Scott Brash jumps to €150k big class double in Portugal

Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos won the Longines Global Champions Tour of Estoril, Portugal, with one of only two triple clears. It was a lucrative weekend for the world number one, who also took top spot in the 1.55m jump-off class the previous day.

British supporters had plenty to cheer about on Saturday night (12 July) as Nick Skelton and Big Star made a dazzling return to the podium, taking third behind Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (Status FRH).

“There were fantastic riders and horses in the jump-off and it’s a big advantage coming near the end, so I was able to see Rodrigo and Nick,” said Scott, who collected a €100,000 top prize to add to the €50,000 he picked up on Friday.

“It was a well-built course, Frank Rothenberger did a great job as he always does. It was a long course and the calibre of jumping has been unbelievable again.”

Scott’s Olympic team-mate Nick Skelton has nursed Beverley Widdowson’s 11-year-old stallion back from an injury he picked up last year and the pair produced the quickest time in the jump-off, but the final oxer fell.

“I am very pleased with him, because he has been off for nine months,” said Nick. “It’s the first time he is back in the swing of things.”

Results of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cascais, Estoril

1. Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos) GBR, 0/0/0 45.43sec
2. Rodrigo Pessoa (Status FRH) BRA, 0/0/0 46.24sec
3. Nick Skelton (Big Star) GBR, 0/0/4 43.32sec
4. Bassem Hassan Mohammed (Victoria) QAT, 0/0/4 51.55sec
5. Christian Ahlmann (Aragon Z) GER, 0/0/8 45.27sec
6. Nadja Peter Steiner (Capuera II) SUI 0/1

Don’t miss the full report in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 17 July.

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.