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A total of 145 athletes and 155 horses are currently preparing for the journey to Monpazier in the south of France for the FEI Endurance World Championship 2024.
Set in natural surroundings on the border of the Lot and Dordogne, the combinations will begin the 160-kilometre Endurance ride on Saturday, 7 September 2024. It's an interesting mix of participants: from the reigning world champion—on a new horse—to young and veteran talent.
As is customary at the FEI Endurance World Championship, all eyes are on the three individual winners from the previous edition, as well as the three national teams that reached the podium last time.
Mediterranean countries aim to defend their positions
For the team medals, it's up to the Mediterranean countries—France, Portugal, and Italy—to defend their positions. In Butheeb, they claimed the gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. Notably, all three nations have registered seven combinations, giving the chefs d’equipe in Monpazier the option to finalise their teams of five combinations each, right up until the day before the competition.
France's selection includes three riders who were part of last year's medal-winning team: Virginie Atger, Clementine Chaud, and Philippe Tomas. Additionally, France's vast pool of Endurance riders has provided new talent for the national team, including Camille Garbet , Melody Theolissat and Julien Lafaure
Portugal's selection features the experienced rider Ana Barbas, who has already won team silver (FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, 2022) and team bronze (FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 2006). That team performance in Aachen was partly due to Jao Raposo, who is also in the selection for Monpazier.
Italy has selected three riders who also competed in Butheeb, where they won bronze: Letizia Milani, Carolina Tavassoli Asli, and Costanza Laliscia. The latter brings two possible contenders to Monpazier: Fara du Barthas and Emirat du Barthas.
New horse for reigning World Champion
The reigning World Champion, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Bahrain), has opted for a horse swap just before Monpazier. Instead of Darco la Majorie, with whom he won both the 2022 World Championship in Butheeb and the test event in Monpazier (2023), he plans to saddle Darco’s half-brother, Everest la Majorie. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has demonstrated in the past that he can triumph with multiple horses: in his ten previous World Championship appearances, he has won one individual gold (2022, Butheeb), one individual bronze (2016, Samorin), and one team bronze (2008, Malaysia). Each time with a different horse.
The runner-up from the last World Championship is Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (United Arab Emirates). He has only ridden in two World Championships before. On both occasions, he secured a podium finish: gold in Pisa (2021 ) and silver in Butheeb (2022). Both times with the horse Haleh, who is once again ready for Monpazier.
Should Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi and Haleh secure another podium finish, they will join the elite group of combinations in history that have won an individual medal in three consecutive championships. Only Becky Hart and Valerie Kanavy have ever achieved this. Hart, together with her horse Grand Sultan, claimed the world title three years in a row (1988, 1990, and 1992). Kanavy was World Champion in 1994, runner-up in 1996, and World Champion again in 1998.
Jaume Punti Dachs, the Spaniard who has so far won five medals across seven World Championships (individual gold and silver, and three team golds), is bringing his trusted partner Echo Falls. The horse is not only known for his achievements and striking appearance (a white coat with dark spots), but at eighteen years old, he is also one of the oldest horses competing at the highest level. However, he is not the oldest in this championship; there are two others of the same age. Spirit de Crouz and Sabah du Courtisot, representing Portugal and Belgium respectively, are also registered.
Oldest and youngest participants
That equestrian sport can be practised well into later life is exemplified by Tom MacGuinness. The 73-year-old Irishman is competing in the FEI Endurance World Championship for the fifth time. His first time was ten years ago, at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen. In Monpazier, he will start with his thirteen-year-old mare Horseware HLM Fontana.
The youngest entrant is sixteen-year-old Jiahe Sui, who will represent China on the back of the French-bred Eiwa de Bozouls. This is Sui’s first time being selected for a World Championship. The young athlete has no fewer than six teammates by her side, bringing the total number of entries from the Chinese federation to seven. The chef d’equipe will have to make a choice, as each country can field a maximum of five combinations at the start.
China is on the rise in the sport of Endurance. After fielding a team for the first time in history at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 in Butheeb (UAE), they now have another team ready. The four combinations that competed were then unable to complete the ride. With seven contenders, China has new opportunities in France.
