Jumping: team tussle heats up

The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Brazil are all on zero scores at the top of the teams jumping competition in Rio

rio show jumping Azur McLain Ward
McLain Ward rides Azur for the USA (Image: Libby Law)

After the first round of the teams competition, there is quite a tussle for the leaderboard. With the best three scores from each team counting, USA currently have three on zero, plus Beezie Madden on eight faults, and Germany have an even more impressive score sheet, with three clears plus Ludger Beerbaum on four faults.

The Dutch and Brazilian teams have just three riders each left in the competition, but they all went clear, so there are four teams with perfect scores at this stage.

Sitting on just one fault are the French, after Roger Yves Bost incurred a time fault. Canada are on four faults, and Sweden and Switzerland are on eight; and these are the top eight teams that will progress.

Defending team champions, Great Britain, will be devastated to have missed out after uncharacteristic rounds from the veteran all-male quartet, and the Australians are out too.

After two rounds of the individual competition (the first team round also counted for the individual), there are 11 riders now on double clear, and another two on one fault. One is on two faults and 11 are on four faults. There are still at least two rounds to go before the individual medals are decided.

The first horse and rider out on the course set the standard. Luciana Diniz, riding as an individual for Portugal, did a lovely clear round on Fit For Fun 13. She had incurred eight penalties in the first individual round. The course caused a number of issues though, and there were just 20 clear rounds today out of the 60 competitors.

POR-Luciana Diniz rides Fit For Fun 13 in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Luciana Diniz from Portugal and Fit For Fun 13 set the standard (Image: Libby Law)

Australian Scott Keach nearly ended up in the water when his horse Fedor slammed the brakes on and catapulted him over his head. Scott hit the board in front of the water, nearly taking the bridle with him. Instead of catching his horse, he walked out of the arena in a – frankly – disgraceful display, leaving the ground crew and his groom to deal with the horse. Scott last rode at the Olympics 28 years ago at Seoul, and he had an issue there with the water, ending up in the second water in the cross-country. In those days you could get back on and complete after a fall, and he did, eventually finishing the competition in 28th place.

AUS-Scott Keach rides Fedor in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Fedor waits for somebody to retrieve him (Image: Libby Law)

For four more riders, the Olympics are over. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar on Rokfeller de Pleville was eliminated when he had two stops. Eduardo is the son of Luis Alvarez who is the New Zealand eventing team’s show jumping coach. Luis certainly hasn’t had a Games he would like to remember.

Also eliminated was Jur Vrieling on Zirocco Blue, who wouldn’t take on the treble. Jur was only competing in the teams event after being disqualified from the individual on the first day after excessive use of the whip. He didn’t carry a whip today and again spoke of his regret. He was at loss as to why his horse had undergone such a terrible change of form. “I had trained very hard for a show like this. I don’t know why. The horse cannot speak. I have never had a problem, never like this.”

The Dutch were hot favourites going into this event, and luckily for them, their three remaining riders, individual World Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam (Zenith), Harrie Smolders (Emerald), and Maikel Van der Vleuten (Verdi) are all in fine form.

NED-Harry Smolders rides Emerald in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Harry Smolders and Emerald (Image: Libby Law)

Stephan de Freitas Barcha from Brazil and Cassio Rivetti from Ukraine were both disqualified today, for excessive use of spurs. Stephan had incurred eight faults in today’s round.

The Germans looked very polished, with only Ludger having one rail. Daniel Deusser’s horse, First Class, put in one of the most impressive rounds, and Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) was flawless. Late replacement Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum also put in a great performance on Fibonacci.

GER-Daniel Deusser rides First Class in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Daniel Deusser and First Class (Image: Libby Law)
GER-Christian Ahlmann rides Taloubet Z in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photographyh
Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet Z (Image: Libby Law)
GER-Meridith Michaels-Beerbaum rides Fibonacci in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Fibonacci, and that’s three clear for Germany (Image: Libby Law)

Christian Ahlmann confirmed that Taloubet was in good form. “It felt really good. He is in great shape. He fully concentrated on each fence. The course is big but still okay. The distances were okay, and the water was again difficult, as was the treble combination. I was surprised to see that many clear rounds. Now, one rail can make a huge difference.”

The Americans will be very pleased with their team: three good clears today. McLain Ward’s Azur is such a good jumper, and so laid-back. No high kicks for him at the end of the course, just straight on to a loose rein and out of the arena.

rio show jumping Azur McLain Ward
McLain Ward and Azur(Image: Libby Law)

Beezie Madden has the current drop score for the USA; Cortes C looked a bit lacklustre, and had two down. Kent Farrington was the first of their riders out and put in a lovely clear on Voyeur.  “It is never easy to be the lead-off rider. But it helps the others to put in a clear round. That was my duty. Mission accomplished. Quite clearly our hopes are to be in contention for the top. But you never know what to expect. We take one round at a time.” Voyeur jumped very well; the course was well within his capabilities. “I have him since four years. I know him well and when I walked the course I knew that it would suit him.”

