by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 4, 2021
The Olympic show jumping medalists are pictured at the top of the page, as the discipline’s individual competition wrapped up in Tokyo. Read the blog to get the timeline of how it all happened.
It’s 6 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the individual show jumping medals are at stake in the impressive arena at Baji Koen Equestrian Park in Tokyo. The 30 who qualified yesterday will be riding over a bigger, but just as beautiful, course designed by the brilliant Spaniard, Santiago Varela. (He created a PC, a perfect course, for the qualifier, with clear jumping rounds–four had time faults–to come up with the top 30.)
Everyone today starts with a clean slate; no faults carry over.
I’ll be blogging in reverse order, with the most recent rides at the top of the story. (the faster riders from yesterday’s qualifier go later in the class). At the bottom of the page is a map of the first-round route the riders will take,with a time allowed of 88 seconds. The course is larger than yesterday’s qualifier, and we see many different fences that reflect the culture of the host country. There is the sushi vertical, complete with chopsticks; a Japanese gong and the kabuki triple. The obstacles are all works of art.
Don’t look for an American starter. Each of the three who rode yesterday (Laura Kraut, Kent Farrington and Jessie Springsteen) had the same rail down at the A element of the double, and Laura had 4 faults at the following obstacle as well. It’s a one-and-done way to qualify for the individual final that is not popular with the riders. Read their comments in the second feature story on this webpage.
On the bright side, at least the American horses will be fresh for the team competition Friday, when McLain Ward on Contagious will be up. The question is, who will be out, as only three members are permitted per team under the Tokyo format. Veteran Kent has an older horse; Jessie is in her first Olympics. So we’ll see.
Here’s how it shook out today.
7:50 a.m. EDT: The number one horse/rider combination in the world, Explosion W and Ben Maher, earn Olympic individual gold. Britain now is the sole nation so far that has medaled in all three disciplines at these Games (team gold in eventing, bronze in team and individual dressage.) Aside from Germany, it is the only country to have had back-to-back individual gold medalists (the now-retired Nick Skelton won in 2016).
Ben Maher and Explosion W. (Photo courtesy FEI)
For the second time in a row, Sweden’s Peder Fredricson is silver with the shoeless All In and the Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten on Beauville takes bronze.
Peder Fredricson and All In. (Photo courtesy FEI)
All six finalists in the jump-off were fault-free, pretty amazing, considering the challenge of eight jumping efforts that Santiago set for the tie-breaker, which had a 45-second time allowed, not to mention three verticals in the stratosphere at 1.65 meters.
Congratulating Ben, the 2012 Olympic team gold medalist, after his win was a raft of equestrian big names, from Paul Schockemohle of Germany and the USA’s McLain Ward to 2012 individual gold medalist Steve Guerdat of Switzerland.
Following his victory, Ben confessed, “I had a plan, but I don’t really remember it now, to be honest. The team believed that, by being fastest qualifier yesterday, I’d be last in the jump-off today and it threw me off a little bit that that wasn’t the case (he went fourth of six in the jump-off based on his time in today’s first round, not on his time in the qualifier.)
“I wanted to go in there knowing exactly what I had to do,” said Ben, “but Peter Charles and Scott Brash (his teammates from the London 2012 gold medal squad) were watching for me and they said `You’ve just got to go. Do what you’ve done on him in the past’. As I was going through the gate, I knew I didn’t want to be that person who came fourth. I wasn’t going to leave anything on the table.”
This, he realized, was his moment. He had an opportunity and an extraordinary horse who can leave from anywhere and jump a mountain..
“I’ve had many good horses in my career, but I won’t ride another one like him again, and that’s a big statement,” said Ben. “He’s just such an intelligent horse, a fun horse to be around, and he’s a real athlete. He’s not a normal horse. All the nerves that I had coming from the hotel today and when I got here, I came in through the gate and they just went away. I jumped fence one and something just clicks.”
He added, however, ““I don’t know what was more pressure, this or getting married in two weeks.”
Peder Fredricson, Ben Maher, Maikel van der Vleuten.
7:40 a.m. EDT: Here’s how the jump-off happened in the order in which the riders competed.
Daisuke Fukushima of Japan is careful with his guidance of Chanyon, a 13-year-old also by Chacco Blue, Explosion’s sire. His strategy adds up to a clean round in 43.76 seconds for the Japanese rider. It will be too slow for a medal. It’s always tough for the first on course.
Improving on that was Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson with Indiana, clean in 40.76, as she sought to be the first female individual gold medalist in Olympic show jumping.
She was followed by her teammate, Peder Fredricson, in 38.02, on All In. Ben Maher does just enough with Explosion to get him across the finish line in 37.85. Will that be good enough for gold?
Next to go, Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward can’t beat it in 39.71. The Swede is out of the medals. And the last starter, Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleueten with Beauville Z, is close enough to secure third place in 38.90.
Ben wins, Peder gets another silver and Maikel, 20th in Rio, is bronze. (He will learn the hard way that he can’t do the traditional kissing of his medal while wearing a Covid mask).
The jump-off course for the individual final.
Ben Maher and Explosion at the Kabuki triple
Here’s the first round, with the last trip listed first:
7:25 a.m. EDT: The number one horse/rider combo in the world, Britain’s Ben Maher and the Chacco Blue son Explosion W are qualified for the jump-off, which includes eight jumping efforts for six riders–half of them from Sweden! They are Peder Fredricson, hoping for a second consecutive individual medal (he was silver in Rio), Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Henrik van Eckermann. The other starters in the jump-off in a few minutes are Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands and Daisuke Fukushima of Japan, which will have his compatriots eagerly following his fate on their TVs, since a bid to have Japanese spectators at these Games failed because of Covid fears.
7:15 a.m.: Ireland’s Darragh Kenny has a rail at the double of walls and one at the gong jump with Cartello to put him out of the final. Californian Ashlee Bond, riding for Israel, drops a pole at the seventh fence with Donatello. What a shame–would have been nice to have someone from America in the jump-off, even if she is riding for another country.
Olympic team silver medalist Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands sets the rail in the final fence rolling, but it stays up. Clear on Beauville Z.
7:10 a.m. EDT: Mario Deslauriers has three rails with Bardolina. He is making his first Olympic appearance since 1988. As the only Canadian competing here, he won’t be seen again in this arena.
Bertram Allen of Ireland on the 9-year-old Pacino Amiro got tight to the first fence of the triple and had it down.
7:08 a.m. EDT: Luciana Diniz of Portugal was very fast, in 84.69 seconds with Vertigo du Desert, but a rail kept her out of the jump-off.
Niels Bruynseels of Belgium missed his start time because of a thrown shoe, but he didn’t get far when he got into the arena, as Delux Van T&L took offense to the fourth fence, the liverpool, and wouldn’t go near it. Eliminated.
7 a.m.: A round that left all the rails up was not good enough to get Britain’s Scott Brash into the jump-off; he and Jefferson were 0.45 over the time allowed for one time penalty. He was, he said simply, “Gutted.” at the outcome.
6:55 a.m. EDT: Rio individual silver medalist Peder Fredricson of Sweden is on track to go for another medal with All In. Three Swedes in the jump-off. What does that say about their chances for a team medal later in the week?
Jerome Guery of Belgium was going so well with Quel Homme de Hus until his horse refused at the last, the Olympic mascot fence featuring creatures named Miraitowa and Someity. He has four penalties for jumping, three for time.
How can this be? Two rails down for world number one Daniel Deusser of Germany and the usually spectacular Killer Queen.
6:50 a.m. EDT: Brazil’s Yuri Mansur has two down with Alfons. He’ll be back with the team.
6:45 a.m.: Britain’s Harry Charles had a rail at number 5, the sushi fence (which is complete with chopsticks) and then two more come down and he retires with Romeo 88.He may not be on the team Friday, as Holly Smith at the moment is tabbed to step in with Ben and Scott Brash, who also were the teammates of Harry’s father, Peter Charles on the 2012 Olympic gold medal team.
And one more for the jump-off, another Swede. Malin Baryard Johnsson on Indiana. Could she become the first female Olympic individual gold medalist in this discipline?
6:40 a.m. EDT:The only French rider in this round, Nicolas Delmotte, had a rail and time with Urvoso du Roch.
Daisuke Fukushima scores for the home side with a perfect trip on Chanyon. There are a few people in the stands; owners, grooms, staff, other riders, and they give a big cheer.
Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima and Chanyon. (Photo courtesy FEI)
But can you imagine what a packed stadium would have sounded like, had it not been for those Covid restrictions? Japan hasn’t won a show jumping medal since 1932. This rider, number 600 in the world, is set for the jump-off, which so far includes only Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden..
6:35 a.m. EDT: This is the fabulous Clooney, who has a great journey with Marcus Fuchs until the last two fences come down. So much for the pairing that was the betting favorite for gold.
6:30 a.m. EDT: The second fence goes for Kristaps Neretnieks of Latvia with Valour. He has been a pioneer for his nation at this level of the sport, but three rails and a time penalty mean he doesn’t qualify for the jump-off I presume we’ll have before the medals can be distributed
6:25 a.m. EDT: Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden is aboard King Edward, who is competing without shoes, as is his teammate All In, Peder Fredricson’s ride. Perhaps that is the ticket, as he is our first clear trip over these fabulously telegenic fences.
London Olympic medalist Mark Houtzager of the Netherlands is delayed when Dante needs a shoe replaced. Not the best thing to happen during your warm-up. Perhaps that affected his performance; which involved having three fences down and a single time penalty.
6:15 a.m. EDT:Koki Saito of Japan on the stallion Chilensky . The Japanese riders are based in Germany to sharpen their skills. He had just one rail down at the second part of the double and a single time penalty
Ireland’s Olympic medalist Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny are the first entry to go that did not have time penalties in the qualifier. He has one today, though, finishing in 88.45 seconds, just 0.45 over the time allowed, but his horse leaves all the rails in place.
However, Kilkenny, who finished seventh, had a very visible nosebleed during his round. That is not cause for elimination–unlike bleeding in the mouth. However, Cian said although his horse “recovered well” and could participate in the team competition Friday, he is thinking of Kilkenny’s welfare and therefore will not ride him in the team competition.
“For me, his future’s more important,” said Cian, who plans to help the other Irish team members.
. “We’ll be back to fight again another day.”
Today’s first course.
6:10 a.m. EDT: Geir Gulliksen of Norway retires before the final three fences after collecting 24 penalties with Quatro. He is not part of a Norwegian team (there isn’t one), so this is the last appearance here for the 61-year-old rider.
Eiken Sato, who was taught to ride by a monk, topples four fences with Saphyr du Lacs for the home side of Japan. Were there fans in the stands (prohibited by Covid measures) you would have heard the moans of disappointment.
Swiss veteran Beat Mandli had trouble, including a foot in the water with Dsarie, and elected to withdraw, saving his horse for the team competition that starts Friday. Egypt’s Mouda Zeyada had two rails with Galanthos SHK.
6:05 a.m. EDT: Daniel Meech of New Zealand is the pathfinder on Cinca 3, collecting 12 penalties with two time penalties. He also had two time penalties yesterday.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 3, 2021
After the U.S. team failed to medal in eventing at the Tokyo Games, there was a lot of soul-searching and discussion about what went wrong.
Get ready for more discussion; no U.S. show jumper will be in tomorrow’s final for the individual medals.
So much is different about this Olympics and that includes the format for the jumpers. The individual jumping comes first, before the team, and today’s class was the only way to qualify for the individual, instead of building throughout the Games so there was more than one chance to make the cut.
All three Americans–Olympic first-timer Jessie Springsteen on Don Juan van de Donkohoeve, Kent Farrington aboard the very accomplished Gazelle and Laura Kraut with her new ride, Baloutinue–had a rail at 13 A, the first part of a double that was part of the next-to-last obstacle on the course. Laura also had a rail at the final fence, which came after the double.
The errors meant none of them made the top 30 list culled from a starting field of 73.
“That didn’t go as planned,” Kent said in a masterpiece of understatement.
Kent Farrington and Gazelle. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Equestrian)
“A harsh reality of our sport is one rail down and you’re out. The new format here being that this is the qualifier for the individual final, which is tomorrow, so it’s kind of all or nothing. Unfortunately for the American team right now, it’s nothing. So a tough night for the Americans.”
Of the back rail at the oxer that Gazelle toppled, Kent said, “I think it was just a cheap fault. Any horse can have a rail down. Unfortunately, it was the wrong day to have one down. It was a costly night. I think we just had bad luck, that’s the reality.”
In the past Olympics, where scores were cumulative, there was an opportunity to correct the situation. With this format, “if something goes wrong in the first round, it’s finished,” he said.
He’s not second-guessing the situation, though.
“I try to compete under what guidelines they give us. Under different circumstances, maybe it would work to our advantage. Tonight it didn’t,” said Kent.
“I’m not blaming the format. We just needed a better performance.
Laura said her plan worked until 13A..
“He had sort of an uncharacteristic touch of a back pole, I haven’t ridden him that long, but he almost never does that. I’d say I lost maybe a bit of concentration or focus to the last but just didn’t fight as much as I should have. He barely touched that.”
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (Photo courtesy U.S Equestrian)
“I’m not disappointed in him at all, probably just disappointed in the score,” she said.
And then there’s the way things were set up for qualification purposes.
“The majority, if not all, the riders were against this format. I don’t have sour grapes, because we all have to do it,” Laura pointed out.
“A lot will come at the end of this as to whether it was a good idea or not. I do have to say I would have appreciated when you had two and three scores that accumulated to get you in the top 30, and not just sort of a one-and-done type day.”
Jessie said she was looking forward to the rest of the week with her “super brave” horse.
“He’s so talented, he does everything so easy. He really gives me a lot of confidence when he’s going in the ring. It’s not only my first Olympics, but also my first championship. You definitely feel a little bit more jitters going in.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 3, 2021
Another contingent of U.S. riders is taking to the arena at Baji Koen Equestrian Park today to compete in the first qualifier for the individual show jumping medals, the opposite of the usual order, when the team goes first, as it did in dressage and eventing.
There are 73 starters, a list that includes dozens of standouts as well as some who have come simply for the experience. Each country will field all its riders in the same group.
The top 30 will qualify for the individual medal finals tomorrow, when everyone will start on zero penalties.
On the U.S. side, Kent Farrington (Gazelle), Jessie Springsteen (Don Juan van de Donkhoever) and Laura Kraut (Baloutinue) are competing. McLain Ward, the fourth member of the squad, is on hold until the team competition later in the week.
I expect Kent, ranked fifth in the world, to be a key contender for the gold with his longtime partner, Gazelle; along with the number one horse and rider combination in the world, Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Explosion W and world number one on the Longines rider ranking list, Daniel Deusser of Germany with Killer Queen, a horse we saw during the U.S.circuit in Wellington, Fla.
You can’t list the major players without mentioning Martin Fuchs of Switzerland (Clooney 51); who is world number two and another Swiss, Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerisy), world number 3. Watch out for Laura Kraut. She and her mount are a new combination, but her experience cannot be underestimated and the horse is something special.
There is no defending champion, since the 2016 individual gold medalist, Nick Skelton of Great Britain, has retired. And Canada’s Eric Lamaze, who has medical issues, did not go to Tokyo. Peder Fredricson of Sweden, the silver medalist in Rio five years ago, is riding All In. They are the number 10 combination in the world.
Below is a look at the course put together by Santiago Varela of Spain for the first qualifier, which has 73 starters who will jump fences as high as 1.60 meters and a time allowed of 89 seconds. Santiago, you will remember from yesterday, also did perfectly planned stadium jumping routes for eventing.
The fences are lovely and just challenging enough for a qualifer, with jumps evocative of the country where the competition is being held. We have a fence flanked by a very lifelike model of a hefty sumo wrestler, then there’s the Tokyo skyline, origami (the Japanese paper-folding art) and gold fish (Japanese koi). We also see the Olympic logo, and to start, the Sugarloaf mountain from Rio de Janeiro, where the 2016 Games were held.
It’s 6 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 7 p.m. in Tokyo, where there’s a 13-hour time difference from the East Coast of the U.S.. Let’s get going with the last of the Olympic equestrian disciplines to be contested at the 2020 Games being held in 2021. The most recent scores will be at the top of the blog, so scroll down if you want to see how everyone did, starting with the first rider. If you want to watch the highlights, they will be on NBC at noon today and on NBCSN at 3:15 this afternoon. Things can change, however, so remember, nothing is in concrete on the Olympic viewing schedule.
9:50 a.m. EDT: We have finished the first day of Olympic show jumping competition, and it’s been a tough one for the U.S. riders, none of whom will be in tomorrow’s individual medal finals. How did I do with my predictions about the individual medals? Americans Kent Farrington and Laura Kraut don’t figure for that now, ditto Steve Guerdat, but my other faves, Ben Maher, Daniel Deusser and Martin Fuchs, are still playing. The course designer did a fabulous job. There were 30 places available for tomorrow’s competition, and 30 riders went without jumping penalties, though five had time faults but made the cut.
9:45 a.m. EDT: The last to go in the class was Bruce Goodin of New Zealand on Danny V, who had 12 jumping and one time. That finish ironically left a place for his teammate, Daniel Meech to qualify as the final person to make the cut with no faults jumping and two time on Cinca 3.
9:45 a.m.: German Christian Kukuk, who works at the stable of Olympic multi-medalist Ludger Beerbaum, made his Olympic debut on Mumbai, a lovely gray. A rail fell at the difficult Olympic logo fence that has caused so much trouble, but otherwise, a nice round.
The Olympic logo fence was the undoing of Syria’s Ahmad Saber Hamcho when Deville toppled rails there and had her head down in the process, and the rider fell off. So did the bridle, and Deville calmly dragged it to the ingate to meet her groom.
Jerome Guerry of Belgium on Quel Homme de Hus was clear while Kamil Papousek of the Czech Republic retired on Warness. The Netherlands Maikel van der Vleuten is clear on Beuville 2; Samuel Parot of Chile on Dubai will go no further after a 4-fault score.
9:30 a.m. EDT: Arggghhh. The U.S. won’t have a rider in the individual medal finals. Laura Kraut had a rail at 13A, the same oxer at the double that got her teammates, Kent and Jessie, and dropped a pole at the last fence as well with her new mount, Baloutinue. She doesn’t know him that well, but had been doing beautifully with him since he came her way in April. Another disappointment for USA. Hard to believe with such strong horse/rider combinations.
9:25 a.m.: Andre Thieme of Germany, who won several of the HITS million $$ grands prix and is a familiar face in the U.S., had a rail when his horse veered at the Olympic logo fence during an otherwise good round on Chakaria.
New Zealander Uma O’Neill on Clockwise of Greenhill Z logged three rails and one time.
9:20 a.m.: Gregory Wathelet of Belgium, a member of the 2019 European Championships team, is clear with Nevados S. The former Young Rider European Champion in eventing converted to show jumping, Ales Opatrny of the Czech Republic, had 4 on Forewer.
9;15 a.m. EDT: Katie Laurie of Australia wisely retired after having four rails and the water with Casebrooke Lomond, while experienced Olympian Marc Houtzager of the Netherlands on Dante is clear even after his mare reared on the way to the first fence. But it was before he officially started, so all was well..
9:10 a.m.: Oh no! That A element of the 13 A-B double which ruined Jessie’s chances for advancing got Kent Farrington and Gazelle too. I can’t believe Kent is not going to be able to go through to the individual tomorrow, where he should have had such a good shot at a medal. Stunned. Sad.
Daniel Meech of New Zealand had only two time penalties on Cinca, but may not get through to tomorrow. Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar had a rail with Legend.
9 a.m.: As expected, Germany’s Daniel Deusser, the World Number One, killed it with Killer Queen to qualify for tomorrow. I liked the bending line that he used to get properly to the difficult double. Daniel, based in Belgium, spent a lot of time in Florida over the winter and was delightful to interview.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen.
8:55 a.m.EDT: Hector Florentino Roca on Carnaval had eight and two for the Dominican Republic. William Greve of the Netherlands dropped a rail on Zypria S. But Niels Bruynseels was clear for Belgium on Delux Van T&L. Anna Kellnerova of Czech Republic had 12 on Catch Me If You Can.
8:50 a.m. EDT: Edwina Tops Alexander, riding as an individual for Australia, had a rail with Identity Vitseroel. I remember how good she was in the Final Four at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (when the WEG used to have the Final Four).
8:45 a.m. EDT: So disappointing; Jessie Springsteen making her Olympic debut for the USA had a rail at the A element of the double, the next-to-last fence on course. With all the clear rounds so far, it’s unlikely she’ll make it to the individual medal round tomorrow. Loved her determined and focused look as she went around.
Jessie Springsteen and Don Juan at the Tokyo Skyline jump.
8:25 a.m. EDT:Peder Fredricson of Sweden, the 2017 European Champion, is riding the equine version of Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo. (Remember the show “Damn Yankees?”) His All In is competing barefoot. Peder was the silver medalist in Rio. He will have another shot at individual glory after a clear round.
Peder was one of five clears in this group, which has finished and now we have a break before the final group that includes the three U.S. riders mentioned above.There were eight clears with no time penalties in the first group.