To compete for a team result, a country needs three combinations to finish the distance within the allowed time. On the list of final entries, 21 countries have three or more combinations heading to Monpazier. Additionally, 18 countries were able to field one or two combinations.
For the full list of Definite Entries, click HERE
With just days to go until the start of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, Ermelo in the Netherlands has been announced as the host of the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2025, following a decision by the FEI Board, and endorsement by the FEI Para Equestrian Technical Committee and the European Equestrian Federation (EEF).
The Championship, which is scheduled to take place from 3 to 7 September 2025, builds on Ermelo’s proven track record in hosting major equestrian events at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre, including the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in 2009 and national Dressage Championships. More recently, Ermelo hosted the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in 2021 and the FEI Endurance European Championship in 2023. The venue has also been the host of the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses for several years.
“We are delighted that the National Federation of the Netherlands has committed to hosting the Para Dressage European Championship,” said FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez, who is also President of the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO).
“This will be the first time the FEI Para Dressage European Championship is hosted in Ermelo, representing a major milestone for our sport. We are looking forward to working closely with the organisers to deliver an exceptional sporting experience and know that the Dutch National Equestrian Centre’s world-class facilities will provide the perfect environment for this prestigious event.
“It was also important for the FEI to partner with a host who shares our vision of breaking down barriers for persons with disabilities in society. The FEI is committed to working together to ensure the Championship fully embraces accessibility, allowing everyone, regardless of their disability, to engage in all aspects of the event.”
Based on the learnings and good practices of the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) and Pratoni (ITA) in 2022, the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck in 2023, were the first to be organised in line with the requirements set out in the FEI Accessibility Handbook for Event Organisers.
This handbook, which is the result of consultation and collaboration with accessibility experts, individuals with disabilities and professionals in the equestrian industry, covers venue layout, accommodation and transportation among other areas of Event planning and delivery.
‘’We are delighted that the FEI has put its trust in us to host the best para and equine athletes in Europe at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2025,’’ said Iris Boelhouwer, Secretary General of the Dutch Federation.
“In Ermelo, we will provide the requisite elite facilities for an elite competition, and strive to foster the values of teamwork, cooperation, fairness and respect that define such an event.
“With just over a year to go, in everything we do in preparing for this prestigious event we are committed to the highest standards of equine welfare, accessibility and sustainability for our human and equine athletes, staff, spectators and surrounding environment. We look forward to warmly welcoming them all to Ermelo.’’
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to oversee and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage was integrated in 2006. This followed the creation of the FEI Para Equestrian Committee, which was established when the governance of Para Equestrian sport transitioned from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to the FEI.
Since then, Para Equestrian sport has been increasingly integrated into the FEI’s governance and into its European and World Championship structures, significantly raising the profile of Para Sport within the equestrian community.
These top-down initiatives have not only advanced the development of Para Equestrian sport within the FEI but have also contributed to more positive attitudes towards disability and inclusion within the equestrian world as a whole.
Image: The Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo (NED). KNHS/ Arnd Bronkhorst
The FEI will host a key meeting with stakeholders on 1 October 2024, to kick off in-depth discussions on addressing the challenges currently impacting the discipline of Dressage.
This meeting, which will bring together representatives from national federations, recognised stakeholder groups — including athletes, officials, organisers, trainers, and veterinary experts — marks the beginning of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy for Dressage, to ensure the sustainability and growth of the discipline.
The meeting will also provide an opportunity to update the community on current and upcoming research and development initiatives, including the oral cavity study.
“While the FEI fully recognises the challenges currently facing the discipline of Dressage and has worked to address issues as they have arisen, the primary focus in recent months has been on delivering key events, as well as a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, which has required considerable attention and resources,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos explained.
“Our goal now is to collaborate closely with all our stakeholders to address the challenges facing Dressage. While many in our community recognise the urgency of the situation, others may not yet fully grasp the critical juncture at which equestrian sport currently stands.
“While the FEI is committed to seeking collective solutions and fostering consensus wherever possible, the safety and well-being of our horses remain our top priority. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that Dressage is a discipline where the sport is conducted in a manner that focuses on the horse’s comfort.
