Will Simpson and Carlsson Vom Dach

Beezie Madden and Authentic

Jill Henselwood and Special Ed

Will Simpson, member of the gold medal-winning USA team, and 12 -year-old Holsteiner gelding Carlsson Vom Dach owned by El Campion Farms. ‘He has all the ingredients,’ said Simpson, who has trained with the horse since the spring of 2007. ‘He’s brave. Careful. Fast.’

We hear that the horse has been sold to an unknown American buyer. Since Will Simpson is based out of California and the horse will be moving to the East Coast it is not clear yet who may be get the ride in the future.

Beezie Madden of the United States also needed a jump-off to reach the podium – she won bronze over six competitors by finishing in the fastest time and incurring no penalty points.

Madden and Authentic were the fastest of three clear rounds in the bronze medal jump-off, after a daring short cut through the decorative shrubbery, finishing on 35.25. The short cut counted for an advantage of 0.12 over Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany and Shutterfly, who found their usual form too late.

Showjumping at the Olympic Games often showcases the very highs and very lows of the equestrian sport. Just getting to the games is a difficult process. Some riders arrived and never started, some started only once and some won medals.

The arena, courses and showjumping were all a fantastic spectacle in every sense and, for me, far surpassed my expectations in the hot humid climate.

The first day of showjumping, Friday 15th, in essence, was an opportunity for nations to familiarise themselves with the conditions for things to come. Although the previous Monday allowed for a practice session, where teams were given a time slot to jump around a 1.45m course of seven fences, the first Friday evening presented a track ranging from 1.45 to 1.60m with fairly straight-forward lines yet the time was very tight. This class was mere window dressing as far as the individual competition was concerned. For the team event, it decided the starting order. The FEI decided to change the format from Athens to make the sport more interesting, however many riders felt that they were jumping a class for very little purpose.

The Australian team all consisted of first-time Olympians, spread across the ages, from Matt Williams at 23 to Laurie Lever at 60. The team had a great start with Peter McMahon out first early in the field. The fiery little mare Genoa was ridden to perfection, just felling the front rail of the oxer at the dark green double and under the time set at 88 seconds, finishing =30th overall. Laurie Lever with Drossel Dan stepped to the arena 24th to go, jumping a well-executed clear, just incurring one time penalty to finish individually =14th. Edwina Alexander and Itot de Chateau got a little close and soft to fence nine, the big oxer over a liverpool, to have the front rail and then one time. In fact time was so tight only 13 of the 77 starters did not incur time. Matt Williams was foot perfect until fence 10, the double. The ride down from the big liverpool oxer became a little quick as the horse appeared a bit strong here. A check wasn’t enough, as he cross-gaited in the canter, pulling a shoe part way down. Matt told us later that he should have sat back and checked a little stronger as the horse ran at the fence, having the vertical at element A, to incur just the four penalties.

Australia sat in ninth position just behind Great Britain and the Netherlands. A surprise for most was to see the Germans sitting in 12th position with a total of 22 penalties. Edwina Alexander mentioned that the ‘Germans can never be counted out or underestimated and as tonight was just a preliminary of sorts and they will more than likely be on the final podium.’

Team USA (total 0 penalties) topped the list ahead of Canada, Switzerland and Brazil all on equal status of one penalty.

The Netherlands had been tipped for an overall win by most in the know. They only have one original member of their world champion team in Gerco Schroder, but did have some great combinations in Angelique Hoorn on O’Brien (4 faults), Marc Houtzager on Opium (2 time) and Vincent Voorn, son of former Australian coach Albert, who jumped clear to place the team =6th place today.

Defending gold medallists, the USA, now start as favourites after they produced three clear rounds from Will Simpson on Carlsson Vom Dach, Beezie Madden on Authentic and McLain Ward on Sapphire. Their fourth rider, Laura Kraut on Calibre II was not too shabby either with five penalties.

Germany need to put in a better performance to recapture the gold they lost at the Athens 2004 Games when Ludgar Beerbaum and Goldfever were disqualified. The team of Christian Ahlmann (Coster), Marco Kutscher (Cornet Obolensky), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Shutterfly) and Ludgar (All Inclusive) could only finish in 12th position after the first day, behind Hong Kong (11th).

