WEG: Sam & Dan into next jumping round

Today’s competition in the show jumping at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon was an amazing one, with the course claiming many scalps, and it put yesterday’s leaderboard into a tumble drier!

Only the top 10 teams and the top 60 individuals will proceed to tomorrow’s competition; Samantha McIntosh was the best-placed New Zealander, finishing 15th, and so she graduates to the next round with Check In, who looked very accomplished out on the course.

Joining her in tomorrow’s competition will be Daniel Meech and Fine, who were first out for the Kiwis and did a great job, with two rails and two time faults. They have finished in 53rd place. Daniel was rapt to get another go at it but had an anxious wait before the final results were through. “I definitely wasn’t getting my hopes up, because I didn’t want to be disappointed. She was very comfortable on the course, and she deserves to have another go – she has the ability and is built for these classes.”

Unfortunately for both Bruce Goodin and Sharn Wordley, their competition is over, as is the New Zealand team hopes at this World Equestrian Games. New Zealand finished in 18th place, with a team total of 50.03.

Steve Guerdat lead after the speed round yesterday, but he just tipped one rail in today’s round, and has therefore dropped down to eighth place. But the Swiss team are still firmly in the lead, with a team total of 11.64 and two riders in the top 10; Janika Sprunger and Bacardi VDL added just a single time fault, to rise to sixth.

The second-to-last rider of the day, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca on the striking dark grey Irenice Horta, shot to the individual lead after a clear round (one of just five, though there were another four clear rounds with one time fault!).

Lorenzo says his mare is in great, great form. “I had a lot of pressure on yesterday because it was our first speed class. I haven’t been riding this mare a long time but she’s amazing. She has a great mind and she’s scopey and careful and she gives me a fantastic feeling. And today she gave me an amazing feeling. When you know that your horse can jump clear it makes you feel better and ride better.”

But he knows there is a lot of jumping left to do before he can step on to the podium.

“It’s only half way. I like how she’s jumping. For sure, I will fight until the end. It would be ridiculous if I didn’t try. She can do it and I can do it, so we’ll try our best.”

Italy’s team hopes were dashed, however, when already having been reduced to a three-0man side, Luca Marziani’s stallion Tokyo du Soleil decided he wouldn’t jump the wall at fence three, and the pair were eliminated.

Lorenzo, who competes in the uniform of the Italian airforce and is based in Belgium, is determined to soldier on even though he’s only been riding the 10-year-old Irenice Horta since June.

“Zoe Conter rode her before, but unluckily Zoe had an accident in Rome, she fell off, so they decided to give me the horse and this is our fifth show together! The Nations Cup in Aachen was our first big class and then we did the Nations Cup and Grand Prix in Dublin where she finished third. That was really tough but it was the same course designer (Ireland’s Alan Wade) so I had a feeling I could do it here!”

Team USA has rocked into second place on a total of 12.59, led by an outstanding effort by McLain Ward. He and Clinta were clear with a single time fault, and that was enough for second place individually as well.

He was ably backed up by Adrienne Sternlicht, clear with a time fault on Cristalline, and a four-fault round by Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue.

Putting yesterday’s surprisingly underwhelming efforts behind them, Germany is now third on a score of 18.09, with Simone Blum and DSP Alice the first rider (and only woman) to jump double clear. She is now sitting fourth individually, while team mate Laura Klaphake and Catch Me If You Can OLD was clear with one time fault. Their third counting score was a two-rail round from Marcus Ehning and Pret a Tout.

Sweden is now fourth on 20.59, with an outstanding clear round from Peder Fredricson and H&M Christian K, the silver medallists from Rio, who are currently third individually. He was backed up by a four-faulter from Fredrik Jonsson and Cold Play, and eight faults from Henrik von Eckermann, riding Toveks Mary Lou.

The defending champions, the Netherlands, are in fifth place on 24.35. World number one Harrie Smolders had four faults by the merest of margins at the water, as Don VHP Z had a hoof just millimetres on the tape. Marc Houtzager also had four faults, while their third counting score is Frank Schutter’s 12 faults.

Ireland, current European champions, did not look like they were going to qualify through until very late in the competition, when a brilliant clear from Cian O’Connor and Good Luck elevated them comfortably through to sixth place, on 27.12. Cian is now fifth individually, and their two other counting scores were Paul O’Shea’s’ eight faults, and nine from Shane Sweetman.

France is not having a great competition by their high standards, and are in seventh place on 27.76. Their two best rounds today were four faults each for Kevin Staut and Alexis Deroubaix.

Though Australia will be a little gutted that Rowan Willis wasn’t able to repeat his amazing form from the speed round, taking two rails with Blue Movie to drop from third to 22nd, the team finished eighth on 28.32 and so continues. Their best round today was five faults for Jamie Kermond and Yandoo Oaks Constellation, who are now 24th individually, while Billy Raymond and Scott Keach each had two rails.

Great Britain’s team is ninth, on a score of 31.04. Both William Funnell (Billy Buckingham) and Amanda Derbyshire (Luibanta BH) had five faults, while Holly Smith (Hearts Destiny) and William Whitaker (Utamaro d’Ecaussines) had two faults each.

The final team through to the next stage is Canada, on 32.89. Their best round was five faults from Kara Chad on Carona, while both Eric Lamaze (Chacco Kid) and Erynn Ballard (Darkos Promise) had two rails each.

Individual Results 

Team Results out of 25 Teams competing: 

1. Switzerland: 11.64
2. USA: 12.59
3. Germany: 18.09
4. Sweden: 20.59
5. Netherlands: 4.35
6. Ireland: 27.12
7. France: 27.76
8. Australia: 28.32
9. Great Britain: 31.04
10. Canada: 32.89
11. Belgium: 33.16
12. Egypt: 34.22
13. Israel: 34.42
14. Brazil: 38.42
15. Colombia: 41.31
16. Mexico: 41.94
17. Argentina: 49.67
18. New Zealand: 50.03