Oh, and we should note Peder is multi-talented–he devised the FEI’s pictograms for its disciplines.
Jose Maria Larocca Jr. of Argentina and Finn Lente had two down.
Pan Am Games gold medalist Marlon Modolo Zanotelli of Brazil drops a rail with Edgar M.
Luciana Diniz of Portugal has a big hug for Vertigo du Desert after a clear round.
8:15 a.m. EDT: How disappointing! (I’m using that word a lot). The 2012 Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, has a rail at the Olympic logo fence and may not get into the individual finals with Venard de Cerisy. But he will have the team competition to look forward to.
Denmark’s Andreas Schou has eight and one with Darc de Lux who is by, as you might expect, Darco.
8:05 a.m. EDT: The scopey Jeofferson produced a round that looked effortless for Scott Brash as Britain logs its third clear.
7:55 a.m. EDT: Alberto Michan, who rode for Mexico in the Olympics, is now riding for Israel, but didn’t stay on past the water jump, having a fall when Cosa Nostra refused there. Consider the horse’s name.
Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson is clear as expected with Indiana.
A block goes down at the weird Nikko Mausoleum wall for Martin Dopazo of Argentina with Quintino, who has eight jumping, two time and won’t be back.
Jasmine Chen of Chinese Taipei sadly won’t make it to tomorrow’s competition after a foot in the water, a rail and one time with Benitus di Vallerino.
Brazil’s Yuri Mansur, without his trademark yellow coat which enables us to always spot him immediately, is clear with Alfons.
7:50 a.m. EDT :Martin Fuchs of Switzerland rode hard to the open water that stretches just under four meters, but Clooney handled it all for a lovely clear.
“The course itself wasn’t super tricky but what makes it difficult is that it’s the Olympic Games, the pressure is there, Clooney feels the pressure and I feel it, the rideability wasn’t as it should have been,” said Martin.
“But usually, he gets better from day to day and I think now we have the most difficult round of the week behind us.”.
It’s what we expected from Explosion W and Ben Maher of Great Britain, clear in the fastest time so far, 81.34 seconds, so he leads the pack and is unlikely to be dislodged. He will have the advantage of going last in the competition for the medals.
“We’ve been waiting a long time and we’ve been edgy to get going,” said Ben, reflecting on the class.
“It was a big enough course today and a lot of horses are a little bit spooky. I don’t know whether it’s the new jumps or the lights, and I felt that with him. This is my most nervous round of the week. He’s a horse that improves as the rounds go on, so he was having a little look today but he’s naturally a fast horse and he did everything he needed to do”,
7:45 a.m.: It was unlucky fence 13 for U.S.-based Israel rider Teddy Vlock, who also had two time penalties on Amsterdam, Mario Deslauriers’ Pan Am Games horse. Israel’s Dani Goldman, she of the feathered hair, is standing by waiting for the team fray. Daniel Bluman, who has done so much to put together the Israeli team, could not compete because of a technicality in the way ownership was filed for his horse.
7:40 a.m.: Fabian Sejanes of Argentina lost his bid to continue as an individual with 12 jumping and one time fault on Emir.
7:30 a.m. EDT: The second group is under way, after the first group yielded eight clear rounds. Surprise. Switzerland’s Beat Mandli on Dsarie, usually on time, picks up one penalty for going over the 89 seconds but has no jumping penalties.
Geir Gulliksen of Norway had a rail and one time penalty with Quatro, while Israel’s first rider, California-based Ashlee Bond, is clear with Donatello. She’s come a long way from her team debut at a championship when she had a fall at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Three clears in a row now–Kristaps Neretnieks with Valour, from Latvia; and Britain’s Harry Charles on Romeo 88.
“I couldn’t ask for a better start really,” said Harry. “It felt amazing, I was so focused that I was at fence 11 before I knew it. Being here has been incredible – I like to say that I’ve done a lot of really nice shows and this just puts it into context that our sport is far bigger, this is the absolute pinnacle – to be amongst some of the world’s best athletes, not just in our sport but in all the sports. I’m part of a great Team GB squad.”
Harry walked the course with his father, Peter, who was on the 2012 British gold medal team with two men who are the younger Charles’ teammates, here, Ben Maher and Scott Brash.
7:10 a.m. EDT: Mario Deslauriers, here as an individual for Canada, is clear on Bardolina. His daughter, Lucy, nearly was named to the U.S. team. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Cian O’Connor made it three-for-three for his country on Kilkenny. Too bad it isn’t the Nations Cup.
Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny.
France’s Nicolas Delmotte clear on Urvoso du Roch, but Oleksandr Prodan of Ukraine won’t proceed further after 12 faults on Casanova FZ.
7 a.m. EDT: Eiken Sato of Japan has another round for his country that is free of jumping faults, but just 1 time fault with the Mr.Blue son Saphyr des Lacs. Japan will pose a real threat in the team jumping. We had expected them to do the same in eventing, but it didn’t work out, although they had a rider very close to the podium.
6:55 a.m. EDT: Nayel Nasser of Egypt, based in the U.S. and engaged to fellow show jumper Jennifer Gates, is fault-free on Igor van de Whittemore. Colombia’s Robert Teran has two rails and one time with Dez Ooktoff.
6:50 a.m. EDT: Enrique Gonzalez of Mexico and Chacna, another Chacco Blue offspring, is a veteran of his country’s winning Aga Khan cup team at the Dublin show. That experience shows in his expert ride until the weird wingless wall three from the end of the course led to a refusal. Four jumping and four time.
El Ghali Boukaa of Morocco seems up to the considerable challenge of the course with Ugolino du Clos, but wound up with three down and two for time.
It’s two rails and two time for China’s Li Zhenquang on Uncas.
6:45 a.m. EDT: Ireland’s Bertram Allen, who we saw win in Florida on Pacino Amiro, is on the mark with that horse in the beautifully groomed arena.and galloped as if he were in a jump-off to the final fence to make his country’s score zero; two for two for the emerald isle.
Penelope Leprevost of Rio gold France on Vancouver de Lanlore handles the course like the pro she is until a refusal and a knockdown at fence 10, the sumo wrestler, gives her eight for jumping and two for time.
6:40 a.m. EDT: A refusal withc Chopan Va at the liverpool and then the water meant elimination for Sri Lanka’s Mathilda Karlsson, who previously rode for Sweden.
Koki Saito riding Chelensky for Japan is very polished.If there were people in the stands they’d have a lot to cheer about. Double clear and Japan is two for two on fault-free trips.
6:35 a.m. EDT: Egyptian Abdel Said had the first fence down with Bandit Savoie and a refusal at fence 10 flanked by a sumo wrestler. Two rails and eight in time for 15 penalties.
6:30 a.m. EDT: You Zhang of China had a refusal at the second fence with Caesar and retired.
6:28 EDT: Eugen Garza Perez of Mexico has two rails and one for time with Armani.
Ali Ahrach of Morocco is eliminated for two refusalswith USA de Riverland..
6:24: Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Cartello were clean in 82 seconds.
“Not a lot of people know the horse. This is only my sixth FEI show with him, I’ve only had him since May”, Darragh said.