Patrick Lam on Urban gave Hong Kong something to cheer about when he jumped clean. As the hosts of the 2008 Olympic Games, the NOCs from China and Hong Kong had the opportunity to qualify teams, increasing the number of qualified competitors to 79, representing a total of 29 NOCs. ‘It’s fantastic to have a chance to enter the second round. I never imagined it in my life,’ glowed Patrick. ‘It is the toughest course I have ridden, it’s like being on another planet. I’m an amateur and I don’t expect to be clear. I feel really fantastic, like a pop star.’

Winners of the Pan American Games, Brazil, were in good form with the team equal 2nd after the first day. Defending individual gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa riding Rufus had only one time fault in the qualifier. Pedor Veniss on Un Blanc De Blancs and Bernado Alves on Chupa Chup were both clear and Camilla Benedicto riding Bonito Z had five penalties.

Canada, second to Brazil in the 2007 Pan America Games, were also going well. They had two clear rounds from Eric Lamaze on the superstar Dutch bred stallion Hickstead and Mac Cone on Ole. Jill Henselwood took one time with Special Ed whilst Ian Miller had the back rail of fence nine, the oxer liverpool.

Great Britain Team of Nick Skelton and Russel (1 time), Tim Stockdale on Corlato (4 penalties), young 23-year-old Ben Maher on Roulatte (1 time) and John Whitaker on Peppermill (5 penalties) sat equally with the Dutch.

Teamless individuals that looked good included Belgian Jos Lansink with Cumano, who is a definite favourite for an individual medal. They jumped a steady round with just one time to add. Sole Irish representative, Denis Lynch, is another contender for the individual medal. He and 10-year-old gelding Lantinus went clear jumping with one time.

Sunday 17 August – Team Jumping Final Round 1 and Individual Jumping Qualification – 2nd Qualifier

Above Left: The water jump presented in Round 1 of the teams proved difficult for many. Chinese competitor Bin Zhang on Coertis stopped but did represent to jump cleanly.

Above Right: No problems at the water for Christian Ahlmann and Coster … his problems surfaced after he jumped on this night. Coster’s post-event swab proved positive and they were suspended.

The competition today formed the first of two rounds for the team medals and at the same time sorts the individual ranking of all riders. Eight of the 16 teams from today’s class were to go through to the next night’s competition to ride off for medals, so the stakes were high, as the three best scores from each team would count for the tally.

The course had a fresh set of jumps including a 4.20m wide water that was the undoing of more than half the field. The first fence was inviting, the second fence ten strides away on a slight right curve to a vertical. A left hand turn back to a skinny vertical (fence 3) at 1.57m had to be executed before a hard left turn to the water 6 or 7 strides away (some did 8 but 6 was the preferred option). A lot didn’t make the line, horses were backing off at the water as light reflected off it, and many jumped too high resulting in a foot on the tape.

No rest from here, as a long distance 7–8 strides bore right to fence five, a tall open gate at 1.60m (the Chinese celebration fence) with a light bar on top. Right turn ride then to the double. Riders then needed to have the pace picked up to keep the time up for the 90 seconds on the course. 6a was a triple bar, 1.55m high by 1.90m wide, two strides to an oxer, 1.50m high square by 1.55m wide. Seven forward strides to fence seven, which was 1.60m planks with a very light plank sat on flat cups on top that tended to blend into the arena screen in the background and caused many to knock it. A hard turn back to the left to fence eight, a narrow 1.55m square x 90cm wide oxer, was followed by a tight roll back turn to a spooky wall at 1.60m capped with light small blocks. Fence 10 was an oxer, six very forward strides away and if the horses spooked at fence nine then they really had to push to get there.

From here, there was a small window of opportunity for riders to regroup in readiness for the last difficult line that proved the undoing of many. The combination consisted of 11 a, a vertical at 1.55m, one short stride to 11 b, 1.51 m by 1.60m wide oxer, one long stride to a vertical at 1.55m and five short strides to an oxer 1.55m square by 1.80m wide. The ride home was left past the out-gate a long ride to an open vertical 1.60m with a liverpool at the back.

