Nick Skelton remains on blistering form at the moment, picking up two major wins at the Washington International Horse Show in America last week - including the $100,000 President's Cup.

Unstoppable Carlo 

Partnering the talented 10-year-old grey gelding Carlo, owned by Beverley Widdowson, Nick was the only ride to jump double clear in the 1.60m President's Cup Grand Prix. Jumping one of only four clears in the first round, they were last to go in the jump-off and were the only combination to jump clear again, picking up just two time faults to take the win.

"I don’t like those jump offs when there are no clears and you have to go last," Skelton said afterwards. "You can make a mistake. If they had all been clear, at least you can go in there and go faster, but when you are in that position you have to be careful. I prefer to have other clears, to have to go fast and attack. Also the time was very tight, so I got two time faults."

For their victory, Nick and Carlo were presented with the President of the United States Perpetual Cup. Nick also won the Leading Jumper Rider and was presented with a Rolex watch.

Best of Britain

Having been announced as the best International Combination of the Year at the British Showjumping Awards, it was a great week for Nick Skelton. The success comes at the end of a brilliant season for the Warwickshire rider, who he helped Britain to win two bronze medals at the FEI European Jumping Championships.

Earlier in the week, Nick partnered the bay mare Unique XVIII to third place in the Top Score competition. The following day the pair were the only combination to clear seven foot (2.13m) in the puissance to take the title. 

Here Nick talking about his talented string of horses and his hopes for 2012 in our interview from HOYS.   

Great Scott

Fellow British rider Scott Brash from Peeblesshire in Scotland also picked up several results through out the week, and finished sixth in the Grand Prix with Elizabeth McTaggart’s 10-year-old gelding Bon Ami II.

We caught up with Scott at HOYS in October.

Washington President’s Cup

Grand Prix

Saturday 29^th October 2011

1^st Nick Skelton riding Carlo – 0/2 in 46.32 seconds

2^nd Brianne Goutal riding Nice de Prissey – 0/4 in 43.00 seconds

3^rd Lucy Davies riding Nemo 199 – 0/8 in 39.74 seconds

4^th Margie Engle riding Indigo – 0/8 in 40.41 seconds

5^th Richie Moloney riding Slieveanorra – 4 faults

6^th Scott Brash riding Bon Ami II – 4 faults

7^th Laura Kraut riding Teirra – 4 faults