Scott BRASH riding HELLO JEFFERSON for GBR during the Jumping Individual Qualifier Competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held on the Etoile Royal Esplanade in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) in Versailles just outside Paris in France between the 25th July and 6th August 2024
Scott and Lady Pauline Harris’ 15-year-old gelding Jefferson were 20th to go, with the 30 combinations jumping in reverse order of faults and time from yesterday (5 August).
They set off well across Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo’s track, but succumbed to the oxer at fence 5b, with Jefferson just touching it with his back legs, to collect four faults. They stopped the clock 81.23sec, the fourth fastest time up to this point.
Scott Brash and the wonderful Jefferson have jumped brilliantly throughout the Olympic showjumping competition, and provided the vital clear round that sealed the deal for Great Britain in the team competition on Friday (2 August).
“I’m obviously a little bit disappointed, because it’s a lifelong goal to try to win an individual medal, but I’m absolutely delighted with Jefferson. He’s been absolutely amazing all week, and again today,” said Scott.
“[We had] one mistake, but I think that double jumped really bad, it’s quite shadowy and I can’t blame Jefferson for it. I thought we jumped in well and I think he just took a little look at it – quite a lot of horses did the same thing.
“It’s just one of those things, the rest of the course he was foot-perfect, so I’m delighted with him and delighted with our week. You can’t be disappointed, it’s always the competitor in you, you’re always going to be disappointed [at first], you’re obviously going to go and analyse things. But actually when you reflect on the week we’ve had, it’s been an absolutely incredible week.
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“We’ve got an amazing team. I thought we really worked well together, the horses have been amazing, and we need to enjoy these moments because you don’t get too many of them in your lifetime.”
Scott Brash is yet to plan his celebration for winning team gold in the Olympic showjumping.
“I think we need to try and organise something, I’ve made no plans yet,” he said. “We’ll get back, celebrate with the guys at home.
“I’ve got an amazing team, my grooms and staff at home are incredible, they put in a lot of hard hours. My groom David [Honnet] is amazing, he looks after Jeff and the others to top standards, so I’ll go and have a quiet celebration with them first, and then I’m sure we’ll arrange a party somewhere.”
Scott discussed Great Britain’s medal haul across the Olympic sports, including athletics and swimming.
“I love watching all the other sports, they’re incredible, but I feel like our sport is unique and it’s an amazing sport to be a part of. You’ve got a 62-year-old guy here (Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) in top shape jumping against probably a 20-year-old, and women and men compete on the same basis and equally can win a gold medal. It’s a unique sport in that sense. And with living animals anything can happen, as you’ve seen today. It’s an incredible sport and I’m extremely proud of Team GBR bringing home a gold medal in the showjumping.”
Scott will make his way back to the UK to resume his day-to-day duties.
“I’ve got a lot of fresh horses at home who are going to need my attention over the next few days. We’re heading home tonight, and I’ve got work to do tomorrow,” he said.
It has been all to play for in the individual showjumping medals, with the scores going back to zero for today’s final. The course – which includes a one-stride double and triple combination, 1.65m Notre Dam wall, a 1.65m wide open water, and an iconic Eiffel tower fence – has provided its fair share of problems, particularly fence 5b which proved costly many of the riders.
There are only two clears at this stage; the first from ninth-to-go Germany’s Kukuk and the striking grey Checker 47 on 82.38sec. The only other clear came from Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z on 82.06sec.
Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Dubai Du Cedre are in the luxurious position of jumping last, having posted the fastest clear in the qualifier.
Japan’s Takashi Haase Shibayama and Karamell M&M retired during their round after collecting a handful of faults, as did Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom. Mexican rider Andres Azcarraga fell from Contendros 2 at the open water, fence 6.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
