All 3 WEG 2010 medallists (Germany, Belgium & France) are out of Team competition
Another Sunday come and gone, Eventing Nation, but the Olympics rage on! Day two of show jumping concluded today, with more than a few surprises in the team rankings. All three of the WEG 2010 medallist teams, Germany, Belgium & France are now out of the team running, and Saudi Arabia leads the way.
The Saudi’s were phenomenal today, as they were yesterday. All four Saudi riders went around without a jump penalty, and they enter the final day of team competition with just one time penalty and a rail from yesterday incurred by Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly and Sultan. They have got to be thrilled with that!
The US had another slightly disappointing day, and barely scraped into the top 8 for tomorrow’s final team competition. McLain Ward led the way again, but he made a self-proclaimed “rider error” and had 4 faults at the water jump, saying he just got a little aggressive after watching Beezie’s issues yesterday, and pushed the horse past his distance. Beezie herself was in the ring next for the US, and Vio Volo jumped much better than yesterday, adding only 4 faults at the end of a triple combination. Reed Kessler was third to go, and she admits that she may have overcompensated for her 1 time fault yesterday and put her foot to the pedal a bit too much. “I was desperate not to have time faults today,” she said. “I didn’t quite get the scope I wanted, and I got a little too flat.” She garnered 8 faults for the day. [Full Report on Team USA]
Rich Fellers and the aptly named Flexible are quickly turning out to be the heroes for the US, as they pinged around the course for another double clear today. If you’ve ever seen a picture of these two, you’ll know why you have to root for them. That horse is ridiculous, and Rich makes the best jump faces!
Sadly for the Canadians, Tiffany Foster’s horse Victor was disqualified due to hypersensitivity. In a statement, the FEI said: “The Canadian horse Victor, ridden by Tiffany Foster, has been disqualified under the FEI’s hypersensitivity protocol due to an area of clear and obvious hypersensitivity on the front of the left forelimb.” Due to the loss of Tiffany, all the remaining Canadian team members must have flawless rounds in order to stay in medal contention (currently in 5th place). I feel deeply for the Canadians in this matter, and it seems that a black cloud is simply following their team around in London this year, for all equestrian disciplines.
Eric Lamaze was particularly disgruntled with the decision, “This is a complete miscarriage of justice,” he said. “We all know why they do the tests, and we all understand. [But] within a period of perhaps six minutes, five people poked at this horse’s leg 50 times. Yes, he does have a little superficial cut… [but] this was a simple injury that would not have put this horse danger in any way and would not have made her gain any advantage in the ring.”
Britain is doing well in Show Jumping as well, entering the third day in equal 2nd place for Team competition. They are tied with the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland with four faults from the final fence with Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos. Nick Skelton says of his mount, “Big Star is the most perfect horse. He has been jumping great all year. He is a freak, he really is. And the crowd are unbelievable. It won’t be their fault if we don’t win.“
Only 12 riders remain faultless: Britain’s Ben Maher and Nick Skelton, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdullah al Saud, Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, Mexico’s Alberto Michan, Brazilian Alvaro Affonso de Miranda Neto, Dutch riders Maikel van der Vleuten and Marc Houtzager, Henrik von Eckermann and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Sweden), Switzerland’s Paul Estermann and America’s Rich Fellers.
Also, there are reports from London saying that Philippe Le Jeune’s ride Vigo d’Arsouilles will not compete in tomorrow’s third qualifier due to a minor injury. The final decision has yet to be made, but it seems like the reigning World Champion will not be in the running for Olympic glory. Vigo will continue to be used as a stallion, creating many amazing Vigo babies. [Read More]
Go Showjumping!!
