Peebleshire show jumper, Scott Brash, has won the $100,000 World Cup qualifier which took place in Toronto on Wednesday (9 November).
Scott (25), who is on the British Equestrian Federation’s UK Sport funded World Class Programme, was riding Elizabeth McTaggart’s ten-year-old brown gelding Bon Ami II. The partnership led the way with the first clear round before being joined by six other riders, from an original starting field of 21, for the jump off against the clock.
First to go again, Scott secured another clear round in a time of 41.95 seconds which couldn’t be bettered.
“Bon Ami was a little bit sharp in the first round but seemed a lot more relaxed in the jump off,” said Scott. “When I finished the jump off round I felt a little bit disappointed as I thought I could have made up more time between the last line of fences. It left me thinking I hadn’t done enough to secure first place as I knew there was a strong field behind me, but I think I just didn’t realise how fast I was going! I have to say that the horse has been jumping fantastically and I’m absolutely thrilled with him.”
Funded by UK Sport, the Development Programme works with talented riders to maximise their potential and deliver success. The Programme underpins World Class Performance and, together with the Equine Pathway, they comprise the Equestrian World Class Programme. It incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, showjumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage.