Roulette not a winner for Maher

8:43am Friday 22nd August 2008

ENFIELD'S Ben Maher finished 20th in the individual show jumping at the Beijing Olympics.

The competitors faced extremely gruelling conditions for the event in Hong Kong, due to the heat and humidity, and a highly testing second round course.

Maher, who was one of ten riders to go clear in the first round, knocked down five fences on his horse Roulette, for 20 faults second time out.

He told the BBC afterwards: "It was one round too many for her. She jumped the first round fantastic but in warm-up I just sensed she didn't really feel she wanted to go again.

"She wasn't the same horse in that round. It is disappointing, but that is the way it goes.

"I came here looking to win, otherwise there is no point taking part in the Olympics, but I am pleased with how I have done."

The event was eventually won by Canada's Eric Lamaze, who beat Sweden's Rolf-Goran in a jump-off. American Beezie Madden won bronze after a separate jump-off.