Great Britain
Britain’s
number one rider Robert Smith, son of Harvey Smith, ledgendary showjumper
of the 70’s, roared back to success in the western European League
when coming second with Mr Springfield, a bundle of explosive energy, to
Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet Du Rouet in the Penultimate qualifier at ‘S-Hertogenbosch.
Hours later Robert rode the Stallion Marius Claudius to win the Dutch Grand
Prix in Holland. Prior to Indoor Brabant, nothing of any note, World Cup
wise had been seen from Smith in a while, who served on the British bronze
medal winning team for the 1997 European Championships, since his victory
in December at the Olympia World Cup with Marius Claudius. But with the
Concorde-sired stallion and the Irish bred Mr Springfield, winner of the
Credit Suisse Grand Prix at Zurich, Smith has got the best horse power he
has ever had. Robert rode his first Nations Cup for Great Britain in 1979.
Las Vegas World Cup Final 2003 has been Robert’s first appearance
in a World Cup final since 1987.