Scott Brash, Team GB’s top showjumper, the world No 1 and the final British hope in the competition, has withdrawn from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen. The 28-year-old Scot was 36th overnight in the individual competition and it was felt that he and his horse, Hello Sanctos, were unlikely to catch the leaders.
At the London 2012 Olympics, Brash and Hello Sanctos won gold team medals and finished fifth in the individual competition.
A statement issued by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) said that the decision had been taken in consultation with Brash, as well as Lord and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, the owners of Hello Sanctos, plus the Great Britain chef d’equipe (Rob Hoekstra) and chef de mission (Will Connell).
“Scott Brash will unfortunately not be going forward to contest the individual round of the showjumping competition at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” the statement read.
“There is a lot of jumping still to do in the individual qualifying competition; a lot of ground to make up in the leaderboard and the likelihood of qualifying for the Individual final, with the standard of jumping here this week is not likely.
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“With the horse in mind and looking ahead to the forthcoming Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Barcelona, next year’s European Championships and beyond, the decision has been made to withdraw the horse from further competition this week.”
The British team of Brash, Michael Whitaker, Joe Clee and Spencer Roe did not qualify for today’s ten-nation team final, finishing well outside the qualifying places. Brash had been the only rider who had done enough to progress as an individual contender, and his withdrawal means there is no British showjumping interest left at the World Games.
The team result meant Britain failed to secure qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics, and they must now wait until next year’s European Championships for another opportunity.