The Germans simply do it all again to clinch double gold at Greenwich
by Louise Parkes
Team Germany repeated their 2008 Olympic medal-winning performance when claiming Eventing team and individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic equestrian venue in Greenwich Park today. Such was their supremacy that they clinched the team title even before their last rider went into the ring, and Michael Jung set a new record in equestrian sport when becoming the first-ever event rider to hold Olympic, European and World titles at the same time. What a way to celebrate his 30thbirthday!
The finale brought four fabulous days of Eventing sport to the perfect conclusion. After the destination of team gold had been established, the battle for silver and bronze was waged between Great Britain, Sweden and New Zealand, and it was the host nation that was eventually rewarded with silver while the Kiwis claimed the bronze.
It seemed that Sweden might be compensated for being pushed off the team medal podium when Sara Algotsson Ostholt went into the individual final as sole leader after Germany’s Ingrid Klimke left two fences on the floor in this morning’s team medal decider. But a last-fence error saw the Swede having to settle for silver, while Jung showed his extraordinary class to clinch the gold, with his team-mate Sandra Auffarth securing individual bronze in equally convincing fashion.
TEAM FINAL
The 12-fence track for the team competition was not over-big, but with plenty of twists and turns, including four roll-backs, and a tight time-allowed of 83 seconds it asked plenty of questions after the previous day’s tough cross-country challenge.
A total of 53 horse-and-rider partnerships lined out, and there were just nine teams still intact, the Belgians going out of contention when Dunkas A (Marc Rigouts) and Lilly des Aulnes (Joris Van Springel) did not present for the final horse inspection, along with Donatien Schauly’s Ocarina du Chanois for France, and Michelle Mueller’s Amistad for Canada. The US team was reduced to four when Boyd Martin’s Otis Barbotiere was withdrawn in the holding box, along with Wag, the ride of Poland’s Pawel Spisak.
There were just 12 clear rounds, and the first was registered by Italian individual Vittoria Panizzon who was lying 22nd after a great gallop across country with borough Penny Z. Her compatriot Stefano Brecciaroli was one of just two riders to have a refusal, and both happened at the vertical coming off a left-hand turn at fence 6, the Cutty Sark.
Less than 10 penalty points separated the four leading nations as the action began, and nine time faults for Jonelle Richards (Flintstar) didn’t help the fourth-placed Kiwis, but the lovely clear from Linda Algotsson and La Fair was a great boost for third-placed Sweden.
EXCITEMENT
The excitement was ratcheted up another notch when Team GB’s William Fox-Pitt was clear well inside the time with Lionheart, although team-mate Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz hit the second fence. Germany kicked off with two down for Peter Thomsen and Barny, but Dirk Schrade and King Artus piled the pressure on both the British and the Swedes with a lovely clear.
Meanwhile Caroline Powell’s living legend, Lenamore, showed that even though he celebrates his 20th birthday tomorrow, 1 August, because he was born in the Southern Hemisphere, he was definitely none-the-worse for his previous day’s endeavours when almost running away with his rider during the horse inspection and then lowering just the last element of the triple combination on course. Powell’s team-mate, Jonathan Paget, gave the Swedes and British some breathing space with one down on Clifton Promise, but when Sweden’s Niklas Lindback and Mr Pooh collected nine faults and Britain’s Zara Phillips and High Kingdom hit the second fence and then added three time penalties to their score line, the Kiwis kept looking stronger all the time.
In the end however, none of the them could match the mighty Germans who, with a single-fence advantage as the competition began, already had gold in their grip when Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo gave an exhibition of jumping and Michael Jung and Sam followed suit. Swedish medal chances disappeared with a double-error for Ludvig Svnnerstal and Shamwari, despite a clear from Sara Algotsson Ostholt and the lovely mare Wega. But the Swedes still had individual gold in their sights when the latter’s rival for individual pole position, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, had two fences down to disappear from the reckoning. Typically sporting, Klimke gave a broad smile and waved to the crowd, knowing she would soon have a team gold medal around her neck anyway.
CLOSING STAGES
It was a super-tight battle between Britain and New Zealand in the closing stages.
Mary King’s round with Imperial Cavalier kept the host nation’s hopes very much alive, but Andrew Nicholson and Nereo matched that with a classy fault-free effort for New Zealand. However, when Nicholson’s fellow-countryman, Mark Todd, collected seven faults with Campino and Britain’s Tina Cook and Miners Frolic picked up just a single time fault, the host nation was assured of silver and the Kiwis of bronze.
