SM
Arsenal vs. Juventus: 7 hrs 46 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Olympic champions set to spearhead GB's bid for showjumping glory

:Headline: Olympic champions set to spearhead GB's bid for showjumping glory:
London 2012 gold medallists spearhead strong Tokyo challenge.
Sports Mole

Great Britain's showjumpers will be led by two Olympians who have been there and done it when they go for gold at the Tokyo Games.

Scott Brash and Ben Maher were part of the triumphant London 2012 quartet alongside Nick Skelton and Peter Charles that ended a 60-year wait for Britain to be crowned Olympic team champions.

Both riders have remained dominant performers at showjumping's elite level, each winning two overall Global Champions Tour crowns, while Maher is currently ranked fourth in the world and Brash sixth.

Great Britain's London 2012 gold medal-winning team (left to right): Nick Skelton, Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Brash, who has landed more than £3.6million in GCT career prize-money alone, also became showjumping's first – and only – rider to complete the £735,000 Rolex Grand Slam when he claimed successive grand prix victories at Aachen, Geneva and Spruce Meadows six years ago.

And their presence alongside team-mate Holly Smith – Britain's first female showjumping team member at an Olympics since 1976 – in Tokyo means hopes of individual and team success are strong.

Brash will ride Hello Jefferson, while Maher is aboard the brilliant Explosion W, a combination that enjoyed grand prix success at Valkenswaard, Paris and Windsor during recent months.

"The Olympics is the pinnacle of every sportsperson's career," Sussex-based Scotsman Brash told the PA news agency.

"It is something we are all trying to be picked for, and it is what we have been thinking about the last few months.

"London was an incredible experience. OK, I don't know if it is going to be quite the same atmosphere as London, but an Olympic Games is something very special.

"It has been amazing to have crowds back in the sport again and to feel a bit of atmosphere. The best horses thrive under a bit of an atmosphere, and I think it also brings the best out of the riders."

“I like it when the pressure is immense”
- British showjumper Scott Brash

Former British showjumping team boss Rob Hoekstra described Brash as having "ice in his veins" when he anchored team gold medal success at the 2013 European Championships in Denmark.

And with so little currently separating the sport's global stars on any given day, Brash knows mental strength will be vital in Tokyo.

"I like it when the pressure is immense, really," he added. "I think it can bring out the best in you.

"You have got to be a strong character in this sport. There are so many ups and downs.

"You can be on such a high one day, and the very next day you could fall off a horse jumping one metre-high.

Charlotte Dujardin will defend the Olympic individual dressage title in Tokyo (Steve Parsons/PA)

"Horses aren't machines. It's not a racing car that we are driving, and you cannot just click your fingers."

A powerful British equestrian team should also challenge for medals in dressage and eventing.

Double Olympic individual dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin defends her title on new ride Gio following the retirement of London and Rio winner Valegro, and team medal hopes alongside Carl Hester, who competes in his sixth Games, and debutant Charlotte Fry are also promising.

World number one Oliver Townend leads British eventing's bid for a first team title at an Olympics since 1972, while he also has a strong individual chance, along with colleagues Tom McEwen and Laura Collett.

body check tags ::

amp_article__454566 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-09 09:04:31:
html db last update - 2021-07-09 09:04:31 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Scott Brash

Share this article now:
SL
Read Next:
Medals not on Ali Jawad's mind in Tokyo
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Scott Brash Ben Maher Nick Skelton Equestrian
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Medals not on Ali Jawad's mind in Tokyo
Reunion at Man United: Amorim 'has spoken' to Sporting star over 2025 transfer
When will Alaba return to action? Potential return date revealed

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Yoro debut? Shaw, Mainoo to return? Man United injury news vs. Ipswich

NEW

1

YD

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

2

PM

Wood or Awoniyi up front? Predicted Forest XI against Arsenal

NEW

3

WO

Saka decision, who replaces White? Predicted Arsenal XI against Forest

NEW

4

SD

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Brighton - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PB

Preview: AC Milan vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PA

Reunion at Man United: Amorim 'has spoken' to Sporting star over 2025 transfer

7

RA

Preview: Lens vs. Marseille - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PL

Revealed! What is Man United's main transfer priority under Amorim?

9

RW

Preview: Hellas Verona vs. Inter Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PH


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .