Show Jumping Powerhouses of Rio

It’s the final day of the Rio Olympics for the eventing competition and I think we’re all a bit emotionally drained. I’ve experienced joy, anger, sadness, fear, despair and hope in rapid succession over the past few days and the fact that I completely skipped lunch yesterday is a huge testament to how many times my stomach was flipping during the cross-country.

Needless to say, it ain’t over ’till it’s over, and show jumping is every bit as difficult as cross country in its own way. We’ll be watching nervous riders guiding tired horses over a set of jumps designed by Brazilian show jumping designer Guilherme Jorge, who after several years of working as assistant Olympic course designer is making his debut at the top of the masthead. A simple mistake could make or break a bid for a podium position and at the critical moments you’ll be able to hear a pin drop in the stadium. The top 25 at the end of the stadium competition will move on to a second jumping round to determine individual medals.

The riders listed below are the best 15 show jumpers remaining in the field, ranked first by jump penalties and then by speed, using rounds from the Olympic qualifying period beginning on January 1, 2015. For full information on each of the pairs, check out Jenni’s Ultimate Guide.

Clark Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation. Photo courtesy of Julie Wilson / FEI.

Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation. Photo courtesy of Julie Wilson/FEI.

Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Balmoral Sensation: In five rounds in the past 18 months, this pair is absolutely perfect, no rails and no time penalties. Three of the five rounds were at CCI events, and two of them were four-stars. Already inside the top 10, this pair is bound to rise up in the rankings both for the team and the individual round.

Current Place: 7th (tied)

Current Score: 51.3

Kitty King and Ceylor LAN. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kitty King and Ceylor LAN. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kitty King (GBR) and Ceylor L A N: This long legged bay from Britain has an extremely impressive show jumping record, with absolutely no rails in eight rounds in the Olympic qualifying period. Their only flaw was a single time penalty in their last outing at Bramham. Three of those eight rounds came after the cross country phase, including two CCI3*. Placed well outside the top 25, she’ll need some help from others to move up into the individual round but can still use Ceylor L A N’s jumping prowess to help the team score.

Current Place: 34th

Current Score:  100.4

Qing du Briot ENE HN and Colonel Thibault Vallette. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Qing du Briot ENE HN and Colonel Thibault Vallette. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Thibaut Valette (FRA) and Qing du Briot ENE HN:  These two are another pair who can boast they have yet to have a rail in the past two calendar years, although they only have four rounds under their belt in that time period. A single time penalty in the Chatsworth CIC3* mars their flawless record, but three of the four rounds were performed with show jumping last, two of which were CCI3*. Two rounds of jumping will work in this pair’s favor today.

Current Place: 18th

Current Score: 65.4

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Photo by Jenni Autry.

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Photo by Jenni Autry.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Chilli Morning: If William and his decorated stallion had maintained their pole position, they’d be sleeping quite comfortably tonight given their clear record (with only one time penalty) in three rounds since the beginning of 2015. Since one of those rounds helped them win Badminton, they’d be comfortable with the idea of a full height, double round of show jumping. As it is, they’ll likely climb into the top 15 after two rounds of jumping despite their cross country stop.

Current Place: 22nd

Current Score: 67.4

Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy The Biz. FEI photo

Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy The Biz. FEI photo

Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy the Biz: Unlike his teammate, Billy the Biz was competed fairly consistently throughout the Olympic qualifying period, accumulating an impressive one rail in 10 rounds, along with twice incurring a single time penalty. Three of those rounds featured show jumping last and two were CCI3*, proving that this horse has something left in the tank on the last day. That talent should help Pippa climb into the individual final later today.

Current Place: 28th

Current Score: 84.3

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Horseware Hale Bob:  Even with a stop, these two are still inside the top 20, meaning they can use their jumping prowess for both team and individual benefit. This pair incurred their first rail in seven tries in their last outing at Aachen and have demonstrated that the CCI format is no problem with double clear rounds at both the CCI4* and CCI3* levels.