“He was with Irish riders before, so he was in Irish ownership for the Olympics. Cormac Hanley and Lorcan Gallagher rode him and they both had great success with him, he’s been a good horse for everybody. He jumped great in Rome and Madrid over the last couple of months, but this week will be a big ask. But he feels up to it and we’ve had a great start.”
6:20 a.m. EDT: Japanese rider Daisuke Fukushima is the first double-clear on a son of Chacco Blue, Chanyon. A shame the stands are empty due to Covid or there would be a real celebration. And it’s obvious this course is doable, and the right level for a qualifier.
Mathieu Billot of France, the country that won gold in Rio, has a rail and time for a total of seven penalties with Quel Filou.
6:15 a.m. EDT: We have our first jumping clear, Mouda Seyada of Egypt, who had a single time penalty for exceeding the 89-second time allowed on Galanthos. He likely will be back tomorrow for the medal round.
6:10 am. EDT: It’s four rails and two time penalties for Li Yaofeng of China on Jericho Dewerse Hagen. How tough is this course? Hard to judge at the beginning because lower-ranked riders start off the day.
Manuel Gonzalez Dufrane of Mexico has 12 with Hortensia van de Leeuwerk.
The second rider, Moroccan Abdelkebir of Morocco on Istanbull has three fences down, but got around. The next, Manuel Dufrane Gonzalez of Mexico, has the same number with Hortensia van de Leeuwerk.
6 a.m. EDT: Uh-oh. Bad start. Ibrahim Bisharat of Jordan, retired with Blushing after a refusal at the oxer that is the last element of the triple combination.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2021
It’s 7:15 a.m. EDT and the top 25 riders are still walking designer Santiago Varela’s course where they will contest the individual medals. It’s shorter than the course for the team final that finished earlier today. (See the story on this website) with a 60-second time allowed.
The International Olympic Committee does not allow competitors to win two medals for one performance.So in 1996, it was decided to have a separate competition to determine the top 25 individual placings in eventing. As a result, horses that have competed in dressage, cross-country and show jumping must take one more test.
In my opinion, that’s unnecessary and too much to ask of the horses– especially in 81 degree temperatures with 84 percent humidity–but arguing with the IOC doesn’t work if we want to keep equestrian competition in the Olympics. It it, however, such a shame to ask more of the most successful horses as they go into the a second round of stadium jumping to determine the individual medals.
We’re in for some exciting competition over fences set at 1.30 meters, as opposed to the 1.20 jumps in the first round. Will Julia Krajewski of Germany become the first woman (hard to believe!) to win individual Olympic eventing gold? And the third German in a row to take the title? Only a rail separates the top four in the standings.
Julia Krajewski and Amande De B’Neville. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Julia is on 25.6 penalties, followed by British team gold medalist Oliver Townend, who had a rail in the team jumping to lose his lead from cross-country and stand on 27.6 penalties. His teammate, Tom McEwen, has 28.9, and the durable, 62-year-old Australian team silver medalist Andrew Hoy–the oldest rider in the competition, has 29.6.
Germany’s Michael Jung, who was working on becoming the only three-time individual Olympic gold medalist in the sport, lost his edge when his horse, Chipmunk, triggered a frangible pin at a cross-country fence on Saturday. That resulted in 11 penalties being added to his dressage score putting him eighth at this moment on 32.1.
Another rider of note is Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, who trains with British Olympic multi-medalist William Fox-Pitt. Kazuma stands seventh on 31.5 penalties, which should make up in some small part for the Japanese team’s failure to get as close to the podium as they did at the 2018 FEI Woirld Equestrian Games, where they were fourth. They wound up 11th here.
Riders from the sixth-placed U.S. team are out of sight of the podium, but still could bring home a good placing. Boyd Martin is 15th on 38.2 penalties, while Phillip Dutton (the individual bronze medalist from Rio 2016) is 19th with 43.3 and Olympic first-timer Doug Payne is 20th on 43.8. Great they all made the cut for the individual.
Each toppled a rail in the team round; let’s hope the fences stay up in this one.
We’ll bring you the results as the riders go, so keep coming back to this page.
Riders walking the individual eventing show jumping course.
Here is a look at the course diagram for the route in the stadium at Baji Koen Equestrian Park.
7:50 a.m. EDT: The first two riders, Fouaad Mirza of India and Felix Vogg of Switzerland, both had time penalties. Make that three:–Jesse Campbell of New Zealand also had time penalties along with two rails. Now it’s four; add Susanne Bordoni of Italy to the time penalty list.
7:55 a.m. EDT: Still waiting for someone to make the time The horses look tired. Alex Hua Tian of China had four rails and 1.6 time penalties.
8 a.m.:Doug Payne collected 4.40 penalties for a total of 48.2, which would turn out to be the best score of the U.S. riders. Phillip Dutton pulled the last two rails in the triple combination and wound up on 54.1 penalties.
8:05 a.m. EDT: We have our first round within the time. Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue did it in 59.65 second with one rail down. His total is 59.65.
8:a.m. EDT: Lea Siegl of Austria makes the time with a rail, ending on 47 penalties.
Tim Price of New Zealand, the world number two, finishes on 60.4 after three rails and time penalties.
The last U.S. rider, Boyd Martin, had the first two down in the triple combination and a rail at the next-to-last fence as well as 1.6 time penalties that left him on 52.30.
8:15: Australia’s Kevin McNab had 12 penalties to wind up on 46.90, going after his teammate Shane Rose, who dropped only one pole.
8:20 a.m. EDT: We have our first double-clear of this round. Nicolas Touzaint on Absolut Gold, who is worth his weight in gold. He will be sixth, with 33.90 on his account.
Michael Jung, who led after dressage but got 11 penalties for a frangible pin problem cross-country, has a rail to end on 36.10. He had been hoping to be the only person to get three individual golds in the sport at the Games. Instead, he finished eighth.
8:25 a.m. EDT: What a magnificent achievement for Japan. Kazuma Tomoto logged only 0.4 time penalties for going less than a second over the time allowed, and no jumping penalties. His total is an impressive 31.90 with Vinci de la Vigne. He is fourth, just missing the podium.
8:35 a.m. EDT: Andrew Hoy, foot perfect, finishes on his dressage score of 29.60, the only rider in the competition to do so. Stands fourth–will he get higher? Depends on the three ahead of him.
Of his horse, Vassily de Lassos, he said, “We got the horse on 13th May 2017, the day Steffi and I got married, so an easy day to remember. Got him from Tom Carlile and for me it’s an absolute joy to work with him every day, every day he puts a smile on my face.” Especially today.
Andrew Hoy takes individual bronze on Vassily de Lassos. (Photo courtesy of the FEI)
But Tom McEwen of Great Britain collects only 0.4 time penalties and clinches at least bronze with a score of 29.30.
It’s a rail at the second fence for Oliver Townend and 4.8 time penalties put him on 32.40 and out of the medals in fifth, after coming into today in first place.
Then Julia Krajewski does it–the German becomes the first female individual gold medalist in Olympic eventing history with no jumping faults over two rounds, just 0.4 time penalties added to her dressage score to make a total of 26 penalties.
