Brash helps GB team regain pride

GREAT Britain's showjumpers, including Scottish debutant Scott Brash, made an impressive start to their Meydan FEI Nations Cup campaign yesterday by claiming a podium place at La Baule in France.

The British team of Brash, Michael Whitaker, Mark Armstrong and Peter Charles finished equal-third with Germany, collecting 28,000 for their efforts.

It meant a promising launch to the reign of Britain's new world-class performance manager Rob Hoekstra, who has taken charge following last year's dismal Nations Cup series. Britain only avoided relegation to the second-tier promotional league on a technicality – and then a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

It all left Hoekstra seeking a strong opening in the eight-event competition – and his quartet delivered. Nations Cup holders France made the most of home advantage to take victory ahead of the USA. But the British contingent mounted a creditable challenge, led by Charles and Murka's Pom D'Ami, who jumped clear in both rounds.