German team trainer, Chris Bartle, said afterwards: “I’m delighted, and proud of the tremendous performances of this team. At the beginning of the week I brought them together and asked them to shut their eyes and dream of a gold medal around their necks.” It seems that worked a treat.
Britain’s Tina Cook said: “It was a silver medal won, not a gold medal lost. It was a very strong competition, and we did have a chance of gold today but we could have lost it completely and have gone home with nothing at all. Silver is still very special.”
One of the biggest surprises of the team event was the fifth-place finish for the Irish who, at this Olympic Games, have produced some really quality performances. Despite being reduced to just a three-strong side, they stood firm today with Aoife Clark’s clear round from Master Crusoe putting pressure on the Americans and Australians. And when Joseph Murphy matched that with Electric Cruise and Mark Kyle put just 7.20 faults on the board they demoted two giants of the game to show that, in the not-too-distant-future, they may return to being truly competitive in the discipline in which they once excelled.
INDIVIDUAL FINAL
Clear rounds proved hard to get once again in the Individual final, in which just 24 started when Ingrid Klimke withdrew. Lying 13th, Zara Phillips produced one of nine clean sheets, despite a moment when it seemed she might be unseated after a big jump from High Kingdom over the second fence. Aoife Clark’s second fault-free effort of the day ensured she would improve from 11th place, and when Australia’s Chris Burton (HP Leilani) and New Zealand’s Mark Todd both left two on the floor the Irish woman made some serious headway up the leader board.
Going sixth from last, Andrew Nicholson and Nereo looked set for a foot-perfect run until meeting the white planks at fence six on a bad distance, but fifth-place Sandra Auffarth ensured she would stay well in the frame with another of her awe-inspiring rounds from Opgun Louvo.
There was just one fence separating the top four, and less than a fence dividing the top three, but for Britain’s Tina Cook and Mary King it all unravelled in exactly the same places. Both of them hit the opening vertical and then faulted again at the gate two fences later to allow Auffarth to soar up the placings. And when fellow-German, Michael Jung, produced yet another super-smooth tour of the track, the Germans were already holding silver and bronze.
DESTINED
Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt could afford only a single time fault, and seemed destined for the ultimate prize with her lovely mare, Wega, jumping quick and clean all the way. But as she explained afterwards, she made a mistake on the last line of fences. “She was a little bit strong, but we had to ride quite fast because of the time and I came fast into the triple combination (the penultimate fence). I told her to be careful there, and I also asked her at the last, but I needed more control, she lost a toe and so it happened,” she said. That final oxer meant the difference between Olympic gold and silver, with Michael Jung claiming the title.
The new Olympic eventing champion said he jumped off his horse to see Algotsson Ostholt go. “She’s a very good rider, but that was a sad mistake for her in the end”, admitting that he had been expecting to finish second, “but first is better!” he exclaimed. “It was a big dream for me to ride in my first Olympic Games, but every competition is very easy with Sam (his horse), he always does a great job. I had hoped that if it all went perfectly we would have a medal coming to these Olympic Games, but never in my dreams did I think I would take home two gold medals!”
Facts and Figures
Double-gold medallist, Germany’s Michael Jung, celebrated his 30th birthday today.
4 horses did not present at the final horse inspection - Donatien Schauly’s Ocarina du Chanois (FRA), Michelle Mueller’s Amistad (Canada), Belgium’s Dunkas A (Marc Rigouts) and Lilly des Aulnes (Joris Van Springel).
2 horses were withdrawn in the Holding Box - Otis Barbotiere (Boyd Martin) USA and Wag (Pawel Spisak) POL.
Individual final Jumping test is open to the top 25, including ties for 25th place, with a restriction of 3 horse/rider combinations per country.
9 nations competed for the team medals this morning – Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, Ireland, Australia, USA, France, Brazil.
Australia, Ireland and Brazil started today with just three horse-and-rider combinations.
Only one member of the Dutch team remained in the competition on the last day.
This was the first time for The Netherlands to field an Olympic Eventing team in 20 years, but they had only three team members and when Elaine Pen was unseated at the second water yesterday that put paid to a finishing score for the Dutch.
Hawley Bennett-Awad (Canada) fell on the cross-country course yesterday. She incurred a stable fracture of her pelvis, but was discharged from hospital this afternoon.
53 horse-and-rider combinations started the final day.
12 clear rounds in team competition.
The three-man Brazilian team finished in ninth place and are now looking forward to Rio 2016.
Mark Todd (NZL) equalled the record set by America’s Mike Plumb when winning his sixth Olympic eventing medal today.
Quotes:
Zara Phillips (GBR), talking about what it was like after knocking the second fence - “I just had to get on with it, I think Nicola had the same fence down and I wish they hadn’t told me. After that fantastic day yesterday he (High Kingdom) was not completely himself this morning but he did really well. I’m disappointed for the team but really happy for him (High Kingdom).”
Zara Phillips (GBR), asked what it was like competing under such pressure and in front of so many of her family - “the whole week has been an amazing experience. He’s an inexperienced horse and coped really well yesterday after losing two front shoes. Today he might have been better off if my mother was on him!”
Ingrid Klimke (GER) "I am so proud, but most of all I am proud of my horse (Butts Abraxxas). He showed all his qualities here in London and to have just two fences down was not too bad. Jumping is not his strongest phase and it wasn't a catastrophe."
Tina COOK (GBR), team silver, on how she coped with the pressure of having to jump clear to secure the silver medal for her team: "It was mind over matter, although now I've finished I'm so frustrated that I had a time fault and have dropped down to fourth individually. I can't get too excited about winning a medal, as I've got to come back out and do it again."
Karen O'CONNOR (USA) on how these Olympic Games compare with previous ones in which she has competed: "Every Games is unique. I lived here (in Great Britain) for several years so everything is very familiar and I have lots of fans here, which is amazing."
Karen O’Connor - On how many more Olympics she might compete in: "I'll continue until someone pulls me aside and says 'you're getting too old for this', and that hasn't happened yet."
Andrew NICHOLSON (NZL), on his clear round with Nereo, finishing on 45.00: "It felt very, very good today. Mine is a big horse and he can get time faults. I can't afford to ask him to go too fast because if I open his stride too much he could have fences down".
Jonelle RICHARDS (NZL), on the feeling within the New Zealand team: "There's a brilliant feeling inside our camp. It makes a great difference when you have a chemistry between the riders."
Jonelle Richards talking about her horse Flintstar:"My horse is young, I'm young and we'll both get smarter."
Sandra AUFFARTH (GER) on her attitude going into the jumping: "My horse and I were both the same. We were very concentrated. I did not worry because we have such a good relationship."
You can find all the results here
FEI Press Release, 230.7.12:
Tight at the top for Olympic team and individual Eventing medals
by Louise Parkes
Olympic Eventing cross-country produced spectacular sport in Greenwich Park today where at the end of an afternoon filled with thrills, spills, dramas and excitement, team Germany maintained the advantage. But it’s only a slight one, as the host British side lies just over five penalty points behind in silver medal position going into tomorrow’s final jumping phase, while Sweden is just over a single point further in arrears.
And first-day dressage joint-leaders – Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) – returned to the top of the individual leaderboard when Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa was one of 10 fallers on the track over which 15 of the 70 starters were eliminated. Should Klimke and Algotsson Ostholt hold firm tomorrow, the German may live to regret her speedy and seamless tour of the track with Butts Abraxxas, as it her Swedish rival who crossed the finlsh-line closest to the optimum time with her mare, Wega, meaning the Swede would finish ahead.
PENDULUM
The pendulum swung wildly throughout the day, with Britain and Germany playing cat-and-mouse for pole position, while the Swedes rose to third when the Australians lost their grip on overnight runner-up spot. The Aussies were severely hampered by elimination for both Sam Griffiths (Happy Times) who fell on the flat between fences, and anchorman Clayton Fredericks who hit the turf when Bendigo lost his landing gear after the big drop at fence 20. When Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish had a run-out at the narrow upbank exit from the second water complex, the Australians completed in sixth place and start tomorrow 17 points behind team USA in fifth.
Joint-fourth with the Swedes after Dressage, the New Zealand side held their ground when adding just over five penalty points to their tally. Andrew Nicholson (Nereo) produced one of nine rounds within the optimum time, which rocketed him from 21st to ninth placing going into the final day. And it is really tight at the top of the individual leaderboard – the joint-leaders just 0.2 ahead of the masterful Kiwi Mark Todd who nursed the inexperienced Campino home with just 0.40 time penalties to maintain the hold on bronze medal position he established at the end of yesterday’s dressage phase.