“As the governing body, the FEI is prepared to take the necessary decisions to ensure that we are living up to our promise to ‘Be a Guardian’ for our equine partners, and to improve the standards of safety and care in our sport. We have shown in recent months that the FEI is ready to step in and take decisive action when the need arises.
“As the sport evolves, we must adapt and find effective solutions to current challenges. Our success depends on the community’s willingness to approach these issues with an open mind and work together toward common ground.”
The FEI introduced the Be a Guardian initiative in July, which calls upon members of the community to fully commit to their duties as ‘guardians’ of FEI horses.
Be a Guardian is the central message that unites the community around the FEI Action Plan that was developed from the recommendations outlined in the final report of the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission.
The term 'guardian' marks an evolution in the FEI's narrative of the horse-human partnership, chosen to better represent the human role in caring for horses and to underscore each individual's responsibility for ensuring horse welfare.
Key links
Top-level and very diverse representation from all over the old continent at the FEI Eventing European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2024 held in Strzegom (POL), where the British and German athletes stole the show with two gold medals each.
Check the podium winners:
Young Riders Individual Podium
1° Jasmine Underwood & Indian Girl G (GBR)
2° Lisa Gualtieri & A D’Aunis (FRA)
3° Isabel Cook & Mexican Law (GBR)
Young Riders Team Podium
1° Great Britain
2° France
3° Germany
Juniors Individual Podium
1° Hannah Busch & Crystal-Annabell (GER)
2° Tom Nestor & Cooley Diamond Dancer (IRL)
3° Mae Rinaldi & Kirwan (FRA)
Juniors Team Podium
1° Germany
2° Ireland
3° Great Britain
Image caption: Individual Podium for Young Riders, Gold - Jasmine Underwood (GBR) and Indian Girl G, Silver - Lisa Gualtieri (FRA) with A D'aunis and Bronze Isabelle Cook (GBR) with Mexican Law at the FEI Eventing European Championship 2024 - Strzegom (POL)
Image Copyright: FEI/Leszek Wójcik
Images: Free images for editorial purposes are available from the FEI Flickr account in the photostream and in the dedicated album.
After a disappointing Olympic experience in Paris, Team Germany proved that they are still one of the best in the world, with a decisive win at the sixth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ held at Arville, Belgium this week.
A number of Olympic medallists and athletes came to compete at the beautiful venue including Olympic champions Michael Jung (GER) which added to the excitement for riders and spectators. Despite Jung retiring on the cross country, the German team’s finishing score of 109.2 was good enough for first. France finished in second place on 119.2 whilst Great Britain finished third on 121.0, with the home nation Belgium in fourth on 143.0.
The German team might have been spearheaded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung and the experienced four-star horse Kilandra Ocean Power, but German Chef d’Equipe, Rodolphe Scherer chose to select three younger riders to make up the team. It proved to be the right decision to take since the three younger riders’ scores were the ones to count, after Michael Jung’s cross-country retirement.
23-year-old Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom of the Opera finished second overall. 26-year-old Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice finished 11th individually, whilst 23-year-old Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 picked up a few time penalties on the cross-country to finish in 22nd.
Speaking after their win, Scherer spoke on behalf of the German team about their performance in Arville. “I am happy for the result because of the result but also because three of our riders were our younger riders. I came here with a lot of ambition because Calvin and Jérôme were reserved for the Olympics so it was a good team to come here."
"They all competed well. I am happy for these young riders because it’s a new generation and it’s good to see them win together.”
Roolphe Scherer
(Chef d'Equipe Team GER)
The Cross-Country course caused its fair share of drama with very few jumping clear rounds inside the time. There were a number of athletes picking up jumping penalties as well as retirements and eliminations at some of the combinations.
“It was a nice course, but it was a tough course with lots in it” summed up Scherer who himself competed at two Olympics for Team France. “You need to ride and be clever. It was more difficult if you look at the time. If you compete quiet it’s ok but if you ride for the time, of course it’s a little bit more difficult. But it was really encouraging for horses and very fair. Arville is a nice competition.”
