Scott Brash's personal Rolex Grand Slam
of Show Jumping has begun. The British show-jumper rode Hello Sanctos to
victory in the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon at the third Major
Show of the year, the CHI Geneva. The current number one in the world
ranking list triumphed over twelve of the best riders in the world in
the jump-off. He will now take on the ultimate challenge on the
international equestrian sport circuit: The Rolex Grand Slam of Show
Jumping.
8,500 spectators euphorically celebrated
Brash in the sold-out "Palexpo", the impressive arena near Lake Geneva.
In a top-class jump-off, he crossed the finish line clear in the
fastest time, narrowly beating Roger-Yves Bost (France) and Rolf-Göran
Bengtsson (Sweden).
"It is fantastic now also being a part
of the Rolex Grand Slam. I am extremely looking forward to the next leg
in Aachen," commented Brash. He is particularly grateful to Rolex: "It
is unbelievable what Rolex has been doing for our sport for such a long
time." At the World Equestrian Festival on the last weekend in May,
Scott Brash will attempt to become the first rider in history to win two
Major Shows in succession – and be the first rider to claim a bonus in
the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
After riding to victory in the Rolex
Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen in the summer, Christian Ahlmann from
Germany also did his very best to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show
Jumping. After picking up four faults in the first round of the "CP
International presented by Rolex" at the Major Show in Canada, the
Spruce Meadows "Masters" exactly three months ago today, he jumped clear
in the first round in Geneva and thus qualified for the jump-off.
However, after knocking the penultimate obstacle, he ultimately finished
eleventh in the competition.
The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has
been the beginning of a new era in the field of equestrian sport. The
quest to win the most difficult-to-obtain trophies in the world of
equestrian sport unites the top riders from all over the globe.
The Major tournaments Aachen, Spruce
Meadows and Geneva – all prestigious names on the international
equestrian sport circuit, which are now connected by a spectacular bonus
system: Turning the Rolex Grand Slam into a truly infinite story, into
one of the most exciting concepts in the history of international sport.