PIVOTAL
Michael Jung’s clean sheet with Sam was pivotal to German dominance today, and this partnership lies individually fourth ahead of Great Britain’s Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) and Mary King (Imperial Cavalier), who hold fifth and sixth places respectively, while Sweden’s Ludvig Svennerstal really put himself on the map when adding just 0.4 for time to slot into seventh with Shamwari, just ahead of Germany’s Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo) in eighth.
If it was a pressure-filled day for all the riders, it was almost unbearably so for the British who had to contend with the wild enthusiasm of the vast majority of the 50,000 spectators who poured into the Olympic equestrian venue from early this morning. They couldn’t contain themselves as their super-stars appeared, and there was an unbelievable wall of sound from thousands of supporters as each of them travelled round the course. Pathfinder Nicola Wilson, got them off to the perfect start with a fault-free run from Opposition Buzz that broke the beam in 9.52 minutes, demonstrating that the clear produced by Australia’s first-line rider Chris Burton (HP Leilani), second to take on the 29-fence track, was very possible indeed.
But Mary King’s Imperial Cavalier is a strong horse at the best of times, and the noise from the behind the ropes just spurred him on over the early part of the track. He was running so freely that her compulsory stop after the second water complex, due to fence damage incurred when Japan’s Takayuki Yumira and Latina tipped up at the Cricket Ball Basket (fence 23), may well have been opportune. “I was very nervous of the crowd”, King said after resuming her ride to complete with just 1.2 time penalties, “but it was wonderful to have such support behind us.”
PALED INTO INSIGNIFICANCE
If the crowds had been noisy during King’s round, it paled into insignificance compared to the reception given to Zara Phillips and High Kingdom. Others might have buckled under the strain, but the former World and European champion, whose supporters club included her mother, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne), and cousins Princes William and Harry along with the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, just cracked on to defy her occasional critics and produce the ride of her life – a clear round at the Olympic Games which would count towards the team score at the end of the day despite the loss of a front shoe.
But it was the double-clears from Klimke and Jung that sealed the lead for the Germans. Peter Thomsen (Barny) added 5.2 time penalties to his scoreline, Dirk Schrade (King Artus) picked up 10.8 of the same, but Sandra Auffarth collected just 4.8 with Opgun Louvo to leave the Germans on a tally of 124.70.
Niklas Lindback helped clinched that third spot for Sweden but was lucky to get away with bad stride at the last where Mr Pooh was managed to stay on his feet after hitting it hard. The slippery ground played a significant role today, penalising two riders who fell on the flat and slowing others down.
The award for the most sensational dismount of the day might well have gone to Holland’s Elaine Pen who, going sixth from last, was unseated at the middle element of second water and hung on for her life with the crowd roaring her encouragement before gravity won out. Bitterly disappointed to drop into the shallow water, she turned to her mare Vira to give her an apologetic pat and a hug.
As the dust settled tonight, Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt said she was “very happy” to be in joint-first place individually and that “we have a good team and if we have a good day tomorrow then we have a real chance”. But as Mark Todd pointed out “it’s very, very close and, as we’ve known since long before these Games, there are so many good horses and riders, it will be very close tomorrow”.
Course designer, Sue Benson, said “it was a marvellous day, with lovely pictures of our sport being beamed all around the world, and the horses finished extremely well due to some wonderful riding”.
The fate of the Eventing medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games are still very much hanging in the balance. It’s still all to play for tomorrow....
Facts and Figures
Germany maintained the lead established in dressage when adding just 15.6 penalties to their first-phase total.
9 horse-and-rider combinations completed the track inside the optimum time of 10mins 03 seconds.
15 eliminations, including dressage leader, Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan, who was unseated on landing over the drop at fence 20 (Royal Greenwich Borough).
10 rider falls; 4 horse falls; 1 elimination for 3 refusals.
Germany’s Ingrid Klimke (Butts Abraxxas) and Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt (Wega) share the individual lead going into the final day.
Quotes:
The Royal Park at Greenwich lived up to its name, attracting a hugely enthusiastic crowd that included British royal family members, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne), Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, along with former FEI President HRH Dona Pilar de Borbon and current FEI President, HRH Princess Haya.