He also explained what happened to the team’s most experienced rider on course, Michael Jung. “Micky had one run out at the water. He jumped good into the eater then turned and you have a skinny on the way out and the horse was a little bit behind the leg on the turn and he had a little run out. After that, he jumped up to the coffin which he jumped well then stopped because he knew that he could relax for the team and that the team could win without him. Little mistakes happen, one minute you win a gold medal and the next you have a run out.”
“I think the Nation’s Cup is a perfect test for trainers, riders and for the team spirit. It’s really important to understand that sometimes Eventing is not only an individual sport, sometimes it’s a team sport. For me it’s very important for the spirit and for the experience.”
Roolphe Scherer
(Chef d'Equipe Team GER)
Ten teams came forward for this leg of the FEI Eventing Nations CupTM, many of them fielding athletes who had competed in Paris. Second placed France fielded a strong team, including two riders who helped team France to team silver, Nicolas Touzaint and Gireg Le Coz (reserve athlete).
The Series now moves to Lignières (FRA) from 26 to 29 September, the penultimate leg before the final, which takes place in Boekelo (NED) in October. This result put France out in front of the team standings on a score of 290 points, with Germany in second place on 240 points.
Some spectacular days of Olympic Dressage have come to an end at the breath-taking venue located in the gardens of Chateau de Versailles. But there is no need to catch the Olympic blues just yet, because there is so much to look forward to, as the Olympic riders pass over the reins and the arena to the Para Dressage superstars.
Spectacular is indeed the word that best describes the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic Games kicked off with the spectacular opening ceremony where the Eiffel tower served as the main prop. The Paralympic opening ceremony is promised to be no less spectacular, as the format of bringing the ceremony outside a stadium and into the streets will be the same. However, instead of being centred around the Eiffel Tower, the Paralympic opening ceremony will be centred around the famous avenue, Champs-Elysées. On Champs-Elysée, we find iconic Paris trademarks such as the Arc De Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. It is at the latter where the ceremony itself will take place, after the parade of athletes has made its way down the Champs-Elysées. It will surely be an unforgettable experience for athletes and spectators alike.
The Essence of Para Dressage
Para Dressage matches the Paris 2024 spirit when it comes to bringing the spectacular element to the Games. The partnerships that are displayed between rider and horse can soften even the most cynical of hearts and leave us all in awe. Through the unique bond the riders with disability share with their horses, they show the world that great riding is not based on force, but on love and understanding – and a lot of hard work.
Para Dressage is top sport, with beautiful riding and top-quality horses. Here, disability is no excuse, as the correctness of the riding is expected to be the same as in able-bodied Dressage. Therefore, riders with disabilities have to find solutions to work with and around their challenges to perform high level Dressage, raising the bar for what we consider possible.
Equestrian Paralympic History
Para Dressage has come a long way since it became part of the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. Back then, the riders would borrow a horse provided by the host country, riding it just a few times before competing. A scenario that is unimaginable today, where the riders spend months and years training to establish the special bond with their horse that is needed to perform to the perfection that is expected to win medals.
Paris 2024
Paris will see a total of 78 riders across the five grades* I, II, III, IV and V. Grade I is the grade for the riders who have the least body function and will be ridden in walk only. Grade II and III, will be ridden in walk and trot, and grade IV and V will be ridden in both walk, trot and canter, being the grades where the riders have the highest body function.
Common for all grades this year is the high the level of competition. As we see a mix of defending Paralympic champion combinations, such as Danish superstar Tobias Thorning Jørgensen on Jolene (grade III), Michele George on Best of 8 (grade V) and Sanne Voets on her charming Demantur (grade IV), mixed with a high number of new horse and rider combinations.
Debutants and new combinations
Since Tokyo, many of the nations have done all they can to improve their chances of winning Paralympic medals in Paris. This means that the teams have been evolving and improving on several aspects, and a part of that, has been changing both horses and riders. These new riders, horses and combinations, have raised the over-all level and opens up for a lot of excitement - and for a harder fight for the medals. It also means that nothing can be predicted.
One of these new and interesting combinations, is the American Paralympic champion from Tokyo 2020, Roxanne Trunnell. Since Tokyo, she has retired her golden mount Dalton, and has instead teamed up with another black gelding, Fan Tastico H. The new combination has had a great season and it will be interesting to follow in Tokyo.
