H&H caught up with British showjumper Scott Brash after the speed competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Poor Scott, who has been struggling with a nasty bout of food poisoning, had a pole down today to add 4sec to his overall time.
Scott tells us how the British team members making their championship debut have been settling in and how all the British riders help one other.
“I think it was my own fault [having a pole down] really,” said Scott. “I was just a touch too deep on the turn back. It’s one of those things. It does happen — he’s not invincible. He does have fences down the odd time. Hopefully we will go and improve on that.
“It’s about speed today, so even with four seconds to add we’ve finshed on 85sec. There are three on 85sec so we’re not a million miles away.
“[Jo Clee and Spencer Roe] have done a fantastic job at their first championships. They rode fantastic and jumped clear rounds. What more can you ask? It’s brilliant for them. We all try to help each other and do the best we can.
“It’s disappointing [to have lost some of our top partnership in the run up to WEG]. Ben and Cella are an unbelievable combination to have on your team and it’s a loss, but the other guys have done a great job. They’ve delivered today.”
The speed leg was won by Irish teenager Bertram Allen, 19, the youngest rider competing in the showjumping at WEG. Bertram was riding Molly Malone V. France’s Patrice Delaveau with Orient Express HDC was second with Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet third riding Conrad De Hus.
Britain sit 11th in the team event, after clear rounds from Michael Whitaker (Viking), Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Eccaussines), Spencer Roe (Wonder Why).