Lord Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), was also on hand to watch the thrilling action at Greenwich Park.
Course designer Sue Benson: “cross-country day is always difficult. Whatever you think, some of the things you expect don’t happen and unexpected things do.”
Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) - “I’m very disappointed about that (run-out at the second water) because the rest of the ride was fabulous. I just didn’t get those ears lined up between those two flags! But my horse is still young and I guarantee we will win a medal for our country one day”.
Andrew Hoy (AUS) - “This was the toughest course, terrain-wise, I have every ridden at an Olympic Games.”
Zara Phillips - “the crowd were unbelievable, and it was fun! The ground was very slippery and that made it hard work.”
Sandra Auffarth (GER) - “During the last minute (on the course) I felt him (Opgun Louvo) getting tired and I reduced the speed. I had to avoid any mishaps for the team. That was the biggest difficulty of this course, you could only guess how tiring it would be on the horses.”
Michael Jung (GER) - “I am very happy. The course was very difficult. It was really tricky but the horse is small with plenty of thoroughbred speed and he jumped very well. We are in good form”.
Michael Jung (GER) - “Tonight I am out for dinner with my family to get some new power for tomorrow!”
Sam Griffiths (AUS) - “My horse slipped on the flat and lost his back end. Then the next thing I knew I was on the floor. I’m absolutely gutted, but that is sport. The going was quite hard so I did not want to put big studs in. That’s maybe why he slipped.”
Ingrid Klimke (GER) - “I knew the course was really challenging and I am so thrilled with my very wonderful horse. He made it easy for me. Four years ago in Hong Kong he did the same, and I am very privileged to have him.”
You can find all the results here:
Individual results HERE
Team results HERE
FEI Press Release, 29. Juli 2012:
The quiet man from Japan steals Eventing dressage limelight
by Louise Parkes
Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Noonday de Conde produced a sensational test to take the individual lead in the closing stages of Eventing dressage at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich Park (GBR) today. The quiet-spoken 36-year-old admitted afterwards that he could hardly believe it. “I’m a bit shocked”, he said at the post-competition press conference. “Nobody expected it – as you can see there are not many Japanese media here!”. On an extraordinary day, it was Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli who slotted into second place while New Zealand’s Mark Todd moved into third. Both Oiwa and Todd’s results proved pivotal for their teams, with Japan rising to fill sixth place in the team rankings behind the Kiwis, who go into tomorrow’s cross-country phase in joint-fourth along with Sweden.
As it stands tonight, the host nation lies third behind Australia in second while the defending champions from Germany are already out in front. But with just three penalty points separating the first two, and the British less than five points adrift, stalked by the Swedes and Kiwis just 1.2 points further behind, there is very little in it. As German Chef d’Equipe and Coach, Hans Melzer, said this evening, “the four top riders are just one point away from each other and the teams are so close. They might as well start tomorrow on a zero score. Psychologically today’s result is good and our team did a super job and I’m happy for that, but tomorrow is another day.”
THRILL A MINUTE
The second day of Dressage was a thrill a minute from the outset. There was intense excitement ahead of the arrival of Team GB’s Zara Phillips and High Kingdom, third into the arena this morning, and they didn’t disappoint, making a dramatic entrance that was full of pizazz and earning a score of 46.10 despite a serious mix-up over the first flying-change in canter. With Robbie Williams’ “She’s the One” playing in the background, the 31-year-old Briton kept calm and carried on to finish with a flourish and to rapturous applause.
She was immediately upstaged however by the pure accuracy of Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Wega who nailed all the changes to perfection as they powered through their test to join first-day leaders Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas in temporary pole position on a score of 39.30. “We started very tense in trot and I thought – how is this going to turn out? But after the walk, which was good, she relaxed a bit and the canter was very nice”, Algotsson Ostholt explained afterwards. Wega was bred by the rider’s mother, and it’s quite a family affair for the Algotssons at London 2012 as Sara’s sister, Linda, was first in for the Swedish team yesterday riding Wega’s half-sister, La Fair. Algotsson Ostholt said she knew her short-limbed but big-bodied mare was ready for the Olympics when finishing second at the German Championships recently, where the pair picked up a dressage mark of 34.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell was “disappointed” with her performance with Lenamore who belied his 19 years of age when nearly galloping out of the main arena after posting a score of 52.2. The crowd had exploded with excitement after the previous score was announced, and Lenamore lit up when he heard the roars. “He’d been doing so well outside”, Powell said afterwards. But the popular Kiwi duo also got a huge reception at the end of their test which included some lovely extended trot work. “You can feel the affection people have for him (Lenamore) – he has a big fan-base”, said the Scottish-based rider whose mother died just a few weeks ago after a long battle with cancer. In perhaps an appropriate coincidence, the hymn, Abide with Me, which was sung so exquisitely by Scotland’s Emeli Sande during the Olympic Opening Ceremony last Friday night, played discreetly in the background throughout Powell’s test.