The rise in the competition level in the last years, and the new combinations entering the scene, has meant that Tokyo Paralympic medallist combinations such as Frank Hosmar and Alphaville, as well as Ann Cathrin Lübbe and La Costa Majlund, have not even been selected for the Paris 2024 team.
Some of the interesting new riders, that will make their Paralympic debut in Paris are Dutch Demi Haerkens on Daula (grade IV), who made a memorable entrance to the para scene last year, winning the Europeans Championships in Riesenbeck, and British Mari Durward-Akhurst on Athene Lindebjerg (grade 1). Athene Lindebjerg is not a Paralympic debutant, however. The impressive black mare will be bringing a lot of experience to the games, as she is a gold medal champion from the Rio 2016 Games with Sophie Christiansen in the saddle.
Sold out venue
Both spectators and riders, are guaranteed a memorable experience, when the Para Dressage riders turn down the centreline with the great Chateau de Versailles in the background. And the riders will not lack support; the equestrian venue at Versailles were one of the first two Paralympic venues to sell out this year. The full stadium at the Paris 2024 will be a sharp contrast to the Tokyo Paralympic games, where the whole stadium was left empty due to covid restrictions.
With full support on the spectator stands to set the atmosphere and great riders in the arena, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promises to be one to go down in history.
Full Entries here
Photo Caption: Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA), Sanne Voets (NED) and Manon Claeys (BEL) on the podium during the medal ceremony for Individual Grade IV at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 © FEI/Liz Gregg
*CORRECTION: It was initially noted that there were 75 horses, but the number has since been corrected to 78
Rising from third place in last month’s rankings, Tom Mc Ewen (GBR) knocks fellow Brit Rosalind Canter off the top spot to become number one in the FEI Eventing World Rankings this month.
After holding pole-position for just one month after clinching it from Oliver Townend (GBR) in July, Rosalind slides into second position behind Tom, who now joins her in the ‘500 Club’ as Rosalind’s 519 has now been surpassed by McEwen and his 561 points.
Tom is delighted at the news, saying; “I really wasn’t expecting this. Becoming World Number One is incredibly exciting, but it’s not all down to me – it’s down to my incredible team at home who’ve done all the hard work throughout the winter and this summer, all the long journeys and early mornings. I genuinely couldn’t do it without them or my owners, who’ve supported me all year. I also couldn’t do it without all my sponsors and backing. It’s a massive team effort that goes into something so special.
“This has been an amazing year, with the Olympics, so the support I’ve had has been invaluable. It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The top three is rounded out with compatriot Oliver Townend taking the third spot with 492 points, unchanged since last month.
Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier holds onto her fourth position with 470 points, while World Champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) loses her grip on the top five by slipping from fifth to ninth position with 389 points
Laura Collett (GBR) storms up the rankings to snap at the heels of her fellow Brits reaching seventh place from 25th last month and 401 points. Similarly, an impressive jump was seen with Swiss Felix Vogg as he leaves his position at number 21 to race into the top 10, sitting in eighth position with 390 points.
Wills Oakden slips from seventh to 10th, keeping a total of six British athletes occupying the top 10 spots of the ranking – one more than last month thanks to Laura Collet’s rise.
Rounding out the rest of the top ten, representing the USA, Boyd Martin climbs a single place to take the fifth position with 458 points while husband and wife Tim and Jonelle Price, who were ninth and eighth respectively have now widened their gap, as Tim climbs up to sixth position with 438 points, but Jonelle falls out of the top10 to the 18th spot and 313 points.
Photo caption:
Tom McEwen (GBR) riding JL DUBLIN during the Eventing Cross Country at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Photo Credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark
With the only double-clear performance on the final day of equestrian sport at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games equestrian venue in Versailles (FRA) today, Germany’s Christian Kukuk definitively claimed the Individual Jumping title with Checker 47, while Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat took silver on Dynamix de Belheme and The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten clinched bronze with Beauville Z.
Things didn’t go Germany’s way in last week’s Team competition, but that never threw the new Olympic champion off his stride. In yesterday’s qualifier for the Individual medals, 34-year-old Kukuk and his 14-year-old grey gelding left a fence on the floor, but their fast time assured them of a place in today’s top-30 showdown.