The Brazilians are obviously thriving under the legendary George Morris’s coaching. Their three great clear rounds were of course hugely popular with the local crowd. The stands were not packed, but they were the fullest we have seen of any equestrian sports so far.

The crowd erupts fo the clear round by: BRA-Pedro Veniss rides Quabri De L'Isle in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
And the crowd goes wild for another Brazilian clear (Image: Libby Law)

Pedro Veniss was the anchorman for the Brazilians with Quabri de l’Isle. He had to wait two hours from the course walk until he went into the arena, being second-last to go. “I spoke with my friend Rodrigo (Pessoa) and he told me very good things. Relax and concentrate. I watched a bit, then went to the rest area and watched it on television where it was quieter and out of the sun. I helped a bit with the others as well.” He spoke highly of George Morris. “He has told me lots! He has been to 15 Games so has all the experience.”

BRA-Pedro Veniss rides Quabri De L'Isle in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Pedro Veniss and Quabri de l’Isle for Brazil (Image: Libby Law)

The Canadians are sitting on just four faults with Yann Candele and Eric Lamaze having clear rounds. Tiffany Foster on Tripple X III had four faults and Amy Miller five. Eric described the course as being more technical than it appears, but said he was “expecting more.” He thought the course was the easiest first round of the teams event he had ever seen at the Olympics, whereas yesterday’s first individual round was the toughest. “Tomorrow you will see a different competition” he predicted, as he expects the course to be far more difficult.

CAN-Eric Lamaze rides Fine Lady 5 in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 for Canada (Image: Libby Law)

The French are fighting back after a terrible start to their Olympics. They are currently on just one time fault for their top three. Kevin Staut, who had a clear round today, summed it up well: “It is difficult. Since we arrived here in Rio, we have had the injury of Ryan [Simon Delestre’s horse], and when he had to leave it was already really bad news for us. And then the small problem during the night, five days ago, with Flora [Pénélope Leprevost’s horse, who had colic] and then Pénélope falling [in the first individual round].

“But maybe it helps to fight more and to be really, really angry, and we are fighting a lot. It does not matter what the results are. We are still here and we are here to compete, and we are proud of it. We will do our best. London was the first Olympics for all of us and we could not imagine the atmosphere, and how it is different from other championships. So, I think it was a really bad experience, but a really good one to get us ready for Rio. [This time], we arrived for the opening ceremonies, we have been here for 10 days. It is hard to be away from our stables for a long time, but it was our choice to be really in the Olympic spirit. We know we have to fight 10 times more than for another show. Each day is a new day, we have to do something to qualify for the next day. It is hard, but this time we know how it is. In London, we were children.”

FRA-Kevin Staut rides Reveur De Hurtebise in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Kevin Staut rides Reveur de Hurtebise (Image: Libby Law)

So, stay tuned for what is going to be an amazing competition tomorrow to decide the team medals. While the Germans look so very polished, those Americans have put in some good rounds. The pressure will come on both the Dutch and the Brazilians, who do not have the luxury of a drop score, and the French are obviously set to fight for the win. Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Ukraine, Spain, Argentina and Qatar are now out of the team competition.

Team Standings in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Team standings so far (Image: Libby Law)
Team Standings in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
(Image: Libby Law)
Team Standings in the 2nd Individual Qualifier and Team Qualifing Round for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Centro Olímpico de Hipismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tuesday 16 August. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
Australia brings up the rear wiht Japan and the Ukraine (Image: Libby Law)

Fun facts

  • The Netherlands won the team event at the 2014 World Equestrian Games and are the current European Champions.
  • If Germany wins, Ludger Beerbaum will join his compatriot Hans Gunter Winkler on a record four gold medals in the team event. Ludger won his first gold in the team event in 1988, representing West Germany, and then in 1996 and in 2000.
  • USA, the Olympic champion in 2008, is looking for its ninth medal to add the the impressive tally of three golds, four silvers and one bronze, after the disappointment of just sixth place in London.
  • France is the second-most successful nation in Olympic teams jumping, having won six medals. But they have not had a podium finish since a bronze in 1992. However, they were silver medallists at the 2014 WEG.
  • Brazil is eyeing its third medal in this event after claiming the bronze medals in both 1996 and 2000.

 

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