Above: Laurie Lever and the youngster nine-year-old Drossel Dan had a great Olympic Games. The horse is now in quarantine in Australia. Sixty-year-old Lever said he was planning on giving away competitive riding but then gelding Drossel Dan came along. ‘It has been very fulfilling considering that I sort of retired from riding ten years ago,’ he said. ‘I never ever thought I’d do anything like this but you get a really nice horse and you get a rush of blood and all of a sudden you’re not as old as you think you are.’

Below: Edwina Alexander and Itot Du Chateau, only knocked down one rail over the first three qualifying rounds and Alexander qualified in equal second place with three other riders. They went through to the individuals where they finished in equal tenth overall.

Edwina was disappointed her double clear rounds in stages two and three of the competition did not count towards Thursday night’s result, as all riders’ scores were wiped to zero. ‘Here you start on zero and a lot of people who had a lot more faults go ahead of me you know and I mean people get a medal with 18 (previous) faults and I go double clear and I get nothing.’

Order of draw for the Aussies had Peter out 46th, Laurie Lever 54th, Edwina 62nd and Matt 70th. Peter and Genoa were too close to fence two and it went down, the plank at seven was unlucky. The triple combination was going to be the test for the little mare and she just clipped element b clearing c before heading down to the big oxer at 12. Here they took the back rail and home with 16 penalties in the time.

Drossel Dan also finished with 16 penalties, so one of their scores would be dropped. They unluckily had a foot on the back tape at the water. ‘He jumped so high over the water and it was unlucky that we hit the tape.’ Laurie said. The back rail at 6b of the double fell before they headed to the planks. ‘He seemed to look through the planks at the big screen and just clipped this. We jumped the triple combination the best. When we landed after fence 12 the boom gate at the exit point went up and I think he thought he had finished. I had to re-adjust the ride accordingly but adding to the last was not the best option required and we had it down in front.’ Post ride they found that both front shoes had shifted so some hasty farrier work needed to be done before the next day’s start.

Edwina executed a polished performance with a classy penalty-free ride keeping the Aussies in the race. Matt Williams rode a super round, with Leconte looking really scopey, until having the last fence down. ‘My trainer Henk Noren was at the out-gate and certainly ticked me off for the ride to the last, "You didn’t sit up!" and he was right!’ Matt told us later that night. Would 20 penalties get us through to the final eight?

Above: Matt Willams riding Leconte, Holsteiner by Lasino, owned by Yvonne and Alastair Young from Tonimbuk. The team score is an aggregate of the best three individual scores, so when Queenslander Peter McMahon was thrown from his horse during warm-ups and rushed to hospital with a broken collarbone, Williams and Leconte were left to anchor Australia’s medal tilt. Williams said Leconte had been hampered by the same leg injury that almost ruled him out of the Games earlier this year.

‘I think it was purely down to fitness, because he’s had a long lay-off with an injury and I think he’d worn himself out a bit by the last round of the individuals,’ he explained, conceding that Leconte might have been overworked during the warm-ups in Hong Kong. ‘Going into that (team final) round, he was a bit tired and it could’ve gone either way. He still tried hard, but he probably did do a bit much.’

Below: Peter McMahon and Genoa, a great start to the Olympics with only one rail in the first class. A fall later in the practice area during the teams event, saw Peter break his collarbone. Upon return to Australia, Peter had to have a complete shoulder reconstruction.

The Germans were counting their lucky stars that the Aussies had not had one less rail, which would have tipped them out of team contention, as both teams finished equal eighth. Now that would have been a history in the making! Christian Ahlmann and Coster had 16 penalties and 2 time, Marco Kutscher and Cornet Obolensky had a foot in the water, 6b the oxer and the big oxer at fence 12, Meredith and Shutterfly took the front rail of 11b. ‘There was some pressure but I’m quite happy,’ Meredith stated, ‘Shutterfly jumped very well, and I rode well, but maybe a bit too fast into the triple combination. Now it’s all about not giving up and to keep on fighting. Ludger hit the water with All Inclusive then a vertical down as the team finished on 20 total.