And this time there was no mistake. On an afternoon filled with drama, excitement and gripping sport, their two foot-perfect rounds simply could not be matched.
The scale of today’s track was like nothing any of the riders had seen before. The fence measurements were colossal, with five of them standing at a massive 1.65cms and spreads as wide as 190cms. There were 15 obstacles in total with 19 big jumping efforts before they would cross the finish line.
Top step
Kukuk’s rise to the top step of the podium began when he posted the first clear in today’s opening round.
“It’s the toughest course I have ever jumped, the toughest course I have ever seen and Checker made it feel like just another Grand Prix!”
Christian Kukuk
(GER)
he said after leaving the ring when eighth to go.
Maikel van der Vleuten quickly followed suit with Beauville Z, but for many just a single frustrating four faults would deny them a jump-off spot, several making it all the way to the final LA28 oxer before hearing that hit the ground, including America’s Laura Kraut/Baloutinue and Austria’s Max Kűhner/Elektric Blue P. The double at fence five also proved a major challenge, horses having to stretch wide across the spread at the second element, although it was the first-element vertical there that put paid to the chances of defending individual champion Ben Maher from Great Britain with Dallas Vegas Batilly.
As it came down to the final seven horse/rider partnerships there were still only two clears on the board, so the packed stadium of spectators were on the edges of their seats when longtime world number one, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, set off with the living legend that is King Edward. And things were going perfectly until they turned to the open water at fence six.
Sensational
As the man whose sensational record with the little 14-year-old chestnut gelding includes team gold in Tokyo three years ago explained, “we got a bit close to the water, got a high jump on that and I didn’t see the six (strides to the next) because I landed a bit steep at the water, so I really had to get him back for the seven (strides). And that made a short jump over the Paris jump and then I had to really go for the time.”
It all became a bit chaotic when they landed after the next oxer at fence eight, and in a flurry of confusion between horse and rider the pair parted company for elimination. The line of the track should have taken them right but they went in different directions when the horse dived to the left to avoid the start-sign at the edge of the arena.
Tearfully von Eckermann explained afterwards, “he’s easy to the right and I followed too much to go with him and somehow in one second he went a bit left and I lost my balance to the right. And then he got a bit upset from that and went a bit left again and I really tried to get him right but then the start stands were there and I couldn’t get him in front of that and he turned left and I went right”. It was the most unexpected departure for the multiple champions.
Third clear
But Switzerland’s Guerdat hadn’t seen all that because he was on his way into the ring to produce the third clear of the day with the smoothest of rounds from his individual European Championship winning mare, Dynamix de Belheme.
There was nothing smooth for his compatriot Martin Fuchs immediately afterwards however, because he lost his left stirrup after jumping the second element of the double at five and couldn’t get it back, somehow managing to make it all the way to the massive last oxer before Leone Jei hit that to take them out of medal contention.
The final four all faulted, including the last man into the ring, Frenchman Julien Epaillard. He was looking well on his way to making it a four-way contest in the jump-off until, to gasps of despair from the home crowd, his mare Dubai du Cedre hit the second element of the double at fence 12.
Now it was down to the final three-way face-off in which Kukuk and Checker 47 would lead the way. And they didn’t flinch, galloping home quick and clear in 38.34 seconds to put it up to the remaining two.
Van der Vleuten and Beauville Z were next in, but with a fence down in 39.12 seconds they left it open for Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme to steal it with their last run of these Games. The Swiss star didn’t succeed however, lowering the second-last in 38.38 seconds which pushed the Dutchman down to bronze and settled him into silver medal spot.
Content
Guerdat, the 2012 individual Olympic champion with Nino des Buissonnets, said he was content with his Versailles result.
“We all aim for gold but to have to the second one (silver) is also very special! My mare has been spectacular today and of course I’m upset about my jump-off, it wasn’t what I wanted, but I want to focus with pride about our second Olympic medal!”
Steve Guerdat
(SUI)
“Jump-offs are still our weakness with Dynamix, for the last year I’m trying to train that as much as possible but you don’t get too many tries. Today I was kind of confident because it was doable, the time wasn’t crazy, but it was a mess, my jump-off wasn’t good enough, but I really don’t mind. I’ll have enough time to think about it in the future, but right now I just want to enjoy the medal I have won - not the one I have lost!
