THE formidable duo of Britain’s Scott Brash and Ireland’s Denis Lynch of Miami Glory soared to glory with a stunning win in front of packed crowds at the historic Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London, last Saturday.

The Berlin Lions team of Anna Kellnerova (Czech Republic) and Max Kuhner (Austria) was the only one to keep a clean sheet on day one, with a double clear that signalled a remarkable change of fortune for the team which is currently second from bottom.

Lynch rode his European Championship mount All Star 5 in Friday’s opening round and produced a clear round. He was joined by America’s Paris Sellon, who picked up five faults with Cassandra, and so finished with a total of five faults overnight.

Miami Glory introduced Brash alongside Lynch, this time with RMF Echo, and the pairing produced fantastic clear rounds to secure the win.

FOOT-PERFECT

Current league leaders Valkenswaard United, who were in seventh place over night, also made a change with Wexford’s Bertram Allen joining the team. He jumped a foot-perfect round with his championship mount Hector van d’Abdijhoeve. Along with Italy’s Alberto Zorzi, the pair fought back to claim second spot.

Speaking directly after the class, Brash said: “Both horses jumped amazingly today, so it was a great team effort,” with Lynch adding: “The pressure was on, but it was a great round.”

Team owner Georgina Bloomberg commented: “I am really proud of the boys today and Paris yesterday. It shows the depth of the team that we can come together and support each other.”

Valkenswaard United keep hold of the lead by the slimmest of margin, from Hamburg Diamonds, heading into the next leg, which will be at their home venue this weekend.

Brash went on to claim a home victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London, just one place ahead of his teammate Ben Maher, and almost five years to the day that the pair won an Olympic gold medal in the city.

Co Tipperary’s Denis Lynch continued his good run when standing third on the podium.

Eleven combinations went through to the second round and Lynch set the target when he flew around with All Star 5, delighting the British crowd by kicking up his heels and giving a playful buck after jumping the last in 39.85 seconds.

The crowd went wild as the Brash cantered into the ring on Hello Forever, second last to go. There was a gasp as he successfully completed a handbrake turn into fence five, but he galloped around the remainder of the course to go into first with a heart-pounding time of 38.62.

British flags were already flying in the packed grandstands as Ben Maher entered the ring. He went for it and there was a hair’s breadth between him and Brash as he galloped to the last on MTF Madame X. Horse and rider cleared the fence to a roar from the crowd in a time of 38.86 – a mere 0.4 seconds slower than Brash but good enough for a British one-two.

Speaking afterwards, Lynch said: “I’ve got two great horses so expectations are quite high for things to go well. I’m delighted with both horses. It’s not the quickest horse, we’re all aware of that, it went my way.

“I added less stride maybe here and there. The horse that came after me had a quicker horse across the fence. But I’m delighted with my horse, and on to the next one.”

There are only three stages left on the 15-event championship race as the tour heads to Valkenswaard in the Netherlands.

Harrie Smolders remains at the top of the leaderboard on 263 points, edging away from Alberto Zorzi in second on 245 points and Christian Ahlmann in third on 220 points.

JOHN WHITAKER INJURY

There was an anxious moment for the crowd as national hero John Whitaker was taken to hospital after suffering a crushing fall during the Grand Prix, on his 62nd birthday. Despite starting off well on the nine-year old Cassinis Chaplin, the stallion put in a sudden refusal, unseating John over the fence.

Screens were erected around Whitaker and he was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up, but his son Robert later reported he was thankfully recovering.