Doorman.