“I’m going to enjoy this because I have a few regrets after London (where he won gold). I feel I didn’t enjoy it enough, running from show to show, when I look back, I think this medal is so hard to have but now I have the chance to get another one. I have an amazing family, especially my wife and my daughter, so I’m definitely going to spend more time in the coming months with them”, he added.
Van der Vleuten talked about the challenge horses and riders faced today. “When I walked the course I thought I haven’t seen anything like it, so tough in every way, it was big, the jumps were difficult, it was technical, the time-allowed (84 seconds) was ok, it was very long with 15 fences including a triple combination and two doubles so it was hard for the horses. When I came through the finish I thought the way my horse did this round was unbelievable, it’s a world-class horse and he deserved this medal today”, he said.
This was the Dutchman’s second successive Olympic bronze medal with his incredibly consistent horse.
Emotional
Newly-crowned individual gold medallist Kukuk said, “this is the most emotional day in my life! This is the highest you can achieve in our sport, I'm one of only a few ones calling myself Olympic champion - Olympic gold medallist - this is something that will last forever!”
“In the next days there probably is also a lot coming up for me, but in this moment I'm just really, really proud and happy for my horse, my family, my staff, my groom, my whole team. I know that this is very lucky, and I really will enjoy this day!”
He went into that three-way jump-off full of confidence. “We only had three clear rounds so I knew I had a medal so I felt zero pressure going in the ring. I really enjoyed every single moment when I went in. I told myself, you will try your best like always and whatever happens you will accept it.
“I also I knew what my horse is able to do and what I'm able to do. We won already two Grand Prix this year, so we are very competitive. I tried to find the balance, to not overdo it and to not take the last risk. But still I was that quick that I knew the other two would have to take some risk here and there and then they might have one down. That happened to both of them. They had to try and they had one down. So, I was the only double clear and it makes me very proud!”, Kukuk said.
He is the sixth German Individual Olympic Jumping gold medallist and has now placed his name amongst the giants of the sport, including iconic compatriots Hans Gűnter Winkler, who came out on top with Halla at the 1956 Stockholm Games, Alwin Schockemöhle, winner with Warwick Rex in Montreal in 1976, and his boss Ludger Beerbaum, who claimed the title in 1992 in Barcelona partnering Classic Touch.
“This was a very wonderful day”, the new champion concluded.
French speed king Julien Epaillard and his queen Dubai du Cedre clinched the coveted last-to-go spot in tomorrow’s Individual Jumping Final with the quickest clear round in today’s qualifying competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Versailles (FRA).
From a starting field of 74, a total of 20 jumped clear over another colourful and challenging track designed by Spain’s Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo from France, who eight-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, described as “the two masters”.
Pessoa and Major Tom registered one of those important zero scores to slot into 17th place, so is well within the top-30 from 17 nations that have earned their spot in tomorrow’s medal-decider in which starters will compete in reverse order of merit following today’s competition. The remaining 10 include the UAE’s 21-year-old Omar Adbul Aziz Al Marzooqi, who picked up just a single time fault when last to go with Enjoy de la Mure, plus the quickest four-faulters.
For Epaillard, today was a lot more enjoyable than Saturday’s team medal-decider in which France claimed bronze.
“It was a lot of pressure in the team, I was last to go and playing for a medal and you don’t want to disappoint anyone! Today the weight was off my shoulders and I rode differently, more relaxed. Also, my mare (Dubai du Cedre) is every day more relaxed and it helped me to have more precision. But it was not so easy because it's not a big, big, course, it's more delicate and a bit open which is not the best for me. I like when it's a bit short (distances) with my mare, but I'm really happy to be to be in the final tomorrow!”, said the man who, with the same 11-year-old mare, claimed individual bronze at last year’s European Championship and runner-up spot at this year’s FEI World Cup Final.
Excellent day
Meanwhile, it was an excellent day for the Irish when Shane Sweetnam finished second with James Kann Cruz and Daniel Coyle third with Legacy leaving them both with a great draw for tomorrow. The Irish team came into the Games full of medal-hopes, but ended up in a disappointing seventh place. Today, however, their flag was flying high once again.
