Darragh Kenny Wins FEI Jumping World Cup in London

Darragh Kenny triumphed in a thrilling jump-off at the FEI Jumping World Cup in London, narrowly defeating British Olympic medallist Ben Maher and fellow Briton Robert Whitaker. Kenny riding Eddy Blue, posted a winning time of 34.76 seconds while Maher aboard Point Break, finished second with a time of 35.15 seconds. Maher’s run suffered a slight hesitation which cost him valuable time in the final stages of the jump-off.

Whitaker riding Vermento, clipped the opening fence and finished third with a time of 37.89 seconds. Kenny praised his horse, saying, “[Eddy Blue] was unbelievable in the jump-off. He was so good. He’s just such a cool horse.” This victory added another significant achievement to Kenny’s career. Maher, who recently won team jumping gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reflected on his performance with pride for his horse, Point Break.

Despite feeling “disappointed” not to win, Maher acknowledged the narrow margin for error at this level. “He gave me a little buck at the top, which took me out of the rhythm and at this level, it’s small margins,” Maher explained. Maher also won individual gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games and continues to be a dominant figure in the sport.

Tim Gredley another British rider also reached the jump-off final and finished fourth on his horse, Imperial HBF with a commendable performance. Darragh Kenny’s victory in London underscores his continued success in the sport while Maher and Whitaker’s strong performances keep them firmly in the hunt for future titles.