Brash Road to Grand Slam

By Julia Seltz September 15, 2015

Scott Brash becomes the first rider in the three year history of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to win all  three events, starting with the December 2014 CHI Geneva, continuing to the CSI Aachen and culminating in the CSIO Spruce Meadows, Calgary.

To win the Rolex Grand Slam and claim the bonus of $1.3 million a rider must win the grand prix at all three events consecutively, though in no particular order (and not necessarily on the same horse, although Brash happened to do that).

Brash’s road to history’s first Rolex Grand Slam victory began in December 2014 at the foot of the Alps, where the CHI Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva got underway before 8,500 spectators at the sold-out Palexpo arena, near Lake Geneva. The vast Palexpo space is about twice the size of other European indoor equestrian venues.

Among 40 starters, Brash (GBR) and Hello Sanctos jumped double-clear, topping the field of 12 who made it to the jump off with a time of 35.69 that narrowly squeaked past Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) riding Qoud´coeur De La Loge (35.94) and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) and Cassall ASK (36.55).

Then, on May 31, at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, Brash and Sanctos repeated the win, with three clear rounds and the fastest time among three who went clear in the  jump-off — 48.04 seconds. This vaulted him past 33-year-old Daniel Deusser (GER), who stopped the clock at 48.37 with his grey gelding, Cornet d’Amour and Simon Delestre (FRA) and Ran des Hayettes, in 49.27 seconds.

The pulse pounding action around Frand Rothenberger’s course brought 40,000 spectators cheering to their feet at the the biggest jumping stadium in the world. Of the 40 starters, 18 made it to the second round, and seven to the jump off.

At the $1.5 Million CP Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows, Brash and Sanctos pulled it all together.

The system of the Rolex Grand Slam is simple: The rider has to participate in all 3 Majors within the same cycle.  If he wins the three shows, he picks up a bonus of 1 million Euros on top of the prize-money. In case of two consecutive wins out of three, he is granted a  bonus of 500,000 Euros. If the two victories are non-consecutive the bonus totals 250,000 Euros. The rider can choose the horse he wishes to compete with.

Brash, 29, is Scottish-born and rides internationally for Great Britain. Only 7 years old when his father bought a family pony for him and his sister, Scott was inspired to start show jumping at age of 10. He has been riding Hello Sanctos since 2012, when the horse was purchased for him to ride in the 2012 Olympics (where he was an integral part of the team gold).

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