Great Britain's Scott Brash and the 16-year-old gelding Hello Jefferson (Cooper van de Heffinck x Irco Mena, bred by Bernard Mols, owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham) won Sunday’s CSIO5* 1.60m CPKC 'International', presented by Rolex, at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ 2025 in Calgary, Canada.

The third Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – with an unprecedented prize pot of 5 million CAD on the occasion of Spruce Meadows’ 50th anniversary – was a thriller, where the best of the best prevailed, with Brash taking another Major-title. A fitting celebration seeing that this year's edition of the 'Masters' marked ten years since Brash became the only rider to have ever won the Rolex Grand Slam-title. 

After jumping clear in the first round, Brash had to see four faults added to his score the second time out. “When we had the ditches down in the second round, I thought that was it, over – it just shows what a test it was,” Brash explained. But, as no one else managed to keep the poles up over course designer Leopoldo Palacios' demanding second-round track, Brash ended up tied with Kyle King on four faults which resulted in a jump-off to decide the title, trophy and the incredible first prize of 1,650,000 CAD. 

Going first, Brash posted an immaculate round in the seven-fence jump-off. Getting a perfect roll-back to the wall at fence three, he slowed down to the following double before cantering down to the final CPKC oxer, to cross the finish line in 46.97 seconds. King followed, taking a more daring approach, and did best Brash’s time – however, on the cost of the Canada-plank falling, leaving the title with Brash and Hello Jefferson. Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy took third, behind King in second.

Having won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping at this very venue in 2015, Brash was overwhelmed with emotion after taking another Major-title. “Shocked, surprised and delighted to be sitting here,” he said at the press conference. “I thought my day was over, but thankfully we got another chance. I’m just absolutely delighted for my horse, I think more than anything, he deserves a title. He has been such a good horse for so many years, we have had ups and downs, but he has been a fantastic horse so I think it is great he got the title now.”

Brash also praised his owners, and said: “It is the 8th time for my owners Lord and Lady Harris to be winning this Grand Prix. I have been so lucky with my owners to have fantastic horses like Sanctos, Ursula and now Jefferson, and to be able to win this Grand Prix. It is hard enough to have a horse capable of jumping this class, let alone winning it. I have been very lucky in my life."

And with these words, we look back at how it all played out for Brash in the CPKC 'International', presented by Rolex, with highlights from the first and second round, the jump-off, as well as some of the magic behind the scenes, and finally the celebrations during the prize giving ceremony. As the new live contender in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, all eyes will be on Brash as he heads to Geneva in December – up for a bonus of 500,000 Euros should he win this prestigious Swiss Grand Prix which is the last Major of 2025.

Last but not least, we would like to congratulate Brash and his whole team – especially David Honnet, long-time groom to Brash, who is one in a million!

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