Jumping for joy as Scott makes Olympic team
SCOTT BRASH will be the first Borderer to compete at the Olympics since eventer Ian Stark won his fourth silver medal in the Team Eventing at Sydney in 2000, writes Fiona Scott.
The Peeblesshire horseman will make his Olympic debut at London 2012 after being named in Team GB’s showjumping squad.
The 26-year-old is the youngest member of the four-strong British team for this summer’s Games, which also includes Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Peter Charles.
Brash will ride Hello Sanctos, owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham, at the event, which will take place at the Greenwich Park arena from Saturday, August 4 to Monday, August 6.
And, having already notched wins in America, Italy, France and Belgium this year, Brash is keen to add the ultimate prize.
He said: “I am just so pleased, I’m really looking forward to it and getting out there and focusing on the job in hand.
“I remember watching the Olympics four years ago and never thought that I would be in the position I’m in today where I’m preparing for London 2012.”
Brash started riding at the age of seven and went to his first show when he was nine. He is the number one Scottish show jumper, ranked fourth in Britain and is also world ranked.
Based in Peebles, Brash has a yard where he breeds and trains his horses. He is supported by his dad Stanley and sister Lea.
Earlier this year, he was awarded the Tweeddale Sports Council’s Sports Personality of the Year award where he told us of his Olympic dream – a dream that has come true this week.
“Everything has happened so quickly and each year has just got better and better for me. When I think about the fact that I only got the ride on Sanctos at the end of last year and the way we have bonded along with the confidence I have in him, it’s quite remarkable,” he added.
“I just hope that I can now go out and do my country and everyone that has supported me and helped me get to this point proud; my grooms, vets, farriers, friends, family and in particular my owners, without whom this would have been impossible.”
Described as a dedicated, fully focused, talented and highly skilful rider Brash has been finding success his own way.
Accumulating a variety of honours through sheer grit and determination – producing his own raw young horses from novice to Grade A.
John Ledingham, international show jumper and young rider’s coach for Scotland said of Brash: “You can’t teach people to have natural talent, you can only refine it.
“Scott has real instinct and intuition for horses. He is most definitely a star of the future.”
Britain last won an Olympic show jumping medal in 1984, with their last individual podium finish coming at the Munich Games 12 years earlier.
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