In the future, silver medalist Tom McEwen, gold medalist Julia Krajewski and bronze medalist Andrew Hoy won’t have to wonder where this podium shot was taken. Masks are synonymous with Tokyo.
Julia’s mount, Amande De B’eneville, was her third choice, in a way. Michael Jung’s sponsor bought her top horse, Chipmunk, two years ago. Then Samouri du Thot, who she was aiming for the Games, had to have an eye removed due to an infection.
That left Amande, and she made the best of a mare that had spent a lot of time off, but went on to win Saumur.
“Cross-country went super good. It was quite good for me that I went early (in the day), because I couldn’t watch too much,” said Julia.
“I just did my thing. And after cross-country, I was fairly positive that we could finish well, because she’s such a good jumper. And I thought, ‘Okay, if it goes wrong, it’s all in your hands.’ And before we went in, and I said, ‘Mandy we’re going to get it,’ and I think she knew it was a special day.”
Women were only allowed to start competing in Olympic eventing in 1964, when Lana DuPont was on the U.S. team. She fell twice (rules were different in those days, you could fall and get back on) and had all kinds of bumps and bruises, but she paved the way for Julia to achieve the sport’s highest honor.
Julia Krajewski did it!
So Tom McEwen is silver and the eternal Andrew Hoy bronze. Kazuma Tomoto made his own history by finishing fourth individually for Japan.
Doug Payne was the highest-placed of the Americans in 16th place, followed by Boyd Martin (20th) and Phillip Dutton (21st).
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2021
It’s 4 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the eventing stadium jumping is under way at Baji Koen Equestrian Park.
We’re starting out with the lowest-placed riders after cross-country, as the competitors proceed in reverse order of merit.
Designer Santiago Varela’s colorful course begins with six fences that get riders into the task, and becomes increasingly more difficult as they go on, especially with a time allowed of 79 seconds to cope with.
The temperature is 85 degrees with 78 percent humidity, but will become somewhat cooler as the competition continues, since Japan is 13 hours ahead of EDT and it’s heading into the evening there.
Here’s a look at Santiago’s course for the team medals:
The top 25 after the team medal round will proceed to the individual round over a different course. It’s a lot of work for the horses who qualify, after they have done dressage and cross-country in the heat. But having two jumping tests is required, because the International Olympic Committee won’t allow awarding two medals for one competition, as is done in the World Championships.
A view of the first eventing show jumping course.
4:15 a.m. EDT: Colleen Loach of Canada had two rails with Qorry Blue D’Argouges to finish on 50.80 penalties incorporating her cross-country score. She will finish 28th and not make the cut for the individual test.
Another rider we’ve been watching, the stylish Fouaad Mirza of India, had 8 penalties for a total of 47.20. He did make the cut and would wind up 23d over all.
4:30 a.m. EDT: We have our first clear round, Ryuzo Kitajimo on Feroza Nieuwmoed. He is the reserve Japanese rider, filling in for Yoshiaki Oiwa, who had a fall cross-country and was eliminated. Ryuzo was added so Japan could finish as a team, an accommodation for the first yearthe Games has run with a three-member squad and no drop score. Japan winds up 11th.
Ryuzo is one of a number of substitutes, including the next rider to go fault-free over the course, Eveline Bodemuller, filling in for Switzerland’s Robin Godel, whose horse, Jet Set, was euthanized after sustaining an injury on cross-country. Switzerland ended in 10th place.
4:45 a.m. EDT: The first U.S. rider, Doug Payne, had a rail at the initial element of the double with Vandiver, but rode a very competent round–as one would expect from a man who spends a lot of time competing in grand prix show jumping. With the four penalties added, he stands at 43.80 penalties and may be able to come back for the top 25.
4:50 a.m. EDT: France’s Nicolas Touzaint on Absolut Gold went clean over the jumps with a time fault to end on 33.90 and keep France in bronze medal position.
4:55 a.m. EDT: Kevin McNab of Australia was fault-free to keep his team in silver medal position with his score of 34.90 penalties..
5 a.m. EDT: Britain’s Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser are insuring their country stays at the top of the standings at this point with a clean round that puts them in first place with 28.90 penalties. If Britain wins gold, it will be the first time the country has claimed the title since 1972. and in my mind there’s not doubt about who will wear gold here.
They were the favorites–Britain’s Oliver Townend, Laura Collet and Tom McEwen show off their medals. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Tom McEwen of Great Britain and Toledo de Kerser at the colorful double.
5:15 a.m EDT: The cute dun mount of Ireland’s Sam Watson, Flamenco, dropped two rails, including the middle pole of the triple combination to add 8 penalties and finish on a total of 55.30 penalties.
5:20 a.m. EDT: Michael Jung, who saw his dream of being the first three-time individual gold medalist end with a frangible pin penalty on cross-country, had a fault-free trip on Chipmunk. He is standing eighth on 32.10.
Michael Jung and Chipmunk.
5:25 a.m. EDT: The USA’s Phillip Dutton dropped the third part of the triple and the first part of the double with Z, whose total is 43.30. The USA has fallen to sixth place behind Germany now. Phillip will be back for the individual test, however.
5:30 a.m. EDT: Shane Rose of Australia tipped the first part of the double, which can be costly, as his country, France and New Zealand are all close for what Great Britain leaves of the medals to be contested. He’s at 35.70.
5:35 a.m. EDT: Britain has such a good lead of nearly 18 penalties in the team fray that Laura Collett’s mishap at the liverpool with London 52 scattering the rails didn’t make a dent. She came close to the 79-second time allowed in 78.79 seconds, but squeaked through and has 29.80 penalties.
5:45 a.m. EDT: What a disappointment for China. Alex Hua Tian, the country’s best rider, had a very sudden stop with Don Geniro at the last fence. In addition to 4 jumping penalties, he collected. 4.8 time penalties, but will be back for the individual carrying his score of 44.70..
5:50 a.m. EDT: Julia Krajewski of Germany goes into the individual lead on 25.60, having put only 0.4 onto her dressage score when she was one second over the optimum time on cross-country. She is fault-free in this jumping round and could become the first woman to win Olympic eventing individual gold.
5:55 a.m. EDT: No medal for the U.S. Boyd Martin had the first part of the double down with Tsetserleg, and Germany has moved ahead of America in the standings. Boyd will be back for the individual jumping. He is the third U.S. team member to have penalties in the final phase of the event. He is on 38.70 in 15th place.
5:55 a.m.EDT: Three rails down (including two in the triple) by Tim Price on Vitali puts New Zealand behind Germany in the race for the bronze medal. New Zealand is off the podium. It’s a total of 38.80 for the number two rider in the world rankings. Tim was fourth after cross-country and is now 16th.
6 a.m. EDT: It’s bronze at least for France, the 2016 Olympic champions, as Christopher Six goes clear with a score of 31.20.
6:05 a.m. There’s no pro like an old pro. A clear round from 62-year-old Andrew Hoy, still on his dressage score of 29.60, keeps Australia atop the podium in silver, while France takes bronze. Then it’s Germany, New Zealand and USA, sixth on 125.8 penalties.
Oliver Townend led Great Britain to team gold.
