The eventers persevered today through a reversal of fortune to finish second after a demanding cross-country test, producing the best placing of any U.S. team at the five-discipline equestrian festival in Germany.
Will Coleman, who won at Aachen two years ago, was leading for the U.S. effort until he had a run-out with Off the Record after a slip before a skinny at the Turkish Airlines complex, the 16th of 25 obstacles. That incurred 20 penalties, and he got another 20 for crossing his line as he resumed his trip, becoming the discard score for the U.S.
The errors plummeted him from fifth to 38th, but the very veteran Phillip Dutton moved up from 24th after dressage through a clear in Friday’s show jumping to wind up sixth with Z on 38 penalties.. That helped clinch the team silver medal placing, earned with a total of 108.2 penalties. Phillip had just 5.2 time penalties on cross-country, where no one made the optimum time.
Phillip Dutton and Z handled cross-country in their usual workmanlike fashion. (Photo courtesy USEF)
Tamie Smith, the 5-star Kentucky winner in April with Mai Baum, turned in an equally impressive performance from her Land Rover win with just 2.80 time penalties cross-country to wind up third. Time faults were practically a given on soft ground along Rudiger Schwarz’s cross-country course that demanded both precision and stamina. The ground got a good soaking by the end of the competition as rain fell, adding to the challenge of the equation.
Tamie had the same number of time faults as German superstar Michael Jung on fischerChipmunk, who wound up second on 27.2 penalties to lead Germany to the team gold (104.9 penalties).
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum showed their usual determination in leading the U.S. to silver in the Aachen SAP Cup. (Photo courtesy USEF)
Tamie’s teammate, Liz Halliday-Sharp came through with only 4.4 time penalties on Miks Master C to finish fifth with 36.5 penalties total and boost the USA’s fortunes. Three Americans in the top six–great effort!
Chef d’equipe Bobby Costello noted, “I’m very encouraged, because we made a plan to come here with the strongest possible team we could field just to make a statement after Pratoni last year (the world championships, where USA took silver) that that wasn’t a one-off. We came here with every expectation of a solid finish and I’m glad we could produce that result.”
Said Tamie of her mount, “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse. It’s a dream to be able to have a competitive score like that. Hopefully, there’s more to come.”
Will Coleman reflected, “Not the way we wanted to finish individually, but I could not be more proud of my teammates and usef eventing this weekend CHIO Aachen. They carried the day, and rode fantastic to put us on the podium.
“Timmy was his usual beastly self on the cross-country. I was going for it, but didn’t execute well enough to pull it off in the end. There will be another day. It’s always a privilege riding at this incredible horse show, and it was an honor representing our country with this fine group of riders and horses”
World Champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain collected a mere 1.6 time penalties on Banzai du Loir to regain the lead she held after dressage and win the competition on 27.10 penalties, making up for a refusal cross-country at Kentucky that ruined her effort there. She wouldn’t have the same mistake twice.
Yasmin Ingham, the Aachen champion of the SAP competition. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen)
Yasmin is never afraid to show her feelings and there were many thoughts crowding her consciousness as she contemplated the victory.
“I am pretty speechless,” she said with a smile.
“I am very glad to be here representing my country. I am very lucky to be here riding. My amazing horse did everything right. His performance in each phase was immaculate. He did brilliantly in the dressage, there are a few areas I can still polish up, a few marks to grasp, but overall he performed brilliantly.”
Yasmin added, “I could have kicked myself after the show jumping,” she said, speaking of the second phase, where she accumulated two time penalties that dropped her from the lead she held after dressage.
“I rode too slowly, didn’t canter enough, I couldn’t fault him, but I was a bit frustrated with myself. I channeled that frustration so that I would impress in the cross.” And she did.
A speedy Yasmin Ingham squeezed neatly over a corner with Banzai du Loir.
Michi Jung observed that some caution was called for on the route.
“The course was nice to ride, but the faster you ride, the more risk, you take, which can lead to mistakes.“
Ask Tom McEwen about that.
The British team wound up third. After being the overnight leader, Tom and JL Dublin had a run-out at that troublesome Turkish Airlines complex to wind up 26th, as the Brits ended on a total of 136.6 penalties for third place.
Click here to see team standings, and on this link for individual placings.