The Swiss and the USA finished equal on top of the ladder with all combinations having just one fence each. Sensational combination Christina Liebherr and No Mercy just the one rail at 11a (vertical) and are looking good for an individual medal. ‘The course was quite technical. The poles were very light and easy to knock down. You had to concentrate on taking every corner.’ Pius Schwizer and Nobless M, a little horse, may find the next night tough as it gets bigger and it often struggles through big triple combinations. Steve Guerdat and Niklaus Schurtenberger were in good form with Cantus and Jalisca Seller and worked hard to bring the Swiss to the front, as they were not favoured to do so.

The Americans looked strong from the beginning. Experience counts and they had two members of the USA gold medal-winning team at Athens in Beezie, riding Authentic and McLain Ward with Sapphire. So tonight their performances brought a few surprises along the way. McLain Ward was the first to jump one of the only three clear rounds over the class. Sapphire looked amazing, so scopey and superbly ridden. ‘It’s very good to get a clear round. I expected it, and am trying to win. The water jump has been difficult as well as the triple combination. You had to come in slow and trust the horse.’ Will Simpson and Carlsson Vom Dach footed the water as he just didn’t get out over, due to a huge high leap. They then had the middle of the triple combination. Laura Kraut had the last down but was pleased with Cedric and the USA team. ‘We are feeling confident. We get along very well and can rely on each other. We all know our horses very well and we are mentally well prepared. My horse is the greenest one. I didn’t want to let the team down. He did his usual funny jump on the wall. But I am happy to have contributed a good round.’ But the biggest shock was Beezie Madden and Authentic’s sudden stop at the first element of the triple combination. They appeared to leave a stride out on the corner and the horse just didn’t get there correctly. A re-present saw them have it down and three seconds time was added upon completion of the course. This was the drop score seeing them =1st with the Swiss on total score of 12.

A scare in the Great Britain team saw John Whitaker’s Peppermill sidelined for today’s jumping due to tying up in the heated conditions. There was therefore added pressure on those three riders to go well. They had already lost Michael Whitaker from the team due to his horse being hurt upon arrival and Nick Skelton had taken his place. Nick and his grey ‘Russell’ splashed in the water before also having fence eight, a narrow oxer. Nick was not so happy, ‘He does what he should not and doesn’t do what he should.’ Tim Stockdale finished on four faults with Corlato, having the middle of the triple combination, as did young super-talent Ben Maher to complete their team score at 16 total penalties and into = 4th place with Canada. ‘I tried to ride steadily and allow the horse some time, but my horse seemed like she was looking at something else. She is a big horse. It unsettled her a little. I wanted a clear round, but we are not out yet as a team.’

Sweden finished in third place behind the USA and the Swiss. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Ninja jumped a super clean on the small yet perfectly neat and talented chestnut. Lotto Schultz felled the dragon plank and took one time to be the next best combination for the team. Forty-nine-year-old Peter Erikson, riding at his fifth Olympics, collected 8 penalties on Jaguar Mail. Peter holds two Silver team medals from Athens 2004 and the World Championships 2002 in Jerez. He is the brother of world-class Four-in-hand driver Thomas Eriksson and he lives and trains in Flyinge at Sweden’s State Stud. Today Sweden’s discard score was the 12 penalties collected by Helena Lundback on Erbblume.

Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and the super little chestnut Ninja were the first out in the gold medal jump-off, had the last fence down and Lamaze was able to play it safe, finishing on the same time of 38.39 seconds. At his third Olympics, Bengtsson won his first individual medal. He won team silver at Athens 2004. He won the first individual medal for Sweden since Clarence von Rosen won bronze at Los Angeles 1932.

Norwegians Morten Djupvik and Geir Gullikson had 12 faults each on Casino and Cattani respectively, one score which was discarded, whilst Tony Andre Hansen, who plays in a rock band whilst not riding, took just one time fault after a foot perfect round on Camiro to put the team to =6th with Canada.

Eric Lamaze secured himself a good position for individual medal prospects whilst helping his Canadian team with a good clear round on the sensational stallion Hickstead (only one of the three overall nil penalties over the two classes). Ian Millar, in his 9th Olympic games had just one rail at fence 12 with In Style. Mac Cone and Ole three fences as Jill Henselwood on Special Ed was the discount score at 16 and two time. The first fence fell and it began to really unravel for Jill at the double, with the first element down. The ride from 6b to the plank at seven saw Jill circle mid-way, clocking up time and a rail here to finish with 18 total. Canada sits in fourth place at this stage.

