I hope I’ve made Peebles proud with second Olympic gold

When Scott Brash took his second Olympic gold in Paris it prompted cheers hundreds of miles further north.

The 38-year-old is a proud Borderer and the people of Peebles were delighted with his triumph in the team showjumping.

“They’re just great,” said Scott. “Even as far as the local bakers making little empire biscuits with the medals on.”

There is also a statue in his honour and a post box painted gold to recognise the achievements of a local boy at the top of his sport.

If you missed it, Scott was the last member of Team GB to jump – after Ben Maher and Harry Charles – and went clear to secure the gold.

It followed up on his success in the same event at London 2012.

The Scot said there was a mix of emotions when he crossed the line.

“When I came through the finish there’s many different emotions that go through you – happiness is certainly one and joy and elation, but also relief,” he said.

“You don’t want to let the other lads down.

“You don’t want to let the team down behind you, I mean, there’s an enormous team behind us.”

Scott certainly did the grooms, owners, sponsors, physios and farriers proud.

“I think I’ll probably never ride a more important round than that last round that I had to ride to help us win,” he admitted.

He said the Paris games were “absolutely fantastic” in the “incredible setting” of Versailles and it was all capped with their surprise win.

“I think, to be fair, we were probably a bit more the underdogs,” he said.

“There were some real strong nations this year. Germany were very strong, Sweden, Holland, USA, they were probably the favourites.

“I think with the bookmakers we were 25/1 or 33/1 – something like that – so we were far from favourites.”

The secret, though, was a close-knit team who got on very well.

“We were quietly confident of our own capabilities and knowing that we are a good team in ourselves,” he said.

“We did think that anything could happen on the day and that proved to be right in the end.”

Scott missed out on a medal in the individual event but already has his eyes on Los Angeles in four years time.

“I don’t want to stop yet, you know,” he said.

He said his success showed that anything was possible.

“No dream is a silly dream,” he said.

“You have got to go for it and work hard and try your best.”

He said you needed “a bit of luck” and good support but you also had to be “determined and hungry”.

Scott also counts himself lucky to have such great backing in the Borders.

“The people of the community of Peebles have been absolutely fantastic to me,” he said.

“I really can’t thank them enough.

“They’re amazing, and every time I come home – and it really does feel like home – they’re just great.”

He said he hoped he had made people proud and work was ongoing at his family stables in the Borders to produce the next showjumping “superstar horse”.

“We still have stables up in Scotland that we’re still producing young horses from,” he said

“Then when they’re old enough and established enough they come down into the training yards.”

Another gold to add to the two he already owns would be reward for these efforts.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into the horses as everyone that has a horse knows,” he said.

“There’s a lot of early mornings and late nights and cold, cold days.

“But the success that can come and the joy that you can get with you and your horse – it means everything and it means all those days are worthwhile.”