Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos.

© HippoFoto - Dirk Caremans

Silver for the Australian eventing team!

By Equestrian Life

Australia has claimed the silver medal in the eventing at Tokyo 2020, with Andrew Hoy, Kevin McNab and Shane Rose all producing exceptional performances under pressure!

Great Britain held on to the gold medal, while France took the bronze.

First to go for the Aussies, Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam produced a terrific clear, despite rattling two rails through the treble. With France less than a rail behind Australia and the French rider jumping clear in the round beforehand, Kevin certainly held his nerve under pressure! They finished the team jumping round in 11th place on 34.9.

Kevin McNab and Don Quidam.

© HippoFoto - Dirk Caremans

Shane Rose and Virgil showed their experience, having just one rail down to finish in 12th place on 35.7. Shane’s approach to the fence was spot on; just the lightest tap and it was one of those unlucky things. Fortunately, the French combination to go before them also had a rail.

Shane Rose and Virgil.

© HippoFoto - Dirk Caremans

Last to go for Australia, Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos certainly had the pressure on them after Christopher Six and Totem de Brecey jumped a beautiful clear for France. One rail, and Australia would be relegated to bronze. However, Vassily is one of the most reliable jumpers in the competition, and he and Andrew never looked like having a rail! The pair finished in fourth on 29.6; silver for Australia!

The British team had plenty of rails in hand and all produced great rounds. First to go for the British, Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser never looked like having a rail; the horse looked as though he could start in the straight showjumping tomorrow! Laura Collett and London 52 had a nervous moment where they completely misjudged one fence, however that was their only blemish on an otherwise foot perfect round. Last to go, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class anchored the team with just one rail down. It was the first team gold medal for Great Britain in nearly 50 years, and the team produced the best ever eventing team score at an Olympic Games!

An amazing effort from Team GB, and it further highlights just how well the Australians did to clinch silver.

Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser.

© HippoFoto - Dirk Caremans

In the end, it was:

GOLD: Great Britain (86.3)
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class
Laura Collett and London 52
Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser

SILVER: Australia (100.2)
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos (owned by David and Paula Evans, and groomed by Clémentine Girardeau)
Kevin McNab and Don Quidam (owned by Scuderia 1918, groomed by Lucy Hartley)
Shane Rose and Virgil (owned by Shane & Niki Rose and Michelle Hasibar, and groomed by Rachel Watts)

BRONZE: France (101.5)
Christopher Six and Totem de Brecey
Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold
Karim Florent Laghouag and Triton Fontaine

Full results here.

The top 25 now progress to the individual jumping final - which includes all three Australian riders. Andrew Hoy and Vassily are in individual fourth place and within 1 rail of the gold medal.

At the end of the jumping team medal decider, it was Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Amande de B’Neville atop the individual leaderboard, leapfrogging cross country Oliver Townend after his rail down. They will now try to hold their gold medal position ahead of Oliver Townend, Tom McEwen and Andrew Hoy.

Click here for results from the individual eventing jumping final!

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