SCOTLAND’S LEADING showjumper Scott Brash, from Peebles, who is on the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) World Class Development Programme, has just returned home after triumphing on the Sunshine Tour.

At the CSI *** Vejer de la Frontera show in Spain, Scott Brash riding his father Stanley’s 11-year-old black gelding Intertoy Z won the grand prix and also winning first place in a *** class riding Sebastian III at the start of the Tour.

“It was great experience to be on the same bill as other top international riders and I’m delighted with how it went. To win a 3* grand prix just topped it all off brilliantly,” said Scott. “The support I get from the World Class Programme has been instrumental in my success and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The Sunshine Tour is five weeks of competition held in Vejer de la Frontera in Spain, during February and March each year and this year was the 16th year the tour has run.

The World Class Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. It comprises the Performance and Development programmes plus the equine pathway.

The aim of the programme is to have in place a sustainable system that can deliver more medals on the international stage now and in the future. The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.