The Netherland’s Angelique Hoorn, lifted the team as their first rider out clocking just the one rail at 11b with O’Brien. Young gun Vincent Voorn was not so enamoured with his round as things didn’t go as expected. ‘Too many mistakes. I didn’t relax enough on course. I’m a little bit disappointed. Two days ago we had a clear round and tonight we had a poor round with four knockdowns.’ Gerco Schroder and Monaco had three fences at the customary bogie fences, the water, fence seven, the planks and 11b. The best performed was Marc Houtzager on Opium, who finished with one time penalty. Team to =6th with Norway.

Norway’s Stein Enderson had just the one rail at the plank fence seven. ‘It was a very demanding course, every fence had its difficulties. It was difficult for both the rider and the horse to see fences clearly. It was technically big, but not crazy. I made one mistake – it was bad luck. Sometimes you make a mistake but there is nothing wrong with the horse.’

Standings at this stage saw Switzerland and USA on 12, Sweden 13, Great Britain and Canada 16, Netherlands and Norway 17 and Australia and Germany 20.

Now anything is possible for the Aussies as we’re only two rails away from the leaders. They have to ride for their lives this next evening. As for individual result standings, at present the Aussies sit in the top 50. Edwina is =8th, Matt =16th, Laurie 37th and Peter 47th. The top 50 go through on Monday night and from there the top 35 can ride off in the final individual competition.

Monday 18th August – Team Jumping Final Round 2 and Individual Jumping Qualification 3rd Qualifier

Jumping tonight would dictate the team medal and also the final group that would ride off later in the week for individuals. The Germans were seen in the hotel lobby post event yesterday, in repair mode, watching their rounds and trying to move forward from a place that they had not been at before … =8th with Australia!

The course tonight was bigger in terms of height and width, yet probably not as technical. The water element, fence seven, was a complete reconstruction in another position, this time featuring an oasis, including gilded lions. It presented an easier approach on an open curved line from a double at fence six, however going away from the water required a strong check to get in the five short strides to a double of verticals, the gold dragon totem poles 8A and B. 6a, a narrow oxer over liverpool one short stride to a vertical proved to be the difficult fence as the approach was a tightish left hand turn up.

For the Hong Kong lad Patrick Lam, tonight he finished second last with 24 penalties, ‘I could make excuses – the horse was tired, the course was big, I rode too slowly, but I became unfocused as I was a little out of my depth and set my goal to just survive the round.’

Fourteenth on course, Jos Lansink and Cumano were the first to clear the jumps. The big jumping grey stallion cruised around the track jumping a little too much in the air at times which may have been why he clocked up two time penalties.

It wasn’t until the 30th starter, Canadian Jill Henselwood and Special Ed, that a clear round was produced. Every round counted for Canada as team member Mac Cone had scratched Ole. ‘He is usually 110%, but last night he felt like he was 90% and was a little out of character. He was unable to continue.’ Luckily they had two great sensations to come. Eric Lamaze had the superstar stallion Hickstead, who had the back rail off an oxer at 11a and Ian Millar who rode In Style to perfection for a clear round leaving them in very good standing for a medal. Digging deep as a team they only added four to their 16 penalties from Round 1.

Peter McMahon drew 17th as our first Australian ride, however Angelique Hoorn for the Netherlands cantered in. We tried to focus on the practice area through our camera lenses but could only see Laurie warming up Dan as he would start 26th in the draw. The thought was that Genoa may have pulled a shoe, which she had, and the farrier was hastily fixing. Peter’s name popped up on the screen three horses later but Peter Erikson SWE entered and had to tell the judges who he was. The media centre was all abuzz as we tried to find out what was wrong. Peter had taken one practice fence before he was to come in and the little mare had tipped over and landed on Peter, breaking his collarbone … the show was over, and everyone really felt for them.

Concentration was at a premium now for the other three team members. Laurie and Dan jumped with just one rail down at 6a. They handled the most difficult line well – the water to the double of verticals required precision that the horse jumped big over the water and then had to shorten very quickly in order to jump the 1.55 vertical element A, one stride to 1.58m vertical out.

