Scott Brash has made showjumping history becoming the first rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam, and scoop the €1million bonus.
‘Unbelievable’
Scott was the only rider to achieve a double clear to win the CP International at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada and take the Grand Slam series.
The normally laid back Scottish rider took off his hat and rode a lap of honour with a broad smile on his face. He was clearly delighted with the horse, who is owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham.
“What can I say about him?” said Scott. “He’s a horse of a lifetime. I jumped him Wednesday and Thursday and then saved him for today and I thought he was a little fresh.
“He wasn’t perfect in the first round, but he still jumped good. In the second round he was unbelievable, he tried his heart out. He’s a privilege to ride.”
Scary moment
The first round saw 10 riders go clear and two gain one time fault, with all 12 going through to the second round.
Brazil’s Pedro Venissand Belgium’s Pieter Devo both jumped clear, but had one time fault each, which put them in joint first place – with Scott last to jump. This meant a clear round would win him the class and the Grand Slam series.
Hello Sanctos hadn’t had a pole down all week, but could he pull off yet another clear? There was a scary moment when the 13-year-old gelding hit the planks, but the rider maintained his cool (doesn’t he always?) to jump clear.
‘Best feeling’
“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had, words can’t describe it,” said Scott after his historic win.
Pieter was second with Dylano as their time was a fraction faster than Pedro and Quabri De L’Isle, who took third place. USA’s Richard Spooner was fourth riding Cristallo, with four faults.
Last year’s winner 68-year-old Ian Miller made it through to round two, but he had nine faults on Dixson which put him in eight place. Ian has won the class a total of three times in his long career – the first time was 27 years ago.
We need you!
The CP International is one of three events in Rolex’s Grand Slam of Showjumping, which also incorporates grand prix competitions at Aachen and Geneva. Rolex offers a €1 million bonus to any rider who can win all three events in a row.
Scott is the first rider to achieve this, and as well as bagging the €1million bonus he takes home $500,000 for winning the Spruce Meadows grand prix.
Can things get any better for the world number one? Individual gold at Rio 2016, perhaps?
Come on Scott – we missed you at the Europeans, don’t let us down at the next Olympics. Your country needs you.