6:10 a.m: Oliver Townend of Great Britain has a rail at the first part of the troublesome double, putting him behind Germany’s Julia Krajewski individually.
But it does no harm to Britain’s lead, as that nation takes its first Olympic eventing team gold in 49 years. Here are the totals: Britain 86.3, Australia (silver) 100.2, France (bronze) 101.5; Germany fourth, 114.2, New Zealand fifth, 116.4, USA sixth, 125.8.
6:45 a.m.: All three U.S. riders qualified for the top 25. Boyd Martin was 15th, Phillip Dutton 19th and Doug Payne 20th.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 29, 2021
(This blog is being updated with the second session of eventing dressage. It starts with the first session and continues into the second session, so keep going down to get the latest information.)
It’s 7:30 p.m Eastern Daylight Time as three-day eventing kicks off at the Tokyo Olympics.\
The test is specially written for the Games, and provides a challenge with movements such as the half-pass to the shoulder-in, which is counter-intuitive (it’s tougher than the other way around.)
I’ll give key scores, so not every entry will be mentioned in this blog, but we certainly will include the leaders and anyone of particular interest.
We’re starting with some important players near the beginning of the order. After the Thai rider, Arinadtha Chavatanont on Boleybawn Prince, made her country’s debut in Olympic eventing with a score of 42.40 penalties, world number one Oliver Townend showed his precision with Ballaghmor Class. Good lead changes, smoothly executed, were typical of this very flowing test, which earned 23.6 penalties. That would be the equivalent of 76.36 percent in a regular dressage score, but that isn’t how they do it in eventing..
Britain’s Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.
Oliver, like his British teammates, is a 5-star winner, most recently at Land Rover Kentucky in April, but this is his first Olympics. Britain is favored in this Games, and it’s off to a good start.
The USA’s Doug Payne and Vandiver were fulfilling a lifetime ambition by starting in the Games.
The horse, who is by the Trakehner, Windfall, has lovely carriage, but he tossed his head slightly in reactive mode during two lead changes.
Doug, marked at 33 penalties, said, “This is probably about as well as he’s ever done. I think it’s a difficult test for him, everything comes up really quick.
Doug Payne and Vandiver. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“He was about as settled as he’s been in quite a long time. For sure, there’s some stuff you wish you could improve and that’s our job going forward…he’s got a massive heart and always tries his best and for that, you’ve got to be thankful and appreciative.”.
Doug stands 12th and is the only American rider tonight. The dressage phase continues tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.
The dressage is being done during the coolest times of the day to avoid the worst of Japan’s summer heat and humidity, but the horses can also get a break when they leave the arena from the cooling mist fans that we first saw at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Felix Vogg of Switzerland and Colera moved smarly to be marked at 26.70.
If you read my eventing preview story on this website, you’ll know I mentioned that the Japanese team shouldn’t be overlooked.
And that was underlined when their first rider, Kazuma Tomoto on Vince de la Vigne, left the ring with a score of 26.1, which elicited a “wow” from me after watching his test.
Kazuma, who is fourth, trains with British Olympic multi-medalist William Fox-Pitt, and it shows.
8:10 p.m. EDT: Alex Hua Tian of China, a pioneer at the international level of the sport for that country, made his Olympic bow in 2008 in appropriately, Hong Kong. His experience showed as he and Don Geniro were marked at 23.90, right behind Oliver. And there they stayed for the remainder of this segment.
Australia’s Shane Rose has been around forever and he and Virgil looked very comfortable with all their experience. Their total was 31.70 to stand 11th.
Therese Viklund and the one-eyed Viscera.
Sweden’s Therese Viklund had an interesting ride on Viscera, a Hanoverian mare who lost an eye.a while back. (You can see its absence as a black spot in the photo)
It doesn’t seem to bother her; the score of 28.1 was quite nice, good enough for sixth. I’ll be interested to see how she handles cross-country.
The cool thing about the eventing here is the range of countries represented, many more than in Grand Prix dressage. The list includes Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Poland, India, Czech Republic, Belarus and others that we’re not used to seeing. Nice to see that the sport is expanding.
I always advise to never overlook the French in eventing and show jumping, but I did in my preview, since I wasn’t sure this team had what it takes to medal.
Its Rio 2016 gold medalist Thibaut Vallette announced July 9 that he withdrew Qing Du Briot Ifce due to a “slight sensitivity” in one foot.
However, today former reserve rider Christopher Six had very smooth changes with Totem de Brecey and some style (so typical of the French equestrians) to wind up with 29.6 penalties, seventh and the lowest-placed of those who scored less than 30 penalties.
I know you’re never supposed to buy a horse for it’s color, but I’d be tempted by Sam Watson’s Tullabeg Flamendo, a dun with white and black on all four legs, oh so flashy.
Sam Watson and his perky dun, Tullabeg Flamenco.
Sam you may know as the co-founder of Equiratings. He was wearing a yellow ribbon in memory of Tiggy Hancock, a 15-year-old Irish eventer who died in a fall last June. His 34.20 penalties puts him 14th.
New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and her husband, Tim, comprise half of their country’s team. She was on Grovine de Reve, previously ridden by her countryman Dan Jocelyn, to get marked at 30.70.
9 p.m. EDT: Julia Krajewski of Germany moved into third place behind Alex Hua Tian with Amande de B’Nevelle on 25.20 for a test in which the horse was wholly cooperative, fluid throughout and easy in her flying changes. Julia is the former rider of Chipmunk, who has gone to her multi-medal teammate Michael Jung.
Canada’s only entry is Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argoges, after Jessica Phoenix declined to present Pavarotti for the horse inspection, after he sustained an injury on his final gallop. This French-bred gray stands at 35.6 penalties, 14th best at this point in the evening (or morning, if you’re in Japan.)
Lauren Billys normally is coached by Derek DiGrazia, who built the cross-country course for the Games, so they are not working together for the Olympics because it would be a conflict of interest (and he wouldn’t have the time, anyway.) She represents Puerto Rico with Castle Larchfield Purdy,,the second-oldest horse in eventing here at age 19.
Her horse was very cooperative, but he stepped forward in the halt. She is on 39.80 penalties to be 17th of 21 in this group.
Thomas Heffernan Ho and 20-year-old Tayberry.
The oldest horse, is Tayberry, age 20. He is in 20th place with 46.70 penalties after kicking out in two lead changes and throwing his head quite a bit. He is ridden by Thomas Heffernan Ho, Hong Kong’s first Olympic representative in eventing.
10 p.m. EDT: We’re finished for this round. I’ll be back blogging at 4:30 a.m. EDT Friday, so return to this story to check scores and find out what’s happening as we begin to get an idea of the team totals..
SECOND SESSION
4:30 a.m. EDT: Fouaad Mirza of India and Seigneur started the session with a very impressive test that did their country proud on 28 penalties, the equivalent of 72 percent in pure dressage. It was worth getting up early to see.
Fouaad Mirza of India and Seigneur.
The former mount of Bettina Hoy of Germany is now under the watchful eye of another German, former world champion Sandra Auffarth. This horse looks every inch a thoroughbred and had a crisp and eager style. This was a ride many competitors would envy.