Edwina and Itot Du Chateau looked a class act, as expected. The little Selle Francais-bred gelding never came close to a pole … perfect execution for another clear round. Course designer Leopoldo praised Edwina’s jumping over the two rounds. ‘Edwina at this stage is the only one who has jumped clear rounds over the two rounds. I believe that we have set very good courses that have brought only a few clear to the front in each class which is what we set out to do.’ Matty anchored our team, but tonight the horse seemed a little hot and had the customary difficult fences down in 6a, the water, a vertical at 11 and the front rail off 12a, for 16 faults.

As the last riders for each country came to course it was obvious that the competition for medals was between Canada, USA, Norway and Switzerland. Norway was definitely in the running as they came to this round with 17 points. Stein Endresen was the drop score here today with 12 on Le Beau, Morten Djupvik had 8a for just the one rail. Geir Gullikson, the experienced man of the team had a rail and one time with Cattani, so pressure was on their last rider. Young 23-year-old Tony Andre Hansen, rose to the top tonight, being home with just one time on the grey Holsteiner, Camiro. The team was on a total penalty score of 27.

John Whittaker could not start for Great Britain due to protests by the chefs of other teams. The Swiss came to the round with only 12 penalties, equal first with the USA. Christina Liebherr, first up for the Swiss, had a doozy of a round claiming 24 penalties and would end up being their drop score. Pius Schwizer had a run out at fence 5 and one time. Niklaus Schurtenberger had two down with Cantus and Steve Guerdat with Jalisca Solier had a foot in the water and one time to finish the team on 30 points … not enough as Norway took the bronze with 27.

The Americans were clearly in the fight with only the gold medal on their minds. The Canadians had laid down the gauntlet as they stood at 20 total penalties.

McLain Ward led their charge with the mare Sapphire putting a foot in the water. Laura Kraut and Cedric jumped clear, not long after Canadian Henselwood's good round. Will Simpson’s Carlsson Vom Dach had a heel in the water and the last. Had the team USA made a pact to sacrifice the water to jump the railed fences accurately?

Beezie was last to go for the Yanks and after last night’s sudden stop, complete focus was required tonight as the team presently stood with the carry of 12. The score tonight already had a 4, 0, 8 and one discard score was possible. They could only afford one rail to equal with Canada or be clear to win gold. The round was clear and good in height but they also had a foot in the water, which would mean a jump off for the gold.

Three from each team headed to the jump-off. McLain Ward, USA, was first out on the course that was a completely new track with two new fences added. A big oxer fence 15 to start (new fence), right hand turn up to a 1.60m vertical, left sweep across the arena to an oxer, (fence 3) 1.50m x 1.60, left around the water to 1.60m vertical (fence 5), a left turn, option inside a fence to 6a,b with a forward ride across the long side of the arena to fence 16, another new fence, oxer 1.55m x 1.60m. Flowing, big and they had to jump and ride forward.

McLain jumped clear, Canadian Jill Hanselwood had a rail, Laura Kraut USA went clear, Eric Lamaze CAN was also clear so when Will Simpson went clear for the USA, the gold was won!

Meredith Michaels-Beebaum and Shutterfly

Thursday 21st August – Individual Jumping Final

The number of riders going through into Round A of the individual final had been changed from 45 to 35. The smaller field ensured a high quality competition over a challenging course.

No-one could have imagined what the final day would bring. The day began with speculation that someone had returned a positive swab. The trot up began at 8:00am with a few horses kept aside to represent. A draw was not presented until 2:00pm with the class due to start at 7:00pm. A few leading combinations had been left off the list whilst a few had been added. USA rider Will Simpson notably one, yet as information came through, it revealed that he was not a suspected drug cheat. Four Americans had made it through to the individuals and only three could compete per country. As Will had finished with the most penalties, even though they had won the Gold Team Medals, he became the drop combination. A press conference at 6:00pm confirmed the worst, that four horses had failed a drug test, casting a shadow over the last night’s finale of individual medals.