CONTINUED TO BUILD
The Australians continued to build on their position with a mark of 40.00 from Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish, while Tina Cook’s rain-drenched but happy ride with Miners Frolic, rewarded with 42.00, did British chances no harm. But then suddenly the Swedes sprang into contention when Niklas Lindback and Mister Pooh posted 45.20 following a short break while a thunderstorm rolled across the park. When New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, the man much-fancied to take individual eventing gold at these Games, posted precisely the same score with Nereo there was some surprise. His 12-year-old gelding didn’t settle to his job, and Nicholson blamed the halt in proceedings. “There were two serious riders about to go in - I had seven minutes to go and he (Nereo) was starting to find his best work when they decided to stop”, Nicholson said. He didn’t mind the thunder and lightning, but during the 10-minute hold I had to just walk him around and he thought he was in a training session. He got really quiet and confused, he switched off.”
There was nothing switched off about Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo WD Wendi Kurt Hoev, who burst into the lead with a fabulous test that put 38.50 on the board. “I am so happy, but most of all for my beautiful horse!” he said. “I made one mistake and I am sorry for him that I did that. He is good at dressage”, the rider pointed out in somewhat of an understatement. “He got 35.00 at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky where we were second after dressage, but the cross-country will be difficult”, he added wisely. Another great score – 40.40 – from Clayton Fredericks and Bendigo further cemented the Australian position, but the Germans couldn’t be surpassed when Sandra Auffarth’s mark of 40.00 was added to the 39.30 and 39.80 registered yesterday by Ingrid Klimke and Dirk Schrade respectively. The final German partnership of Michael Jung and Sam found their 40.60 surplus to requirements in the team calculation, but good enough for 11th place individually at this early stage.
SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE
But no-one could have anticipated the spectacular performance from Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Noonday de Conde. This fabulous 11-year-old French-bred mare was beautifully ridden by her 36-year-old rider who has been training with Dirk Schrade in Germany for the past three years. The softness of Oiwa’s hand and leg-aids, and the quietness of his riding style, produced a test filled with poise, elegance, balance and a little bit of magic to earn a mark of 38.10 which took the individual lead and rocketed Japan up into fifth place in the teams. Asked afterwards what Schrade had said about his pupil’s fantastic performance, Oiwa answered “he said there were a few things I could have done better – it wasn’t good enough he told me!”
As last man in, Mark Todd, entered the arena his country was lying eighth. The top team placings were already decided in this first phase, with Germany in the lead ahead of Australia in second and Great Britain in third – William Fox-Pitt’s 44.10 with Lionheart failing to improve the British scoreline.
Following his retirement in 2000, Todd was awarded the title “Rider of the Century” by the FEI, but admitted on returning to the sport in order to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing that the level of dressage had gone beyond anything he had previously experienced, and that he was struggling with that. Today, however. this remarkable man, now aged 56, blew away the last of the cobwebs with a breathtaking performance that oozed comfort, ease, experience and pure enjoyment to put 39.10 on the scoreboard and put New Zealand right back into the frame in equal-fourth place with Sweden.
As the dressage phase concluded today there was an almost dream-like quality to the way it unfolded, but it was Todd who said 12 months ago, after the Olympic Test Event, that what riders will need to be successful over the cross-country course at Greenwich Park this summer would be “a sharp little pony”. And Ireland has one of those.
As the questions turned to tomorrow’s cross-country test, Todd said this evening that “the fences are not particularly difficult. Hardest to read is the narrow bank coming out of the water (fence 18b, the Inland Waterways), but with the hills, the twists and the turns, and riders going really fast, problems can happen anywhere, including the corner at the end of the course (fence 24ab, The Rose Garden).”
