Eventing generally is the least predictable of the Olympic equestrian sports, due to the quirks of cross-country. But heading into Sunday’s show jumping finale phase at the FEI World Championships, the standings were as predictable as they could be.
Favored Great Britain and Germany came through at Aachen on Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s twisting cross-country course to stand 1-2 in the team ranks, with 75.6 and 90 penalties. They are followed far back by Switzerland with 106.5. The U.S. is fifth on 112.3, moving up a notch from its position after the dressage phase.
Country-wise, those numbers would seem to eliminate a lot of the suspense about who takes home the medals. Since Britain and Germany can claim only one level each on the podium, there’s a tiny bit of drama in who gets the third spot. But a rail down here and there in show jumping and who knows, things may change. A little, anyway.
Individually, Germany and Britain also dominate. Germany’s Michael Jung is looking for his fourth world championships gold, standing as number one with fischer Chipmunk FRH on his 23-penalty dressage score. Britain’s three-time Badminton winner Ros Canter is just 0.4 penalties back with her dressage score of 23.4 on Lordships Graffalo, better known as Walter and considered by many the world’s best event horse.
Two more Brits, Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) are third and fourth (23.6 and 28.6).
I remember when Michael Jung first came to prominence at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. He didn’t want to speak English then as the media asked questions. Now he’s fluent, especially when rhapsodizing about his 18-year-old mount.
“firscher Chipmunk is an unbelievable horse. He’s powerful, he has a lot of stride. He was very good listening today, he was super with me in a good balance.”
Concerned about the making the optimum time, Michi pushed for it (there was a lot of elbow motion as he urged his horse on.)
“I asked him to go more forward and he did it,” Michi reported.
“He is fighting, he is galloping.”
The USA’s Will Coleman had a brilliant run with the perky Diabolo, coming in two seconds under the 9:50 optimum time to stand sixth on his dressage score of 30 penalties, going from twenty-first after that first phase to sixth. He is just 0.6 penalties back of Germany’s speedy Christoph Wahler, nine seconds under the optimum with D’Accord FRH.
Will Coleman and Diabolo (USEF photo)
The word of the day was “amazing” from Will, when he talked about his 14-year-old Holsteiner, an Australian import
Graciously, the Kentucky 5-star champion commented about Diabolo, “He was better than the rider today. I give him all the credit. He’s an amazing horse.”
From the first jump out of the start box, Diabolo was on his game.
Will — the only American to win eventing at Aachen (2021) noted that the venue offered “a really intense cross-country test…a bit frenetic,” and pointed out the horse had never been there before.
But then he said it again, “he was just amazing.”
Will said he got pointers from the riders from his squad that went before him. That included Caroline Pamukcu on the reliable HSH Blake, who dropped a leg at the upright brush at 17C, more than halfway through the 28-obstacle route. Caroline tipped off and was eliminated, but still offered “as much insight as she could give us.”
Her elimination means the team only has three riders. The British team suffered the same fate when Gemma Stevens had three refusals with Flash Cooley and had to leave the course. But even in a team of four, only three scores count, (the worst score is the drop score) and the Olympics only allows three on a team. So, good practice?
Tamie Smith stands eighteenth with Lillet 3, who had only 8 time penalties. She is not a member of the team; her mare is only 10 and was untested at championship level. But Will noted she was as much a part of things as any team member.
Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 (USEF Photo)
Of her Holsteiner’s performance, Tamie said, “She was everything I hoped she’d be. It was fast and furious. She’s such a cross-country machine it felt incredible.
She really didn’t have any idea of what to expect when she started out on the course that was “just so in your face. It was the unknown,” Tamie explained.
“I rode her like she was a seasoned horse and she acted like one. She fought all the way to the end, she fought for the whole time. I just kept patting her and telling her `good girl.’
“What a horse. She’s got a huge career ahead of her. I’m thrilled; she couldn’t have done better.”
Come back a little later for more details. Click here for individual results; click here for team results.
