Revitalised Smith eyeing return to showjumping's grand stage

"It's a good time to have a good horse," says Scott, who is based at Thorne near Doncaster. With the backing of new sponsors and owners, the former British team member is feeling confident.

He is pinning his Olympic hopes on the seven-year-old Holstein-bred Quintus, owned by Mike and Judy Studd from Darrington. "Without doubt Quintus has Olympic potential and is a championship class horse," says Scott. "We have very high hopes for him and he will not be rushed. We will see how the next 18 months develop in terms of London 2012."

Scott, 35, last represented Great Britain in 2005 and jumped internationally in 2006.

After travelling around the world competing for 10 years he took a step back from competing at the top level to develop his business, buying and producing young horses. He also set up a business that manages syndicates for showjumping horses.

Now he's raring to go again. "I needed a break and I feel re-vitalised. I feel it's all about to happen again."

As a teenager Scott won several national titles and European championship medals with ponies and was Junior Showjumper of the Year before he was 16.

He went on to establish himself in senior competitions and worked with Mike Dawson at the Allerthorpe Farm Stud at Barmby Moor near York. During this time, Scott rode in 35 Nations Cup teams and competed at the World Equestrian Games and the European Championships. In 2002 he was ranked No2 in Great Britain. He was well known at this point for his partnership with the stallion Cabri d'Elle and is now working with one of his descendants, Winston XIV. The young stallion will be standing at stud for the first time next year at the Upsall Stud in North Yorkshire.

Winston, who is showing signs of becoming a top showjumper, will combine stud duties with competing next year.

When Scott's partnership with Mike Dawson came to an end, he decided to take a step back. The break gave him a chance to pursue other equestrian interests including breeding and producing young horses.

Now starting out again, he is optimistic about the future for British showjumping.

"There is a culture of change – there's a new team manager, a new British Showjumping board, younger riders coming through and more prize money on offer," he said.

More events such as the new Yorkshire International Showjumping Event to be held in Sheffield mext year will also make a difference.

" I genuinely believe that Quintus will have a chance of going to London 2012 and we are looking for other horses," said Scott. "Hopefully, next year's Champions Tour will be in our sights as part of the bigger plan to get back into competitive showjumping at top level."

London Olympics driving on Fox-Pitt

William Fox-Pitt is looking forward to finishing off the season in style – and then making sure he gets a 2012 Olympic squad place.

The British eventing star admits he has enjoyed the best season of his career and could end up nearly 100,000 richer after this weekend's final event of the season in Pau.

And that is no mean achievement, given the 41-year-old's illustrious career has already harvested a considerable collection of Olympic, European and world championship medals.

Fox-Pitt is in pursuit of the HSBC FEI Classics title and its 93,500 pay-day, which rewards the most successful rider across world eventing's annual four-star events at Kentucky, Badminton, Luhmuhlen, Burghley and Pau. He was crowned Classics champion two years ago, and now looks set to reclaim the crown from British rival Oliver Townend.

Fox-Pitt began 2010 by winning the Kentucky four-star on Cool Mountain, then followed it up with second place at Burghley aboard Seacookie before landing the Blenheim Palace International title on Parklane Hawk.

The success story did not end there, though, as his return to Kentucky on Cool Mountain last month netted world team gold and individual silver.

He is hoping his form will continue and earn him a 2012 Olympic place.

"I wouldn't have imagined the year turning out as well as it has," Fox-Pitt said. "I've had the best season of my career. Things have gone very well – it has been very exciting.

"You strive to achieve more and to learn more, and if I wasn't hungry I don't think I would be doing it.

"London 2012, it is every athlete's dream to be there, and putting myself in a good position to be selected is what is driving me.

"If selected to go to London, I hope to be in with a good chance. It's all made of dreams, isn't it?"

Yorkshire's Townend, meanwhile has not enjoyed such a good year. After achieving the stellar feat of winning Badminton and Burghley on different horses last year, 2010 has not gone entirely to plan.

Wilson picture to launch Bramham Horse Trials

A picture of Nicola Wilson and Bee Diplomatic at the Sunday morning vet's inspection at Bramham International Horse Trials will feature on the cover of next year's programme.

The picture was taken by Sara Reynard from Botcheston in Leicestershire and has been chosen as the winner of this year's photographic competition.

Over 300 photographs were entered for the competition.

The judges said they thought the picture captured a feeling of Yorkshire with the famous Bramham clock tower, a well-known Yorkshire rider and the Yorkshire rose marked on the horse's hind quarters.

Sara is a member of the team that organises the vet's inspections at the horse trials and said: "I wanted to try and capture the beauty and features of Bramham Park, as well as capturing the feeling of the competition."

Next year's Bramham International Horse Trials will be held from June 2 to 5.

LAURA RENWICK and Oz de Breve's outstanding victory at the Horse of the Year Show in the Leading Showjumper of the Year competition has been voted British Showjumping's Performance of the Month for October.

Laura, the last to go in the jump-off, produced the fastest double clear round of the competition to win, beating a world class line-up of riders.

The award recognises the achievements of riders, horses and their owners. Oz de Breve is owned by David Perry.

CW 6/11/10