Ben Maher strikes gold in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic showjumping

Ben Maher and Explosion W © BEF / Jon Stroud Media

After a heartbreaking start for Team GB in the individual showjumping, Ben Maher and Explosion W gave a jump-off masterclass to take the gold medal

Expectations were high going into the individual showjumping final for Team GB riders after their incredible performances yesterday (Tuesday 4 August). Yet again, the course gave the combinations a lot to think about with a demanding and difficult track – and proved a challenge too far for all but six riders. The first round saw youngest British rider Harry Charles retire and Scott Brash incur an unfortunate time penalty, while Ben Maher and Explosion W put in two foot-perfect performances to take a career-best gold medal.

Set around 1.6m high, the course was full of meaty oxers, tricky doubles and the infamous water jump that’s caught out so many. Two out of the first five riders to go retired halfway through, proving how technically difficult this track was – it wasn’t until the tenth combination to go, Henrik von Eckermann and his ride, King Edward, that we got a clear round inside the time.

First to go for the Brits was Harry Charles. At the young age of 22 and hoping to follow in his father footsteps, he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. But after a phenomenal round in the qualifier, Harry and Romeo 88 couldn’t quite deliver in the final. A disagreement between them caused a pole to drop early on and they kept on rolling, causing Harry to sensibly retire from his round. We’re devastated for Harry, but he should be incredibly proud of his achievements – stepping up from reserve position to take Holly Smith’s place in the individual competition and, not forgetting, his classy round yesterday.

Scott Brash, world number four, and Jefferson proved that nothing’s certain in the world of showjumping. This mighty combination has proved time after time the strength of their partnership, but luck wasn’t on their side today. They jumped an epic clear but picked up just one time penalty – meaning he, too, was out of the individual runnings. Showjumping fans were left heartbroken after the first two British riders, but could Ben Maher lift their spirits with his round still to come?

Ben Maher was the last rider to go before the jump-off, he took a deep breath as he entered the ring with Explosion W – possibly the best horse in the showjumping world today. We held our breath as they jumped, riding every stride with Ben and hoping he could keep his chance to step onto that podium. There was no doubt this combination couldn’t show us how it’s done, they jumped a mega round and produced a perfect clear, inside the time to send them through to the jump-off and stay in contention for a medal.

Joining Ben were all three of the Swedish riders, as well as the Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z and Japan, too, were ecstatic to send Daisuke Fukushima through to the jump-off as well.

Tensions rising

With only six combinations through to the jump-off, it was set to be an exciting session. The course was long and open, allowing plenty of opportunities to cover the ground between fences at a gallop. Japan’s star of the show,Daisuke Fukushima – ranked 600^th in the world – was first to go and jumped an awesome clear to set the stakes high.

Malin Baryard-Johnsson was the first of three Swedish riders, she jumped a super-speedy clear, but her teammate, defending silver medallists Peder Fredricson and his ride, All In, came in next to beat her time. The pressure was rapidly mounting for the other riders who were yet to jump, which included Ben Maher.

Hearts were racing as the world-class combination of Ben and Explosion entered the arena and they left everything they had in the ring – jumping another clear and even faster, looking promising for the final standings. Henrik von Eckermann was Sweden’s third and final rider to go, could he beat Ben’s time? A steady round, but one that kept the fences standing, saw him come in slower unable to knock Ben from the top spot.

With Ben sitting in provisional silver medal position, there was just one final combination able to sever his lead – that was Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z, from the Netherlands. Unable to offer a faster performance, the combination went clear but in a time that put them into bronze medal position, which made it another victory for Team GB, the unbeatable Ben Maher and Explosion W had struck gold!

The final result…

Gold – Ben Maher and Explosion W of Great Britain

Silver – Peder Fredricson and All In of Sweden

Bronze – Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z of the Netherlands