It was important to be quick today so that if a fence fell you could still make the cut with four faults. Posting his clear round in 73.35 seconds, Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz clinched it easily.
He left a fence on the floor in Friday’s team final, but today there was no mistake with his 11-year-old grey gelding. “We didn't really have the rub of the green on Friday actually”, he said. “When I watched the video of my round it was like he just breathed on that fence. But that’s just show jumping for you. You have to have a little bit of luck, and today we had it on our side”, he added.
Spectacular
Coyle has been spectacular from the outset. His mare Legacy hasn’t touched a pole through three rounds of jumping and she was still bouncing around the 14-fence course today.
“I don't know what to say anymore!”, he said. “She was really fresh again. She's 14 now, but her mind doesn't think it! Obviously she's feeling great, and in the warm up already I felt that. I was expecting her to be a little tired, but then when she was fresh, I thought, okay, I need to change a little bit how I want to ride her today otherwise I'll end up making a mistake”, he said.
The Irishman wasn’t feeling at his best himself because he had food-poisoning yesterday and was ill all night. “I was under a lot of pressure today in all the wrong ways! But I was just trying to get through the finish with a good score, because after this week my mare deserves to be in the final no matter what. So I would have been disappointed if she wasn't there”, he said.
The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders and Uricas van de Kattevennen finished fourth ahead of Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs with Leone Jei and Steve Guerdat on Dynamix de Belheme in fifth and sixth places. The Swiss failed to qualify for the team final, so today was redemption day.
Reigning
Reigning European champion Guerdat blamed himself for his less-than-satisfactory performance last Thursday. “My mare doesn’t have that much experience even though she’s 11, she hasn’t jumped so many really big championships so she can be a little bit spooky which may have affected her the first day. I didn’t give her enough confidence, so I tried to stay a bit calmer today and trust her even though it wasn’t that easy prior to the class, but I must say she gave me a great feeling at the first jump and I felt okay, she’s back to normal, so I could concentrate on giving her an easy ride and not overdo things like I did the first day”, he explained.
Defending individual Olympic champion, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, finished 28th with his mare Dallas Vegas Batilly who sent the wall tumbling to the ground three fences from home for four faults. He was relieved that his time was fast enough to get him through to tomorrow’s finale.
“I like to keep it exciting!”, he said with a laugh afterwards. “We are in and that's all the matters. I don't know what happened there. She felt amazing today but she was very, very lively outside already this morning and she was playing a bit in the warm up, but when I got in the ring, she honestly was jumping as good, if not better, than the other days.”
Trying to understand why his horse seemed to mis-read the fence she demolished he said, “I guess there's a big shadow by the wall there now. She just rolled around the corner, and as she took off it just took her by surprise I think. Luckily I'm a little older and experienced and we made a quick recovery to get home”, said the man who helped take team gold for his country in Friday’s Jumping team final.
It’s going to be a fascinating final day tomorrow when those top-30 return to settle the individual medal placings. The action begins at 10.00 with Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and Zineday first to go. And although today’s result has decided the starting order, they all begin again on a zero score, so it’s a whole new day and a whole new competition with plenty more big fences to jump before the Paris 2024 Olympic Individual Jumping title is decided.
QUOTES:
Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann who jumped clear today with King Edward - “He has so much power and he normally grows into the championships. I mean this is not the first one he does! And he always comes out better and better every day.”
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa talking about competing at his eighth Olympic Games, this one with the background of the Chateau de Versailles – “Every Games is different and they are all special but this one is extra special because of the backdrop, and the atmosphere and not one empty seat! And you have to kind of pinch yourself to get going, because it's really incredible - the fans really turned up and the sport this week has been incredible - it's really special to compete in a place like this. It's unique. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m so happy that we got to do it!”
Frenchman Julien Epaillard talking about his horse Dubai du Cedre – “I can ask her to jump a house! She’s always tries, she fights, she has such a big heart and so much scope. My biggest problem is to know how to manage her energy in the beginning of the track, whether she will be with me or fighting with me. But she feels really good right now.”
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