Nick Skelton’s winning streak shows no sign of abating, with yet another Grand Prix win in Florida. This was his biggest yet, winning him a substantial prize pot of $150,000.
A total of 48 riders entered the class, and 11 combinations from eight different countries made it into the jump-off. But it was Nick’s round on Beverley Widdowson's Carlo 273 that proved to be unbeatable.
“I was sweating a bit at the end, to be honest,” said Nick. “I knew I didn't have the best draw. I went relatively early and the fast ones were at the end. Carlo jumped amazing; he was absolutely brilliant today."
Nick continued his form at the winter equestrian festival, providing Great Britain with their only double clear in the FEI Nations Cup, riding Big Star – another of Beverley's horses. In fact, the pair was one of only four to complete two faultless rounds. However, it wasn’t enough to give GB a top three placing.
Tina Fletcher had two down in the first round and one in the second, riding Ursula, while Ben Maher incurred nine faults riding Tripple X III, and then had one unlucky time penalty when he rode again. Both of Scott Brash's scores were dropped after he incurred 12 faults in the first round and eight in the second with Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof. The team finished on a total of 22 faults, which left them joint fourth with the USA.
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