Main image: Chris Burton and Shadow Man. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
Normally the team event is the main event and historically Australia has done very well in the team event, including three consecutive team gold medals in 1992 at Barcelona, 1996 at Atlanta and 2000 at Sydney Olympics. Since Sydney 2000, we haven’t seen a gold medal in the equestrian sports.
Well its 10pm, Monday 29th July and the team eventing competition in Paris has just finished. It was a great competition and the show jumping was so exciting, except Australia has ended up as a team placing 15th out of 16 teams. Our riders have gone well and there is no questioning their intentions, their bravery and their outstanding skills. Still the team competition did lose its immediate personal involvement for me when as a spoilt Australian, I am very used to screaming for a team that is very close to a team medal or actually in the process of nailing a team medal, be it bronze or silver, since our days of ruling the world in the 90s. I am spoilt. I am used to boasting about Australia and its capacity to day in, day out win a team Olympic medal. Anyway, watching some of the other countries perform so outstandingly well was a privilege.
The team gold medallists were Great Britain on a team score of 91.30 penalties and man did they deserve it. The British were plagued by an unexpected 15 penalty added to their score for a purportedly outside the flags situation at fence 21D on the cross country. This 15 penalties was awarded to Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo and this has taken Ros and her wonderful horse out of contention for an individual medal. That is a prediction, because she is in the final jump off yet to come. “Me and my predictions could get me into so much trouble.” Nevertheless a random extra 15 penalties to a team score would in normal circumstances wipe the team out of medal contention. This British team was outstanding and absorbed the 15 penalties and still won. I have studied video footage, which is all over Facebook, and I personally think the 15 penalties was a mistake. Bloody hell! The British have taken it very well with a stiff upper lip. There would have been none of this stiff upper lip thing if it had been me!! Anyway good on you Great Britain and we have a lot of work to do get back on top of the Brits!!
France won the silver Olympic team eventing medal on a score of 103.6 penalties. The French were arrogant and brilliant and for me unexpectedly charismatic. Of course, being the home team the crowds went absolutely crazy every time a French rider appeared and that was fantastic as well. The French continually congratulate themselves on what a wonderful job they do organising everything. They are bloody terrible organisers and all the spectator seats were supposedly long ago sold out. I reckon the grandstands watching dressage and show jumping were maybe 80% full, probably less. Crazy! It can only happen in France. Still it was France all over and seriously fantastic.
The Olympic team bronze medal was won by Japan and this was the first equestrian Olympic medal ever won by Japan. The Japanese riders were all class. Can you believe it, the Japanese team was the only team to post three clear show jumping rounds from all 16 teams. There were a couple of time penalties but not one rail came down with the Japanese riders. Freaking unbelievable. The Japanese were really impressive and deserve their bronze medal and personally, if you think that was a one off, I think you are crazy. The Japanese are only going to get better and better. And that’s lots of trouble for all of us! Well done Japan.
Shane Rose and Virgil have also made the individual final after having just one rail down in the first round. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Chris Burton and Shadow Man right this moment are lying in individual silver medal position…
Normally I am interested in the individual medals but traditionally I have been always focused up on the team medals. Well everyone needs to refocus and in another 30 minutes get glued to that TV screen and watch (11pm AEST). As I predicted optimistically in my article posted on Equestrian Life at 6.30pm this afternoon, Chris Burton and Shadow Man are against all the odds moving into the front ranks and stalking an individual gold medal. We did win one of those once in 1992 at Barcelona with Matt Ryan and his wonderful horse Kibah Tik Tok. That is 32 years ago. Actually, Laurie Morgan won an individual gold in eventing in 1960. That is 64 years ago. Holy smoke we are so overdue for an individual gold medal. Come on Chris Burton, come on Shadow Man, I reckon every man and his dog is going to be stirring around the TV all over Australia come 11pm this Monday night.
Chris Burton and Shadow Man right this moment are lying in individual silver medal position. Chris and Shadow Man have to produce a second clear round in this final individual medal deciding competition. At the moment, Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH are in the lead and have a score of 21.8 penalties. We need Michael Jung to have a rail down. I know that is a terrible thing to say and I will be applauding with everyone else if he goes clear. We still need Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH to have a rail down. Chipmunk is a good jumper but not super super super careful. Michael Jung is a brilliant show jump rider. He will do a fantastic job no matter what. They have already had a single rail down in the team show jumping competition. I am predicting they will have another one. I am predicting that Chris Burton and Shadow Man will go clear. That will give Australia their first gold medal in 32 years and before that, 64 years. It is time. Good luck everyone. Good luck Chris, good luck Shadow Man and to all of us watching, we are just so lucky.
Cheers
Heath
Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture were substituted in to replace Kevin McNab and Don Quidam in the jumping phase and performed well with just two rails down. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
