Belgravia British Masters Invitational
Saturday, August 02, 2008
The inaugural Belgravia British Masters Invitational took place at Chester Racecourse today and has proved to be a resounding success.
Big crowds were treated to some fantastic show jumping at the superb Chester venue with confetti cannons and cheerleaders playing a big part in the day’s entertainment.
The ‘Belgravia Match Play’, a knock out competition with a difference which saw the top ten riders go forward to a timed jump off, was a resounding victory for Guy Williams from Canterbury, Kent riding Lynne Humphries’ Pybalia II. Hot on his heels was Geoff Luckett from Banbury, Oxfordshire with Old Lodge’s Brickfield Boy. Robert Smith from Shrewley, Warwickshire took third spot with his Athens Olympic partner, Mr Springfield.
Belgravia Match Play (Total Prize Fund £10,000)
- Guy Williams Pybalia II
- Geoff Luckett Brickfield Boy
- Robert Smith Mr Springfield
- Lynne Bevan Dottie Z
- Daniel Neilson Ionesco du Moulin
- Ben Maher Akosie du Wonderland
The ‘Belgravia Invitational’, boasting a whopping £40,000 total prize fund, took place this afternoon and proved a ‘good day in the office’ for British Olympic hopeful, Ben Maher from Elsenham, Hertfordshire riding Lara Abraham’s Robin Hood W. Ben took the victory from Peter Charles from Alton in Hampshire with Pall Mall H who finished in runner-up spot and Carron Nicol riding Hollywood who finished in third place.
Belgravia Invitational (Total Prize Fund £40,000)
- Ben Maher Robin Hood W
- Peter Charles Pall Mall H
- Carron Nicol Hollywood
- Robert Smith Vangelis S
- Scott Brash Intertoy Z
- Geoff Billington Rosinus
An elated Ben Maher, speaking from Chester said:
“The show has been a huge success. Chester Racecourse is a fantastic venue with facilities second to none and everyone involved has tried extremely hard to put on such a fantastic show. It has been apparent to me today how many members of the public who wouldn’t normally watch show jumping have attended the show and today’s entertainment has made for a fun packed family day out. The ground was perfect and the courses were very good which luckily worked in my favour. Today’s format is a completely new concept for show jumping but it has been a huge success which has drawn a new audience into the sport.”