The combinations, including Tony Andre Hansen – Camino, (Norwegian Bronze Team medalist), Bernardo Alves, of Brazil – Chupa Chup, Christian Ahlmann of Germany – Coster and Denis Lynch, of Ireland – Lantinus were suspended from competing. The horses tested positive to ‘capsaicin’, a drug that increases sensitivity and can also relieve pain.

‘Capsaican is a derivative of the chilli pepper plant and is used both in human and veterinary medication. It can be rubbed into wounds, produces an initial burning effect, causing hypersensitivity,’ FEI vet Paul Farrington stated. ‘We tested by taking blood and urine samples. Each horse was inspected after their round of jumping though, and the boot check had not given any evidence of hypersensitisation of the legs. It has always been considered illegal, but the laboratories have only recently found ways to discover it. The specific test was introduced two years ago. This is the first time it has been discovered in sport horses. Previously only one case in racing has been known.’

Farrington confirmed that many horses had been chosen and tested at random. ‘To date up to 15 horses have been tested. From the medal-winning teams one horse each was tested. More will be tested during the evening in the individuals. Twenty samples have been taken from Eventing horses and 20 in Dressage. Ninety horses in total have been tested in elective post-arrival testing.’

Ahlmann was informed of his positive and suspension on the Wednesday and the others on the Thursday. The B samples had to be tested and if confirmed positive the FEI will decide sanctions. All riders had left Hong Kong before the announcement. If the B sample is negative, the FEI said that they would not pursue the case, although the rider involved would still be banned from the competition. However, that was not to be as all B samples proved positive. The hearings to be held on 8th September with final decisions by September 30th and further legal proceedings will probably ensue.

Sven Holmber, chairman of the jumping committee of the FEI sadly discussed the outcome. ‘This is certainly a serious blow to the sport. The four cases tested positive for the same substance. I would not like to speculate what this will mean to the future of equestrian sport as part of the Olympic Games. The IOC looks at the sport from a broader perspective, It affects jumping more than other disciplines, but other disciplines are affected. But jumping is by far our biggest discipline with the largest number of participants. Outside the Olympics it is also the sport with the most prizemoney.’

Alexander McLin, (SUI) FEI Secretary General stated that due process had to be taken at this time and the Norwegian Team had not at that stage been stripped of their medal. ‘That is not determined yet. The determination for disqualification is for the FEI Tribunal to make. The FEI decided in April to apply provisional suspension after the A-result because it is preferable to stop a rider from competing than to disqualify them after the act.’ If they are to be stripped of the bronze medal then Switzerland would move to the podium and other countries would also rise up the standings, leaving Australia 8th overall, which was a goal set by the EFA and our best ever position in time.

On to the individuals … another disruption to the final individual competition was raising its ugly head, in the guise of the approaching Typhoon Nuri. It was due to reach Hong Kong at 9:00pm however did not hit until midnight leaving the evening to pure showjumping at its best. Every vertical was at 1.60m, 2 very narrow and the oxers averaged 1.55m x 1.60m wide.

Australia had three riders in Matt, Edwina and Laurie into the top 35 with Peter sidelined with the broken collarbone, yet came to the venue to offer team support. Matt out 5th took the top plank off the Great Wall of China Olympic rings fence but left all else intact. ‘My goal was to make the Top 20 from round one and then jump a clear round next. The course is not that big, it’s technical and it’s rideable. You don’t have to bust your gut out.’

Tenth to go Laurie and Dan had a touch of the tape with the hind leg on landing at the water and then the middle vertical in the combination. ‘My horse has improved every time he has come out, so I am really pleased to do this at such a high level. The games are fantastic! Very well run, the fences are well constructed and variable. There is always a fresh fence every round and a new track. Leopoldo and Steve had been very creative yet understood that there are many nations here. The courses have been sympathetic yet have drawn the best performances at the end of the day. The Australians are not far away now from top level as we have shown here. We are always greedy for more, but I’m more than satisfied with my horse.’

Edwina also had this middle element down to end on 4 faults and moved through to the jump off for bronze as eleven four faulters and ten clears progressed to the next round. The ride-off for the bronze was full of heavyweights of the industry and this became a mini-competition in itself. Meredith Michaels Beerbaum was amongst these with the infamous ‘Shutterfly’. Here they failed to jump clean in this first round felling the first part of the combination. ‘I came too big into the triple combination but I still have hopes for the second round. I don’t give up.’ This may be Meredith’s final event on Shutterfly as the horse has reportedly been sold for four million euro to an American amateur rider.

