Scott Brash 2nd in Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva
Sunday 15 December 2019
It was just 500th of a second that relegated Scott Brash, from Peebleshire, into 2nd place with the 10 year-old Hello Senator owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris this afternoon in the CSI 5* Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva.
An eleven strong jump-off saw the riders go hard against the clock across the course set by Gerard Lachat (SUI). Offering in excess of €1m prize fund, the Grand Prix at Geneva makes up one leg of the Rolex Grand Slam which links four of the world’s top equestrian events by offering huge success based bonuses. If anyone wins two shows in succession the bonus is €500k whilst if anyone wins three consecutively the bonus is an enormous €1m. The only rider to have claimed it so far is Scott Brash in 2015 with Hello Sanctos whom was retired last night in the Geneva arena where his Grand Slam story began a couple of years after having won Team Gold at the London Olympic Games.
Scott, who had posted a very fast first round saw himself in the position of being the penultimate rider to come forward as a result. With six combinations having achieved a double clear beore him Scott pushed forward at a very fast pace from the off knowing he had to beat Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Clooney’s time of 38.60 seconds. As he came down the final line, people were on the edge of the seats as Scott and Hello Senator were marginally up on the clock and looked like they had all to play for. But it was the final jump, as it turned across the arena, which cost them the win as they stopped the clock in a time of 38.65 seconds, just 500th of a second behind Martin Fuchs to sit in second place. With the last rider of the jump off not jumping clear, the final placings were then confirmed with Jerome Guery (BEL) and Quel Homme de Hus taking 3rd.
It was an incredible atmosphere at Geneva with hardly an empty seat within the vast grandstands that surround the arena. To say it was electric would be an understatement and the crowds couldn't have shown their appreciation of the sport that had played out before them any more than they did.
The next leg of the Rolex Grand Slam takes place in The Netherlands at the Dutch Masters between 12 – 20 March 2019.
For full results visit www.chi-geneve.ch
