Last week, we offered the 12 “short list” combinations up for voting to see who you, dear readers, would select as the US Olympic Eventing Team. The votes have been counted, plus or minus a few hanging chads. Of course, final selection will be determined after Barbury Castle Horse Trials this weekend. How will your picks stack up?
The 5 team members as selected by EN popular vote:
1. Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper (18.65%)
2. Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott (18.28%)
3. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos (17.58%)
4. Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville (16.2%)
5. Allison Springer and Arthur (8.1%)
The rest of the results:
6. Will Coleman and Twizzel (7.16%)
7. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (3.39%)
8. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister (2.87%)
9. Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (2.81%)
10. Will Faudree and Andromaque (2.57%)
11. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (1.38%)
12. Boyd Martin and Remington (1.01%)
I think that’s a pretty good team, and clearly there was a strong consensus between the top 4 members. That fifth spot was left up for grabs, and while Allison could be a controversial choice, her Rolex performance obviously left a favorable impression on many readers. Will Coleman and Twizzel were not far behind, and there’s a case to be made for Twizzel over Arthur when comparing their consistency. But perhaps it is worth the risk when you have three strong anchor riders like Karen, Phillip, and Boyd on the team. One thing’s for sure– I like our chances in the Games this year!
