One year ago Ben Maher began his London 2012 Olympic campaign, jumping for the first time in the spectacular Greenwich arena as part of a team that would soon claim gold for Great Britain. Twelve months on to the day, Ben claimed his first victory in the historic Longines King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, one of the oldest and most valuable Grands Prix in the country.
The Essex-based rider had yet to win the class, also known as the British Grand Prix (with a €200,000 total prize fund), but it has always been one of his main aims. “There are a few big classes that every showjumper wants to win and the Hickstead Derby [which Ben won in 2005] and the King’s Cup are two of them – I’ve come close to winning this a couple of times so it feels great to have finally done it,” said Ben.
