Scott Brash & Hello Mr President win first Oliva Nova Grand Prix
Sunday 21 January 2018
It was Scott Brash that took the first CSI2* Grand Prix of the opening Spring MET Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain today along with the lion share of the €30,000 that it offered.
Riding Hello Mr President, a 9 year-old bay gelding owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris, he was just one of four riders who managed to achieve a double clear from the field of almost forty starters. The 1.45m course, consisting of thirteen obstacles and requiring sixteen jumping efforts, asked just the right amount of questions in the first round to see seven jump clear and qualify for the jump-off.
The jump-off saw the first rider, Laura Roquet Puignero (ESP) set the standard when she posted a clear in a time of 43.66 seconds. With the course being a forward riding one, many of the riders pushed up the pace only to see poles fall. By the time Scott, last to go of the seven, entered the arena there had been three clears posted with the fastest having come in the form of Conor Swail (IRE) with Domino van de Valhoeve in a time of 39.40 seconds. The other belonging to Valentine Belooussoff (FRA) and Calou who posted a time of 42.69.
In his inimitable style, Scott pressed Hello Mr President into a superb ground covering rhythm and with absolute accuracy posted an incredible clear in a time of 38.75 seconds to claim pole position.
Scott will remain at the tour for another week before heading out to the CSI5* show in Bordeaux. Talking afterwards Scott commented about his horse “He is improving all the time and it’s nice to have him down here in Oliva. I have high hopes for him for the future”.
For full results http://bit.ly/2DtoaiT