Camilla Speirs may be lying equal 27th, but her score of 47.60 is less than 10 points off the leader and the part-Connemara Portersize Just a Jiff, which she rode in pony competitions until he grew too big as a six-year-old, is barely 155cms high. He goes like a cruise missile and his 22-year-old rider is fully focused on her job.
Speirs said today “you’ll really have to ride the course with your head. My horse is usually good at coming back to me and he holds his line and just gets on with it.” Like all the rest, she and her “sharp little pony” will be giving it their best shot over one of the most talked-about cross-country courses of all time which is likely to prove pivotal to the London 2012 Eventing medals.
Facts and Figures
Today’s competition brought the second day of Eventing dressage at the London 2012 Olympic Games to a close.
Tomorrow’s cross-country phase begins at 12.30 local time in Greenwich Park, London.
Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Noonday de Conde took the individual lead today.
The defending Olympic champions from Germany head the team leaderboard going into tomorrow’s cross-country phase.
Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli (Apollo WD Wendi Kurt Hoeve) lies in second place after the dressage phase, with New Zealand’s Mark Todd (Campino) sitting in third.
Quotes:
Linda Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) talking about her mare, Wega - “She’s very much a woman. You can’t tell her anything, you have to ask her nicely and be gentle with her, then she will do anything for you!”
Linda Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) - “My mother has one amazing mare that has produced two of the horses on this Swedish team and she has more like them at home!”
Clayton Fredericks (AUS) - “He (Bendigo) did stumble at the end of the canter work, which probably stopped us from getting under the 40% barrier but there is still a lot to play for in this competition.”
Philip Dutton (USA) on his performance with Mystery Whisper - “I am pleased without being ecstatic, as you can always do better. In dressage it is so difficult to balance going for flamboyancy and producing the softness the judges are looking for.”
Michael Jung (GER) - “I had a good feeling. Sam was calm and I could really work with him. We had two little mistakes. I would have expected more but I am happy with the team result. We will see tomorrow where we stand.”
Michael Jung (GER) talking about the performance of his pupil, Japan’s Kenki Sato riding Chippieh, who is in overnight 15th - “That was a super job. His horse is in great form and Kenki did well today. I hope he can keep this result.”
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) when asked why he chose the 17-year-old Hildago de L’Ile rather than a younger horse for London 2012 - “For the Olympics, experience counts.”
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) on his expectations, after winning team gold in Athens 2004 - “A medal first - what colour it is we’ll have to wait and see!”
Caroline Powell (NZL) - “the biggest challenge on the cross-country course will be the cambers and the undulations. It might make the horses back off the fences a bit.”
You can find all the results here
Individuals: http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/eventing-individual/index.html?v=20120729-165124274
Team: http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/eventing-team/index.html
FEI Press Release, 28.Juli 2012:
A great day for Germany, but the Aussies hold team reins
by Louise Parkes
German riders filled the top two places in the individual rankings as Olympic Eventing got underway at Greenwich Park in London (GBR) today with the first of two days of dressage. Ingrid Klimke, team gold medallist at the Beijing Games equestrian events in Hong Kong four years ago, steered Butts Abraxxas to a score of 39.30 for a narrow lead over Dirk Schrade partnering King Artus. The host nation’s Mary King and Imperial Cavalier slotted into third, just one penalty point further adrift, but it is Australia that heads the team standings.
A total of 37 horse-and-rider combinations lined out, but just seven of the 12 competing nations fielded three riders – the remaining four sending in just two of their five team members, while only one of the three-strong Dutch squad took their turn in accordance with the draw. So while the team leaderboard shows the Aussies on top, with a score of 133.20 for a four-point lead over Germany, and almost 17 points ahead of the third-place team from the USA, there is likely to be some considerable change when the action resumes tomorrow morning.
ELECTRIC
The atmosphere in the ring was electric from the outset, but America’s Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere kept their cool when pathfinders to score 50.70. That was immediately relegated by the 46.20 posted by Chris Burton and HP Leilani which gave the Australians a very strong start indeed. And when Sam Griffiths (Happy Times) put 45.79 on the board and Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen) was even more impressive with 41.70, then the men from Down Under were sitting pretty.
