A roller coaster of emotions preceded the medal presentations for the Eventing competition at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre, with double gold for Bettina Hoy individually and with her German team.
The Appeal Committee had to consider an appeal received from the German Federation against the time penalties awarded to Bettina Hoy at the conclusion of the Eventing Team Jumping and Individual Qualifier, which had pushed Germany off the podium. Bettina Hoy had crossed the starting line twice at the beginning of the round.
The Appeal Committee concluded that the clock had been restarted, and that an error in the management of the competition shall not put a rider at disadvantage. Bettina Hoy had no way to believe that her round had started, explained Hugh Thomas (GBR) member of the Appeal Committee, "as the clock was restarted when she crossed the line for the second time". The Committee therefore removed the time penalties formerly given by the Ground Jury and the German team earned the gold medal with a result of 133.80 penalties, ahead of France (140.40) and Great Britain (143). The medals were presented by HRH Princess Royal IOC Member and former Olympian in Eventing.
Twenty years after being part of the bronze team medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the 41-year-old Bettina Hoy, married to Olympic champion Andrew Hoy (AUS) won on a score of 41.6. Ringwood Cockatoo had one rail down in the Individual Final round and caught 2 time penalties, after a clear round in the team Jumping competition. The complete German Jumping team had come to support and advise her before and during the competition.
Silver went to Leslie Law (GBR) for his second clear round of the day. His Gelding Shear LEau stayed on 44.40 points although the much feared plank moved back and forth almost until he crossed the finishing line.
Kimberly Severson (USA) won the bronze after Winsome Andante had a fault in the double combination to finish with 45.20 points.
French rider Nicolas Touzaint, who was among the big favourite for the individual title, had four rails down, and with Galan de Sauvagere, finished 9th, after having dominated the dressage and cross country day.
Over and Over had to be put to sleep
The horse of Joris Vanspringel (BEL), Over and Over, who suffered a serious injury on fence 26 of the cross country yesterday had been immediately brought to the Veterinary Clinic. Prof Leo Jeffcott (GBR), President of the FEI Veterinary Commission and Dr Nigel Nichols (AUS) Foreign Veterinary Delegate today issued the following statement: "The horse was prepared for surgery in the evening of 17 August. During the operation, Prof Jack Snyder (USA) found that in addition to the fracture of the left femur, there was an extensive soft tissue and articular damage causing severe instability of the stifle. This made a satisfactory repair of the fracture impossible. After careful consideration for the future welfare of the horse, it was reluctantly decided that the only option was to put to sleep the horse before it recovered from anaesthesia."
Whats in a Horses Name?
Poggio II (Amy Tryon, USA)
Tryon, a fire-fighter from Washington State, found the horse that was to become her Olympic mount from a classified ad in her local newspaper, the Seattle Times. She and a friend bought him for just 2500 dollars. Then aged five, he was being used as a pack-horse in the mountains. Prior to that he had been on the track and even won a race. His official name was Chesters Time to Fly, his track nickname was Pogo, as in pogo stick. Bouncy from the start, he proved his jumping ability by jumping in and out of his field for fun, which he still does.
After a double clear round in her first Olympic Games Amy commented: " He has never been easy, but I never lost faith in him. It has been a long haul, as I have had to adapt my style of riding to how he wants to be ridden. But I trust him 110 per cent." Bouncy, individual and with his own style, Poggio was named after the bottle of Italian wine Amy and her friend were drinking while discussing his future.
Mr. Noppus (Hendrik Degros, Belgium)
When a Dutch horse breeder decided to breed one mare to the stallion Boy B, the stallion owner made him the offer that if he could produce another mare, he could also use the stallion for her, for free. The mare was Jeanette, and the foal went on to come to Athens aged just nine to compete in the Olympic Games. A free horse perhaps, but not bad for one whose name translates as 'Mister Nothing'.
Oaklea Groover (Rebel Morrow, Australia)
In 1999 Rebel Morrow spent 300 dollars on a failed racehorse destined for the knackers yard. Now she has just competed at her first Olympic Games on the same horse, who likes to take life in the groove. "Groover is an amazing horse, but when he is not competing he takes life easy just to eat and sleep."
Drunken Disorderly (Mark Kyle, Ireland)
Mark Kyles wife Tanya bought this horse as a four-year-old. His previous owner, Duncan, was nicknamed 'Drunken Duncan' not for any reason of insobriety but because his friends thought it tripped off the tongue. But it was over a beer or two that his former horse became 'Drunken Disorderly'. Tanya said: "Hes a super horse but he has always liked to do things his own way and as a young horse he was a bit wobbly and unco-ordinated".
Air Jordan, ridden by Germanys Frank Ostholt, is named after the US Basketball star.
Miss Ferrari (Harald Ambros, Austria)
Dentistry student Harald Ambros (24) bought Miss Ferrari as an unbroken three-year- old and was the first person ever to ride her. His father deals in cars, all Italian marques, so it was to the motorsport world that they turned for a name. "It was easy" recalls Harald, who is riding at his first Olympic Games on the now nine-year-old mare. "She is fast, reliable and very, very cool"!
Campus
