GB Show Jumpers Hold Fourth Place
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The first round of the show jumping team competition took place at the 2008 Olympic Games today.
Capacity crowds once again packed into the Olympic Equestrian venue in Sha Tin to witness some breathtaking performances. The colourful, technical course designed by Leopoldo Palacios and Steve Stephens produced just five clear rounds.
Team GB earlier announced the unfortunate withdrawal of John Whitaker and Rebecca Stones’ Peppermill from the first round of the team competition. Peppermill was a little tight and stiff over his back this morning and has been closely monitored by the Team Veterinarians and Equine Physiotherapist throughout the day. Despite receiving all the treatment and possible care, the decision was taken that it would not be right to ask the horse to jump round a track of Olympic standards and for this reason Peppermill was withdrawn from today’s round. This meant that all three remaining GB riders’ scores would count towards the team’s final tally. However, Nick, Tim and Ben remained firmly focussed on delivering the best possible result for Great Britain, and they did not disappoint.
Nick riding Lisa Hales’ Russel finished with eight penalties, a disappointed Nick said:
“I shouldn't have had two down – I’m very annoyed. When I wanted him to run on, he held back and equally when I wanted him to shorten, he ran on for our two fences down. We'll have to wait and see what happens."
Tim with John Bosher’s Corlato jumped a super round and was extremely unlucky to have the first part of the tricky combination down to finish with just four penalties. A delighted Tim commented:
“Very pleased with her, she felt really ‘on it’ - much crisper than the other night. The message came back to us that some of the fences were difficult to see under the lights, with the white screen and the flame as backgrounds. If there is a right type of mistake to make, I did it by jumping too high over the middle part of the combination. Tonight has gone well for me with no mistakes.”
Ben riding Daniel Paul’s Rolette emulated Tim’s score, having just four faults, again at the tricky combination, but this time lowering the middle element. Speaking after his round Ben said:
“The water was a big ask for her with her experience but I was thrilled with how she jumped it I was advised to come slowly into the combination which I did and wouldn’t have ridden it any different. She knocked the first element which made her think about the second but we should have gone clear really”
Today’s performance leaves Great Britain sharing fourth place overnight with Canada on a total score of sixteen penalties. With just one fence separating the first four nations, they have everything to ride for in tomorrow’s final round of the team competition when the medals will be decided. The teams going forward to tomorrow’s final round are as follows:
- =1st Switzerland 12 penalties
- =1st United States of America 12 penalties
- 3rd Sweden 13 penalties
- =4th Great Britain 16 penalties
- =4th Canada 16 penalties
- =6th The Netherlands 17 penalties
- =6th Norway 17 penalties
- =8th Germany 20 penalties
- =8th Australia 20 penalties
