The flying scotsman Scott Brash has now held his spot at the top of the Longines world rankings for the 12th consecutive month, making him the first showjumper since Germany’s Marcus Ehning in 2006 to reign as the world number one for a year.
So what makes the 29-year-old so good? We take a look back at some of the highlights of his career to find out what made him the best showjumper in the world.
17 reasons why Scott Brash is number one
1. Scott started his jumping career with the Peebles Tweeddale branch of the Pony Club. Even as a 10-year-old, he’s showing flair over the coloured obstacles and here he came third in the horsemanship awards and earned the title of best boy.
2. How cute is this? Scott and Woodlands Grasshopper are crowned the Scottish Indoor JA champions.
3. Aged 15, and already travelling the country in hot pursuit of ribbons, Scott Brash is in action on Castlehill Kismet at Church Farm Arena in Lancashire.
4. While in juniors, Scott also jumped to great success with the coloured pony Dream Flight.
5. Once in seniors, Scott earned a very good reputation producing young horses and, in 2008, he secured the coveted Horse & Hound Foxhunter title with Sauron ML.
6. Intertoy Z was the horse that really put Scott on the showjumping map and took him to his first world championship in 2009 at Kentucky, USA. Here they are in action over the famous wall at the Great Yorkshire Show in July 2008.
7. Nothing can beat the feeling of leading your country to victory and, in 2011, Scott looks determined to keep hold of the famous Aga Khan Trophy he’s just won! He joined Robert Smith (Talan), Michael Whitaker (Amai) and Nick Skelton (Carlo 273) to triumph in a thrilling battle with Ireland.
8. Bon Ami remains one of the best speed horses in the world and at the European championships in Madrid in 2011, despite missing out on selection for the four-man bronze medal-winning squad, Scott claimed victory in the supporting classes on the nippy gelding.
9. Scott Brash now regularly travels the world, competing in top class competitions on every continent. Here in 2012, he and Intertoy Z take part at one of the most prestigious venues in the world, Aachen.
10. It’s the London 2012 Olympics and one of the greatest moments in British showjumping history as Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos help Great Britain claim the first gold medal in 60 years. The pair also finished equal fifth individually.
11. We won! Scott congratulations Peter Charles for jumping the final clear for the team at the London Olympics.
12. Gold medallists galore: a vintage Olympic Games is remembered at Olympia where Scott is joined by team-mates Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Peter Charles, plus the many other 2012 medallists — and a very happy Duchess Of Cornwall.
13. Proud to be British: Scott now has some exciting younger horses coming up through the ranks including Hello Sunshine and Hello M’Lady but it is Hello Annie who takes him to victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Madrid in May 2014.
14. You know you’ve made it when Clare Balding comes to interview you — Scott appears on the BBC coverage of the London leg of the GCT in August, offering a great voice for the sport of showjumping.
15. Fan club: the autograph-hunters flock to meet Scott after he wins the London leg of the GCT. “It’s great to win on home soil,” he says.
16. He may not have returned home with a medal this time around, but Scott and Hello Sanctos provided loyal owners Lord and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham with some very proud moments at the World Equestrian Games in France in September.
17. The biggest prize of all: in November 2013, Scott celebrated his 28th birthday by winning the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Doha, which helped him take the season title ahead of Christian Ahlmann and Laura Kraut. Next week (13-15 November), Scott will defend his title. Fingers crossed that he and Sanctos can continue their fantastic run of form and keep the British flag flying at the top of the world rankings!
