Me in action , John Whitaker riding Argento GBR, 2nd in CSI4* Grand Prix for The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy during Saturday of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in the county of Berkshire, UK on 15th May 2016 , Nick Skelton thanks his Olympic mount Big Star after winning individual gold.
This brilliant video from the Rolex grand prix in Geneva, Switzerland (Sunday, 14 December) shows eventual winner Scott Brash going head-to-head with second-placed Frenchman Roger Yves Bost in the high-octane jump-off.
You can see the world number one taking strides out to gain an early advantage with his top horse Hello Sanctos. But “Bosty” and the 10-year-old stallion Quod’Coeur De La Loge fire from behind to finish within a whisker — 0.25sec to be precise — of the Scotsman.
“When I went in I wanted six strides from fences two to three and I ended up going seven strides, so I came out the ring thinking I might get beat,” explained Scott of his jump-off route in the 13-rider finale.
Scott laid down his formidable challenge from early draw so then had to watch on anxiously — not least when the notoriously speedy Frenchman gave his all down the home straight.
“I’m lucky but I was too slow today — Scott is better!” said the French reigning European champion. “I think my horse lost it in the air — he jumped too high. After the first fence I lost a stride, after number three I was a little bit outside the line, but it’s OK, I’m very happy.”
Scott Brash will make his first international appearance with his new ride, nine-year-old Hello Guv'nor, at Olympia next week
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Scott collected a cheque for CHF297,000 (£196,000) — his second big payout of the show after he also won the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final on Friday. He will now target the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping — worth €1m for any rider who can win all three rounds — the Aachen grand prix, at the end of May.
Don’t miss the full report from the Rolex grand prix in Geneva, and all the supporting classes, in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (out Thursday, 18 December).
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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.
