Skelton and Brash ride off with top prizes in Florida event

Scott Brash had the biggest win of his career on Saturday, scooping the top spot in the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix with Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof.

Then on Sunday, Nick Skelton and Tina Fletcher rounded off an excellent weekend for the British by taking the top two slots in the $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship.

Scott Brash, riding the 10-year-old bay gelding owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, saw off a field of more than 40 competitors. Eleven riders went through to the jump-off, with nine then clearing that course.

They included Tina Fletcher riding Ursula X11, an 11-year-old mare also owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham.

Brash’s time of 37.27 put him into first place with America’s Richard Spooner and Kent Farrington in second and third places respectively. Tina Fletcher finished in ninth place.

The $60,000 first place prize was Brash’s biggest win to date. He has only been riding this horse since the beginning of the year.

On Sunday Nick Skelton, riding Beverley Widdowson’s bay mare, Unique XVIII, took home the top prize with Tina Fletcher and Lady Harris’s bay gelding, Unique IX finishing in second place. There were 57 entries for the class with only six going clear. There were just two clear rounds in the jump-off. Fletcher rode first in the jump-off and went clear in 39.08 seconds to gain second place. Nick Skelton was fourth to go and jumped a clear round in 35.03 seconds to take the lead and win the competition.

Skelton was happy to end his week on a high note and Tina Fletcher was very pleased with her round on Unique IX. “He was good, I was really pleased with him,” said Fletcher. “I have had him for about a year, he is basically my second horse but he has done quite a bit. He jumped on a Nations Cup team last year and he has been good here.”

There are some well-known names lining up for Belton International Horse Trials which run from March 30 to April 1.

The event has attracted some top UK and international riders, who are keen to use this as a pre-Badminton test.

Among the riders who have entered are William Fox-Pitt, Mark Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Oliver Townend, Mary King, Blyth Tait, Pippa Funnell, Brook Staples, Lucy Wiegersma, Tina Cook and Paul Tapner.

Mark Phillips returns to design the three star and advanced cross country courses that run through the parkland of the Belton estate near Grantham.

He took over last year from Olympic course designer Sue Benson.

Other attractions over the weekend include a countryside day on the Saturday with gun dog and dog agility demonstrations, ferret racing and activities for children plus an Inter Hunt Relay.

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