Hoy’s ride was confident and clean, and the four-time Olympic medallist is already assured of making his mark in London by matching the record set by America’s Mike Plumb for most Olympic appearances in Eventing by competing at his seventh Games. But another medal to add to the three team golds won at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, and individual silver also in Sydney, would be a very nice bonus, and Rutherglen certainly looks fit and ready.
The Australian team has not had the easiest lead-in to Games time, with both Shane Rose and Megan Jones suffering the disappointment of horse injuries leading to a very late call-up for Griffiths just two days ago. But they seem to be coping with all the hiccups with consummate ease and look a real threat at this early stage.
PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT
The home fans were given plenty to cheer about when their super-heroine Mary King, whose career as an Olympian spans 20 years, produced yet another of her trademark polished performances with Imperial Cavalier. Nicola Wilson managed to contain the exuberant Opposition Buzz to kick-start the British effort with a mark of 51.70, but King’s 40.90 has pinned them into a secure position, and with Zara Phillips (High Kingdom), Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) and the inimitable William Fox-Pitt (Lionheart) still to come, the home side can look forward to further improvement.
King said her horse was “a bit tense and we made a few little mistakes, particularly at the last flying change, when I lost him. But I’m absolutely delighted to think this was probably the second best Olympic dressage test I have ever done”. The six-time Olympian was feeling very emotional as she left the arena to resounding applause – “I’m not going to cry but I’m close to it with the home crowd all around me and so behind me!” the popular 51-year-old admitted.
POLE POSITION
It was Klimke who clinched pole position, however, when upstaging team-mate Dirk Schrade with a test that oozed precision, power and accuracy. “I enjoyed the ride, he did a good job,” she said of the 15-year-old Butts Abraxxas. “He’s usually relaxed but he came into the ring a bit spooky,” she explained. “I was happy he listened to me. He was easy and supple to ride so I could go for the extensions, and he was relaxed in his walk so I was able to ride everything totally correct. When a horse is like that you have the chance to get everything totally correct”, she added
She’s already thinking ahead to Monday’s cross-country phase. “It’s a very beautiful course. When we walked it I thought that it’s very clear to the horses what they have to do and that is good. On Monday I will see how Peter (Thomsen) goes. After he has gone we will have more information,” she said.
There is a lot more dressage to be seen before that happens however, and it is Japan’s Atsushi Negishi and Pretty Darling who are first into the arena tomorrow morning, while former World and European champion Zara Phillips, grand-daughter of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, will be a big crowd-puller when third to go of the remaining 36 who have yet to undertake their dressage challenge.
Facts and Figures
Eventing kicked off the equestrian sports action at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich Park today.
37 horse-and-rider combinations competed in the first day of Eventing dressage.
7 of the 12 teams were drawn with three riders in today’s start-list.
4 of the remaining five countries had just two riders in action while just one of the three-strong Dutch side did the test.
Australia currently leads the team rankings.
Individual leader is Germany’s Ingrid Klimke with Butts Abraxxas, a member of the gold medal winning side at the Beijing Games equestrian events in Hong Kong in 2008.
Australia’s Andrew Hoy will match the record set by the USA’s Mike Plumb for most Olympic appearances in Eventing when competing at his seventh Games in London.
Hoy, who is currently lying fourth with Rutherglen, is a four-time Olympic medallist.
Quotes
New Zealand’s Jonathan Paget (lying 6th) - “The fact that this is called the Olympics makes it special, but it’s the same size arena as in any other competition.”
Jonathan Paget, talking about his former career as a bricklayer - “Yes, this (competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games) is much better than laying bricks! I did five years of it before I did an apprenticeship in horse riding, Even then I still used to lay bricks in Sydney and Queensland in the closed-season.”
America’s Karen O’Connor, talking about her horse’s preparation - “I changed him (Mr Medicott) into a double bridle this morning and I am grateful I did because I could keep pushing. That’s what saved my test”.
Great Britain’s Nicola Wilson, on being at the London Olympic Games - “It’s absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere when I rode into the main arena was amazing. The view from the arena is fabulous, but clearly I wasn’t looking at it that much. It really is a dream come true and something I’ve dreamed of since childhood.”
Australia’s Christopher Burton - “You’re always nervous the night before a competition. I didn’t march in the Opening Ceremony – Mum back in Australia was very disappointed – but I nodded off watching it on TV in the Village (next to the Stadium). Then at midnight there was this big bang and I thought we were being bombed – a but it was only the fireworks!”.