I mentioned in my comments on the first session of dressage how encouraging it was to see riders from a wider variety of countries than we watched in the Grand Prix dressage competition. But what’s even more encouraging is the quality of riders from countries that are not hotbeds of eventing.
Fouaad is riding as an individual, not as a team member, and a few other individuals followed him.
Peter Flarup of Denmark was on 33.6 penalties with Fascination, while the youngest eventing rider at the Games, 22-year-old Lea Siegel of Austrlia, was marked on 32.6 for DSP Fighting Line’s test.
Thailand’s second rider, Weerapat Pitakanonda on Carnival March (trained by Britain’s Piggy March) withstood the rain to finish on 38.10 penalties.
Britain’s second rider, Laura Collett on London 52, won the 5-star at Pau, France. She nicely added to Oliver Townend’s leading score for her country from the first session. London, the horse she bought as a 5-year-old, is a businesslike horse with a lovely stride.
“He’s been phenomenal all year and I was aiming for (a score of) 21/22. This year, he’s been very close to Ballaghmor Class, but unfortunately it didn’t come off today.”
Laura, who had a bad accident eight years ago, still doesn’t have sight in one eye. That certainly doesn’t stop her. Her mark was 25.80, good enough for fourth at this point and bolstering Britain after two thirds of its team has gone.
From the youngest rider to the oldest–Phillip Dutton at age 57 is the senior U.S.athlete at these Games. This veteran, the individual bronze medalist from Rio 2016, achieved a score of 30 penalties, or 70 percent in Grand Prix dressage terms, with the Zangersheide gelding, Z.
Phillip Dutton and Z.
Phillip turned in a professional performance, as always. Z was on form, though he looked like he was working hard in the lead changes, which are such a big part of the score.
“I was really pleased,” Phillip said, reflecting on his ride.
“I would have liked a bit of a better score, but at the end of the day, my horse went really well and did what I asked, so I can’t be too disappointed. He’s generally a hot horse, but he’s getting more and more seasoned and more and more trained, and I was pretty proud of him actually – there’s no crowd, but you are under the lights, it’s a different situation, and there’s a lot to look at, and he was really in tune with me.
“The great thing about our sport and working with horses is that they keep improving all the time, and if you can keep them competing and sound, then they keep getting better and better, and that’s the way he is. He’s a better, more seasoned horse than he was this time last year.”
The U.S. total is now 63 with two-thirds of the team having performed. The Brits lead with a total of 49.40.
If you look at my eventing preview, the second story on the main page of this website, you’ll note that I said not to count out the Japanese. After all, they were fourth at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, and are proving their mettle again here.
Toshiyuki Tanaka and Talma D’Allou, the second rider for Japan, demonstrated the potential this team may have to make the podium. His score of 32.6 penalties makes the team total 58.7, putting it ahead of the U.S. He trains in England with Angela Tucker.
Australia is just behind the U.S. now on 63.8 with a 32.10 test by Kevin McNab, who was the second reserve to get on the plane.Now the Aussies are very glad to have him here with Don Quidam. Stuart Tinney and Leporis had replaced Chris Burton on the squad, but after the horse inspection, Leporis was deemed not fit to start, so Kevin was called in.
5:40 a.m. EDT: The second Chinese rider, Huadong Sun, earned 35.2 penalties on the Zangersheide mare Lady Chin V’T Moerven Z to put his nation on 59.1 penalties, buoyed by Alex Hua Tian’s 23.9 mark in the first session that remains in the second position to Britain’s Oliver Townend at this moment.
Polish rider Malgorzata Cybulska on Chenaro 2 has 31 penalties, the same mark as Belarus’ individual rider Alexander Zelenko on Carlo Grande Jr. (the names sounds like a person, but trust me, it’s a horse). The Polish team total to this point is 71.20.
5:50 a.m. EDT: Poised flying changes were a highlight of the test by Sweden’s Louise Romeike and Cato 60, a 17-year-old whose rump bore a stencil of the Swedish crown. Her score of 28, which ties with the Indian rider for seventh place, makes the team total 56.10, standing second. Like Britain, Sweden now has two riders in the top 10.
France only has one team member riding here from its 2016 Rio Games gold medal squad. It is on a total of 62.60 after a 33-penalty effort from Absolute Gold (love that name!) and Nicolas Touzaint, whose father and uncle rode in the 1976 Montreal Games. This horse looks as if he needs delicate handling. He was casual in the extended walk but when his rider gathered the reins, it appeared that might light his fuse.
6:15 a.m.: We’ve had several reserves put in as members for their teams. Here’s another, Austin O’Connor on the gray Jaguar Mail son, Colorado Blue, stepping in for Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua. Cathal’s horse was pulled for veterinary reasons, but could come back as the reserve if necessary, should her vet report improve.
Colorado Blue performed a classic halt but was a little rushed in the rein-back. I can hear him grinding his teeth; not sure if the judges can.He was rather flamboyant in his first two flying lead changes, and I’m sure his score of 38 reflected that. With two riders in the books, Ireland stands on 72.30 penalties.
6:25 a.m. EDT: Sandra Auffarth, Germany’s individual world champion in 2014, had a few costly errors in her test with Viamant du Matz.
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz.
Most noticeable was when he struck off on the wrong lead in the canter. He was supposed to be on the counter-lead at that point, but he was on what would have been the correct lead under other circumstances.
So she had to fix that, and then went on moments later to have a flying change that popped a bit too much.
Sandra was marked at 34.10, putting Germany, one of the favorites for gold, on a team total of 59.30. I’ll remind you that she coached the Indian rider who competed earlier in the session and wound up with a better score (28 penalties) than his coach!
7 a.m. EDT: With the second session over (the third and final session starts in 12 and 1/2 hours) I’ll recap. Great Britain holds its team lead on 49.40 penalties, followed by Sweden, Japan (I told you they had potential), China, Germany and New Zealand. The U.S. is ninth on a 63-penalty total, with Doug Payne in 21st place and Phillip Dutton 12th.
The top three haven’t changed since yesterday: World number one Oliver Townend of Great Britain, Alex Hua Tian of China (that’s how China is in fourth place) and Julia Krajewski of Germany.
Oliver led off for his team, noting, “It wouldn’t be my chosen job in life to be pathfinder but at the same time the first bit is out of the way and he’s (Ballaghmor Class) done a very commendable job. So fingers crossed, we keep the work up over the next three or four days and see where we end up”.
Here’s how Oliver assessed the cross-country course: “It’s very intense.You’re always on the climb or camber or in the water, or in a combination.”
Even so, he said, “The questions are extremely fair, it’s very horse- friendly, and if you took each fence individually, there wouldn’t be too many problems. But at the same time, when you add the heat, the terrain, the Olympic pressure and then speed on top of that, it’s going to be causing a lot of trouble and it’s going to be very difficult to get the time.”
“Derek is a horseman to start with, and I think he’s a special, talented man at the job. He wants the horses to see where they are going, there’s no tricks out there. Derek doesn’t try to catch horses out, he builds very see-able questions and lets the terrain and the speed do the job for him.”
I’ll be live blogging the final session, so come back to my website to learn who’s where before we head to the cross-country, where things will change a lot.
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