Current Place: 18th

Current Score: 65.5

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Opgun Louvo: Opgun Louvo last had a rail in his first round of 2015 and hasn’t made an error since in another five courses. Only one of those rounds was a CCI3* but two other rounds were in the cross-country first format. They’ll be another to make the individual round and benefit from their jumping ability.

Current Place: 20th (Tied)

Current Score: 66.4

Mark Kyle and Jemilla. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Mark Kyle and Jemilla. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Mark Kyle (IRE) and Jemilla: With only one rail in five rounds in the Olympic qualifying period, Jemilla’s jumping prowess should help Ireland, although it’s unlikely that these two will progress to the individual round.

Current Place: 35th

Current Score: 101.2

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sam Griffiths (AUS) and Paulank Brockagh: Yet another one-rail wonder, this pair last had a rail in May of 2015, although he did incur two time penalties this spring. Of the five rounds, three were at the CCI4* level, proving the height should be no challenge for this mare.

Current Place: 9th

Current Score: 53.1

Jonty Evans with Cooleys Rorkes Drift. Photo by Lorraine O'Sullivan, courtesy of Tattersalls International H.T.

Jonty Evans with Cooleys Rorkes Drift. Photo by Lorraine O’Sullivan, courtesy of Tattersalls International H.T.

Jonty Evans (IRE) and Cooley Rorkes Drift: Jonty Evans has had an absolutely cracking weekend and with Cooley Rorkes Drift’s talent on the final day, it’s probably going to get better. With only twice incurring a rail in a prolific 10 rounds in the past 18 months, along with a handful of time penalties here or there, two solid rounds could move this pair even further up the standings.

Current Place: 16th

Current Score: 64.6

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Michael Jung (GER) and La Biosthetique Sam: Despite a couple of notorious rails (like the one that lost him Badminton in 2013 and the two rails that lost him Rolex in 2015), this horse has actually been quite a careful jumper throughout his career, especially at the CCI4* level. In eight CCI4* events (counting the London Games), he’s jumped double clear six times. Somehow, the three rails he has accumulated have earned him a reputation as a less-than-careful jumper, when the reverse is actually true. Oh, and those two rails at Rolex were the only two rails he’s had in the past 18 months over seven rounds, four of which were at the four-star level.

Current Place: 2nd

Current Score: 40.9

Carlos Lobos Munoz (CHI) and Ranco: Who didn’t love watching this pair jumping around steadily yesterday? This jumping bean of a horse helped keep the Chile individual hopes alive. Although they only have one rail recently, they’ve only had three rounds at this level thus far, and accumulated seven time penalties in their last outing. A clear round could edge them into the final individual round.

Current Place: 3oth

Current Score: 92.1

Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B'Neville. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B’Neville. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Astier Nicolas (FRA) and Piaf de B’Neville: Fairly careful but not perfect, Piaf de B’Neville has twice incurred a single rail in six rounds over the Olympic qualifying period. Notably, these two jumped clear at both CCIs they attempted in the time period. With a stalking position of third place, a surprise win isn’t out of the question.

Current Place: 3rd

Current Score: 42.0

Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianamo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianamo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jonelle Price (NZL) and Faerie Dianimo:  This pair had an absolutely perfect show jumping record in the past 18 months right up until their final prep event at Aachen, where they incurred two rails. They’ll be looking to re-instate their habit of double clears to not only help their team but their individual placing.

Current Place: 13th

Current Score: 57.5

Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Gemma Tattersall (GBR) and Quicklook V: These two have accumulated a single rail in the stadium only three times out of nine rounds in the past 18 months. While they are too far down the standings to make the individual round, they are a pair to keep an eye on to put in the first clear round of the day.

Current Place:  43rd

Current Score: 136.8

The team show jumping round begins at 9 a.m. Follow along with us via our live updates, social media and the live stream! Click here for the show jumping order of go.

#Rio2016: WebsiteScheduleIndividual ScoresTeam ScoresEN’s Ultimate Guide to RioHow to Watch LiveEN’s CoverageTwitterInstagram