Scott Brash claims Turkish Airlines Grand Prix victory at Olympia
Sunday 22 December 2019
In what must be one of the most exciting and hard fought for Grand Prix titles anyone can recall watching it was Scott Brash (GBR), with the 10 year-old Hello Vincent owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris, who stormed to victory at the very last minute.
Edwina Tops-Alexander had looked unbeatable when she jumped clear setting a time 35.05 seconds to beat. Even Holly Smith, with the long-striding 10 year-old Hearts Destiny owned by TJ Hall Ltd, hadn’t managed to catch her despite a flying gallop to the last which saw them cross the finish line in 35.49 seconds to sit just behind her.
James Wilson with Susan Larson’s Imagine de Muze had also posted an earlier jump-off clear in a time of 37.15 seconds to find himself sitting just behind Holly. Competing in his first Olympia Grand Prix since and only having made the step up to 5* this year it was quite an incredible performance by a combination so early on in their career. William Whitaker with RM Cadeau de Muze had also perfposted an early on foot=clear with their time of 39.20 seconds seeing them sit just behind James.
However, it was Scott, the last to go in the jump off who had the grandstands on the edge of their seats as he twisted his way round the course before pushing his foot down on the pedal and galloping to the last. With the crowds realising he had a chance of beating her time, which up until then looked impossible to do, the roof-raising roar of the crowd erupted into euphoric celebrations when he flew the final fence clear with more than two thirds of a second in hand.
Talking after the prize giving Scott said ‘The jump off was very fast and I was in the fortunate position of going last. I saw a good distance from far out coming to the last fence and I could hear the crowd behind us, which is great and it brings the best out of us. To win the last Grand Prix of the season in front of your home crowd; well there’s nothing better than that. I’m just delighted with Vincent, he’s stepped up a lot and come on so much. “
Results https://bit.ly/36Y332C
1. Scott Brash (GBR) & Hello Vincent – 0/0 34.23
2. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) & Identiy Vitseroel – 0/0 35.0
3. Holly Smith (GBR) & Hearts Destiny – 0/0 35.49
4. James Wilson (GBR) & Imagine de Muze – 0/0/ 37.15
5. William Whitaker (GBR) & RMF Cadeau de Muze – 0/0 39.20
6. Markus Brinkmann (GER) & Pikeur Callas – 0/0 39.92
