Team GBR’s Scott Brash kicks Olympic Gold Medallist into Touch Taking $50,000

A second week at the FTI Wellington Equestrian Festival saw a great crowd come out to watch the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix. Topping a full field of competitors and winning in front of more than 4,000 spectators was Great Britain's Scott Brash on Stanley Brash's Intertoy Z. Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze (CAN) was second with Katherine Dinan (USA) taking third place.

 

 The class had 50 entries, and 12 of those were clear to advance to the jump-off. Scott noted, "The course was good. It wasn't overly big, but it is nice to not have to jump big every single weekend. Although it wasn't too big there were still not too many clear. Twelve clear was good, and the jump-off was good. It caught a lot of people. It was a good class."

 

The jump-off started slowly with the first four riders having faults, but then Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) recorded a clear round on Cantano. She crossed the timers in 42.16 seconds, which would hold up for fourth place. The next clear round came from Andrew Bourns (IRL) on Roundthorn Madious. They stopped the clock in 42.50 seconds for fifth place.

 

Scott was the next in, and he brought the winning pace down to 40.02 seconds. "He is a big, slow jumper but he was fast tonight. The big ring suits him," Scott said.  

 

26 year old Scott already has a wealth of international experience, and  has partnered Intertoy Z, a 13 year old Zangersheide gelding by Interadel Z, since he was a 5 year old.

 

"It is great to win here. Hopefully I can continue to do as well. It is quite important. You want to come here and get up and running for the season and get your horses going early and then hopefully just tick along really, but you have to prove a bit of form," Scott explained. "When it comes down to championships there are only so many horses that can do them to be honest and you just have get your horse in good form and then keep it sound really and then keep things right until the championships. That is the main idea."  

 

 

Sunday also saw Warwickshire’s Nick Skelton take second place in the 1.50m Suncast Jumper Classic. Riding Beverley Widdowson's 11 year old bay mare Unique XVIII, the pair jumped 2 faultless clear rounds in a time of 38.03 seconds just a fraction slower than first placed Marie Hecart from France.

Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival