Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix: Scott Brash claims victory
Saturday 16 August 2014 20:20, UK
Olympic team gold medallist and world No 1 showjumper Scott Brash enjoyed a stunning British victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix at Horse Guards Parade.
The 28-year-old Scotsman produced a masterclass on the brilliant Hello Sanctos - his London 2012 ride - to dominate a four-horse jump-off.
Brash's time of 38.54 seconds was more than five seconds in front of German runner-up Ludger Beerbaum on Zinedine, while Holland's Maikel van der Vleuten took third on Vdl Groep Verdi.
For Brash, last year's overall Global Champions Tour series winner, it was his third victory of the 2014 campaign and ensured another bumper pay-day of just under £120,000.
And Brash's triumph followed his fellow British Olympian Ben Maher's London GCT win last summer, with the Peebles-based rider now heading to the World Equestrian Games in Normandy next month as individual gold medal favourite.
His victory brought the curtain down on three days of superb action as Horse Guards staged its first major equestrian competition, and Brash received a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.
"I am a pretty lucky person at the moment," said Brash, in tribute to Hello Sanctos.
"He is the sort of horse that doesn't come around too often - once in a lifetime, really. He is an incredible horse, and he has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people.
"The World Equestrian Games are in our sights and we are trying to peak towards them, and it is fantastic to win today in front of your home crowd. London holds good memories for me.
"I tried to put the pressure on in the jump-off. I really wanted to win this, and that atmosphere was just fantastic."
