Olympic Update Jumping: Third consecutive Olympic Team Gold for Germany

Germany dominated the Team Olympic Jumping competition with only two rails down in both rounds. Multi-medallist Ludger Beerbaum and his faithful Goldfever had a double clear, as did Beerbaum's student Marco Kutscher. It is the 5th gold medal for Ludger Beerbaum who is participating in his 5th Olympic Games, and the 9th team gold medal for Germany.

Late tonight, the action evolved into a jump-off for silver and bronze between the USA and Sweden, both at 20 penalty points at the end of the second round.

Both contenders sent three riders over the shortened course and all stayed clear, but the USA riders were seven second ahead to earn the silver. "There was no way I could go fast enough to improve our score" explained Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, who would have been the 4th rider to jump for Sweden, "so, after discussion with my team and coach, I decided not to start in the jump-off."

This is the 5th team medal for the USA, and the 2nd bronze for Sweden (the first one was in 1928!).

The water fence proved to be quite a challenge for a number of horses, as well as the "Greek coins" obstacle glittering in silver and gold colours under the bright flood light.

Further to the injury sustained by Bruno Broucqusault's Dileme de Cephe who went acutely lame on the right forelimb in the arena during the 1st round of the Team competition and the withdrawal of Eric Navet and Dollar du Murier, France could not present a team in the second round, leaving an unexpected starting place for Korea, which finished 9th ahead of Brazil.

Complete results on www.athens2004.com



What's in a name?


Madame de Pompadour (Fabio Crotta, Switzerland)

Fabio Crottas nine-year-old French bred mare was given her name by his girlfriend Susannahs mother. "Shes better than my girlfriend!" he jokes. " No, seriously, as a jumper she is brave, she has a big heart and lots of scope. But Madame de Pompadour is really a Madame.

Mister Springfield (Robert Smith, GBR)

"My friend, who owns the horse, lives in Derry (Ireland) and the horse is named after a road  Springfield Road - in Londonderry."

Fein Cera (Peter Wylde, USA)

Fein Cera, a 13-year-old Holstein-bred mare by Landadel, comes from a distinguished matriarchal line. Her mother, Cera, was a famous mare who won the German Championships with Otto Becker. She was later ridden by HRH Princess Haya of Jordan, and then by the renowned Irish rider Paul Darragh. Fein Ceras grand-dam was also a champion showjumper.

No Mercy (Christine Liebherr, Switzerland)

"His name fits him perfectly as sometimes he has no mercy for his rider", says Christine of her nine-year-old Dutch-bred gelding. "Sometimes he can be anxious and difficult to control. He is very sensitive, especially about new things he has not seen before. But he does trust people he really knows. He is really playful with me in the stable, and he really is my friend."