Scott Brash
Popular British rider Scott Brash will be aiming for a win at this week's CHI Al Shaqab, an event that has also attracted world number one Daniel Deusser of Germany and compatriot Christian Ahlmann.
Scott, Great Britain's gold medal-winning show jumper at the London Olympic Games, is one of dozens of riders competing at the three-day event that kicks off at Al Shaqab Arena today.
"I'd love to win here at Al Shaqab," Brash said yesterday.
"I am looking forward to another good week of solid riding," he added. "I have been here a few times so I know what to expect," the 31-year-old said.
Excerpts from a chat with the British rider:
Q: What kind of form are you bringing into this event?
A: I have been competing since the start of January. I am looking forward to another week of solid riding. Even if it is not a five-star show, the horses try to produce a good result before they come to a place like Al Shaqab. I always have some place to go and here I am. I have been here a few times so I know what to expect. The facilities (in Doha) have always been run fantastically. The sport here has always been of a high standard. It is a wonderful place. Yes, it will be highly challenging. It will be a technical course this week and I think Grand Prix course will be tough. It is going to be an exciting week.
Q: Who do you think will be your main competitors?
A: There are so many, to be honest. They are in great form. I think anyone can win. The Germans are being going well off lately. Christian Ahlmann and Janne Meyer Friederike are there. Qatar's Sheikh Ali won here in Qatar last week so he is in great form as well. Competing on home soil always gives you an added boost. Then there is John Whitaker so yeah, a lot of top names here.
Q: What are the goals for you this season?
A: I'd love to win here at Al Shaqab, first of all. Then I will be targeting the Global Champions Tour this year. Then there are European Championships at the end of the year. There's plenty to look forward to this year.
Q: With the tour expanding rapidly, how do you manage the travelling aspect?
A: Well, you need to have a string of horses. You need to have top team managers and the top owners and that's they key in your success. You have to manage yourself. You have to pick which horses are going to go well for each venue and make a plan for each horse so that they jump enough so that they don't get rusty. You have to be a good manager as well.
Q: Are you happy with more events on the LGCT calendar?
A: There are 15 right now. It's really well organised. They are the best shows to go to. It is great for our sport that it keeps expanding.
Q: Which part is most difficult for the riders as the tour expands?
A: What I said was we do a lot of flying. We fly to Miami and then we fly to Shanghai so we have to look at the condition of the horses. Sometimes we fly only seven hours. In that scenario the horses come off the planes fresh and for a rider that's very rewarding. Sometimes when you go to Shanghai, it takes a couple of days for the horses to rest and they want to sleep all day (smiles).
Q: Which are most favoured show jumping stops?
A: I think when I came here for the first time a few years ago, I thought the stands were very quiet compared to European shows. The atmosphere wasn't there. You were at the world's best facility and there was no atmosphere. But that changed really quickly in 3-4 years. The atmosphere is already growing. We see a lot more people in the stands. That's a great sign that people are really supporting this sport.
They are enjoying the sport as they understand the game. It is very similar in China when I first went there. It was quiet. The riders over there, they didn't know a lot. Now they are really picking up. In Qatar, now they are top of the sport. In the Olympics, I think Qatar were fantastic. They are really a country to reckon with for many years to come. It is great to see our sport raising its profile. It is nice to see places like Al Shaqab broaden our audiences. Our sport has really grown in the last few years.
