The Greenwich show jumping course proved influential in the team jumping round from the first rides of the day to the last, causing rails, time penalties, and refusals. In general, the horses looked a little flat and tired after a tough test yesterday over the steep Greenwich hills and through soft footing.
Germany held on to their lead in the team competition to win gold despite 9 faults from Ingrid Klimke. Great Britain pressed Germany for the win, but they will have to celebrate team silver on home soil. New Zealand passed Sweden to capture team Bronze.
Team Results:
1. GER: 133.7
2. GBR: 138.2
3. NZL: 144.4
4. SWE: 148.4
5. IRL: 184.8
6. USA: 208.6
[Full Team Results]
2010 World Equestrian Games champion Michael Jung entered the show jumping as the second to last to ride for Germany. With a very spotty show jumping history from Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas, all the pressure was on him to secure gold for Germany. Sam pinged his way around the course, turning smoothly and jumping high with knees tucked. Michael Jung never breaks–heck, he never even blinks under pressure. Michael and Sam will enter the individual jumping round 1.3 points behind Sara Algotsson-Ostholt of Sweden, who also jumped a fantastic double-clear.
The riders who are not part of a team rode first this morning and then the teams rode in reverse order of team standing. The top 25 placed riders (max 3 per country) will return for the second jumping round at 9:30am ET to determine the Olympic individual eventing champion. The scores from this first round will be added to each rider’s second round scores and of course their dressage and cross-country scores to create their final individual score. If you have any questions about the two round format, Abby has your answers.
[Individual Round Order of Go]
Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and Wega were tied for the individual lead going into today’s first jumping round. Sweden had already let the chance of a team bronze slip away so Sara was riding to set herself up for an individual gold. Wega is an excellent show jumper and showed off her skills with a clutch double-clear to guarantee them the lead going into the final round and putting all of the pressure on Germany’s Ingrid Klimke. So far, this pair is still on their dressage score.
Ingrid Klimike and Butts Abraxxas are a lovely pair, but they just didn’t have the show jumping power to get through today clear. They picked up two rails and one second to drop from tied for the lead to 8th. I’m gutted for Ingrid but the result was not unexpected.
Last to ride for the USA, Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper suffered a shocking refusal. Whisper looked a little tired early on course and jumped into the middle of an oxer. He looked like he lost confidence and stopped at the next fence, a ship shaped jump. They finished with the stop, two rails, and 23 points added to their score. Phillip will ride 4th in the individual round.
The top placed North American representative in the individual round will be none other than Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott. Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott jumped a foot-perfect double-clear that was never really in doubt. In Karen’s 5th Olympics she once again stepped up big for Team USA. It’s hard to imagine a US eventing team without Karen on it but that is going to be the reality after this weekend when David takes over the US coaching job.
Individual Standings Before Individual Round:
1. Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and Wega (SWE) +0 39.3
2. Michael Jung and Sam (GER) +0 40.6
3. Mary King and Imperial Cavalier (GBR) +0 42.1
4. Tina Cook and Miners Frolic (GBR) +1 43.0
[Full Individual Standings]
Andrew Nicholson’s brilliance is sometimes overshadowed by Mark Todd’s, but Andrew jumped ahead of Mark with a double-clear. Andrew is always a master on the cross-country, but he was a master in the show jumping in the first round today. Toddy pulled a rail and three time to drop from 3rd to 7th while Andrew moved up to 6th.
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier were nothing short of superb. The crowd roared approval as Mary crossed the line in a double-clear. She picked up Impreial Cavalier around that course, just like yesterday, and got the job done with Great Britain needed it most. She is rewarded with 3rd position going into the final round.
Last to ride for Team GBR, Tina Cook entered the arena with less than two rails in hand for team silver and the knowledge that there was no way to win team gold. Tina rode Miners Frolis to perfection and secured silver for Great Britain with just one time penalty. She lies in 4th.
The first British rider, William Fox-Pitt, rode Lionheart to a spectacular clear round inside the time. In his comments Monday night, William seemed surprised that Lionheart tired so much on the cross-country, but that will be the only frustrating part of an otherwise excellent weekend.
Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo WD Wendi Kurt Hoev were second after the dressage, but they endured time penalties yesterday and stopped at a vertical today. Nina Ligon picked up a stop at the white gate with Butts Leon, but she regained her composure and finished the round well.
Caroline Powell and the 19-year-old Lenamore of New Zealand finished their first Olympics with one rail. This crowd favorite never once showed his age this weekend and jumped better than horses half his age today. Lucinda Fredericks helped redeem a disappointing weekend with a super ride on Flying Finished. Lucinda rode every stride to finish with just one time fault.
Will Coleman and Twizzel jumped spectacularly with the signature Will softness and relaxation. They added just two time penalties to their score. Although I’m sure their unnecessary stop on cross-country will frustrate Will for a long time, he truly earned his pinque coat at Greenwich. Will is forever going to be known as an Olympian–he should be very proud of himself and Twiz.
Tiana Coudray’s score turned into an important score for the US when Boyd withdrew Otis from the holding box this morning. Ringwood Magister looked slightly rushed, but Tiana needed to push to make the time. That rushing cost them two rails and they finished with 3 time as well. 11 faults in the show jumping made Will’s score count for the USA. Like Will, Tiana has a bright future ahead of her wearing the pinque coat for the red, white, and blue.
Jessica Pheonix of Canada and Exponential had 3 down and 2 time for 14 to add to their cross-country score. With so many penalties from so many riders today, that is a solid result. Canada just had terrible luck this weekend at every possible moment. Jessica will jump second in the individual round.
I was disappointed that Sweden did not come away with a team medal. They rode brilliantly all weekend and emerged as a real force. Their hopes for a medal now rest on Sara and Wega.
The top four are all within a rail of the lead heading into the individual round. The individual round starts at 9:30am ET. Go eventing.
