Skelton confirms bid to emulate Brash by winning Rolex Grand Slam

Olympic champion Nick Skelton will make an assault on showjumping’s richest prize – the Rolex Grand Slam – his major post-rio target.

Skelton has confirmed his ambition of emulating London 2012 gold medal-winning Great Britain colleague Scott Brash by landing an £830,000 jackpot.

The lucrative bonus is won by any rider that claims consecutive victories at arguably world showjumping’s three most prestigious grands prix – Geneva, Aachen and Spruce Meadows in Calgary.

Brash, of Peebles, completed the treble with Hello Sanctos last September, and 58-yearold Skelton – Britain’s first individual showjumping gold medallist in Olympic history – will now aim his Rio ride Big Star at a possible clean sweep.

Former world No 1 Brash is the only showjumper to have accomplished a Grand Slam, but given Skelton’s performance in Rio last month, it is unquestionably an attainable feat.

First on Skelton’s agenda is the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona later this month – he will be joined by Great Britain teammates Brash, John Whitaker, Michael Whitaker and Tim Stockdale – before building towards Geneva in December.

“We will have a few weeks off now in terms of competitions, and then Big Star will go to Barcelona and a couple of other shows, followed by Geneva,” Skelton said.

“The Rolex Grand Slam is definitely the aim now.” 0 Nick Skelton: Won individual showjumping gold in Rio.