Jumping World Cup: Darragh Kenny beats Ben Maher to be crowned champion in final jump-off
Winning rider Kenny, on Eddy Blue, posted a time of 34.76 seconds, while Maher and Point Break took the runners-up spot with 35.15 after a slight hesitation cost them half a second in the jump-off.
Whitaker and Vermento clipped the opening fence and had to settle for third place with a time of 37.89.
“[Eddy Blue] was unbelievable in the jump-off. He was so good,” Kenny told BBC Sport. “He’s just such a cool horse.”
Maher, 41, who won team jumping gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said he was “really proud” of Point Break’s performance despite being “disappointed” not to have won.
“He gave me a little buck at the top, which took me out of the rhythm, and at this level, it’s small margins,” said Maher, who also claimed individual gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Briton Tim Gredley also reached the final jump-off and finished fourth on Imperial HBF.