Jan Brink is one of three riders who has been bestowed with a brand new title by the Swedish Equestrian Federation: "Elite Rider". A special celebration ceremony was held at the Swedish Riders Gala in Stockholm on 2 December 2023.
The three riders who received the "Elite Rider" title for the first time are legends of Swedish equestrian sport: they are dressage rider Jan Brink, show jumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, and eventing rider Piia Pantsu.
The title was established by the Vocational Examination Committee and Riding School and Training Section of the Swedish NF. The award is a way for the Swedish Equestrian Association to thank these stars for their efforts as trainers of horses and riders, as well as for their own riding career. The award was handed out by the Swedish Equestrian Association's chairman Sandra Ruuda at the Friends Arena.
Jan Brink was was first selected for the Swedish dressage team in 1989. He came to prominence and built his business on producing young stallions, at the same time as Swedish show jumping Olympic medallist Rolf Göran Bengtsson. Brink won seven international championship medals, with three different horses: Kleber Martini, Björsells Fontana and Björsells Briar. He won individual European silver in 2003. He also won 32 international Grand Prix classes, including the Aachen Grand Prix championship in 2005, beating Anky van Grunsven and Salinero. His final international championship was the 2009 World Cup final in Las Vegas in April, where he also retired his top horse Briar 899 after ten years of international competition. He has trained numerous students to success, including Minna Telde and Marina Mattsson.
Photo © Kim Lundin
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