Darragh Kenny Secures FEI Jumping World Cup Victory in London, Ben Maher Finishes Second

In the FEI Jumping World Cup held in London, Irishman Darragh Kenny emerged victorious in a jump-off, surpassing Olympic medallist Ben Maher and his fellow British competitor Robert Whitaker. Kenny, riding Eddy Blue, secured the win with a time of 34.76 seconds. Maher, aboard Point Break, finished as the runner-up, recording a time of 35.15 seconds, a result attributed to a minor hesitation during the jump-off that cost them an estimated half-second. Whitaker, riding Vermento, placed third with a time of 37.89 seconds after clipping the initial fence. Speaking to BBC Sport, Kenny commented on his horse’s performance, stating, “[Eddy Blue] was unbelievable in the jump-off. He was so good. He’s just such a cool horse.” Maher, aged 41, an Olympic team jumping gold medallist from the 2024 Paris Games, expressed that he was “really proud” of Point Break’s showing, even though he was “disappointed” about not securing the victory. Maher, who also earned individual gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games, explained the incident, saying, “He gave me a little buck at the top, which took me out of the rhythm, and at this level, it’s small margins.” Another British rider, Tim Gredley, also advanced to the final jump-off, securing fourth place with Imperial HBF.