Matt and Leconte unfortunately fell out of form, the horse looked a little tired early in the course, collecting 24 penalties, yet drew strength to jump the last few fences really well. We are sure to see this wonderfully talented young rider again as he now heads off to England to ride five or so Grand Prix horses for wealthy horse owner Michael Bates, whilst we hear on the grapevine that Leconte stays in Europe.

A tough line of oxer, seven strides to the combination of oxer, one short stride vertical, two forward strides oxer had Edwina’s Itot De Chateau knocking the middle vertical down, however the rest of the track was attacked with vigour by the small stature horse who didn’t touch another fence. As predicted this combination were the best Aussie performers. ‘I was confident in our abilities after our good performances. He was really relaxed in the ring there and he loves it in there,’ she said. ‘I think everybody would love to be on the podium, anyone that gets to the final, it’s everybody’s dream.’

Four faulters jumped off for the bronze medal. Meredith and Shutterfly finished in a time of 37.05 to lay down the gauntlet. Defending gold medallist, Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa drew a clear round with Rufus in a quicker time of 32.45. USA in form duo McLain Ward and Saphhire jumped across an island area, rather than go around, cutting out a stride to the next fence to save time. They took a rail further afield yet did set a precedent that the shortcut saved time and could be a good option for others to take.

The only other of the four faulters to jump clean was Beezie Madden (USA) riding Authentic. She was happy with her first round. ‘He is great tonight. He has plenty of energy. This is probably one of his best jumps. We would like to aim high. I am very confident in my horse, but it is showjumping and it is very difficult to predict a winner. I think this is what makes it exciting.’ Beezie executed the jump through the island with consummate perfection, meeting the vertical fence in good stride. A fast ride home across the arena to the last skinny wall had proved the undoing of many. Beezie met the fence well to be over and home clear in the fastest time to win bronze, adding to her team gold.

Two double clears left now to jump-off for gold and silver. First out was Rolf-Goran Bengtsson for Sweden on the Dutch gelding Ninja. In fact Ninja and Authentic are by the same Dutch stallion Guidam.

Rolf set a cracking pace over the first part of the track, rattled 6a but all was in order as they galloped the long path from the big oxer, the second last fence, to the skinny wall. This fence was placed at the edge of the arena in the corner where the horse had to run towards the crowd, sweep right, a stride off the corner, which was difficult enough at normal speed. Mad whistling from the crowd, to tell him to go faster, supported the ride. Too fast and the blocks were removed. ‘He was going fairly fast and a bit strong and I just couldn’t get him back,’ Rolf commented at the post-event press conference. ‘He has jumped his heart out during the Olympics being so clean. One fence down and the last, that is sport, but I am so happy where I am.’

The Dutch bred stallion Hickstead ridden by Canadian team silver medallist Eric Lamaze, had the sit. It was class all the way … clean and GOLD!

Amazingly they had the same time, 38.39. ‘It is terrific to win the gold medal.’ A happy Eric sprouted. ‘I bought this horse a few years ago in Europe and he was very difficult. I decided not to try and change him so much with pressure training, instead let him use his natural talent and I took my time getting him to be rideable and it has paid off. He hasn’t been a breeding stallion, but now we have decided to take some semen and put it onto the market over the next few months. I have been asked so much here about my issues that kept me out of showjumping for a few years (Eric has two drug-related convictions). I have had so much support from family and friends that believed and helped me make my way back here and I think I have successfully battled my demons. I just hope that this issue all now stays in the past where it belongs as it was so many years ago and that by winning gold it will be enough for this to make people remember me for the riding.’

Individual Gold and Team Silver … who will forget that! Super horse and super nice guy!

Eric Lamaze won the first Individual Jumping gold medal for Canada and had to endure his second jump-off during the 2008 Olympic Games. Hickstead had only one rail down in all seven rounds.

The United States, defending title holders, won the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Jumping Team gold, holding off a strong challenge from Canada in the team final competition.

Does a picture tell the story … the guilty team member?! Tony Andre Hansen on the left had a positive test after this class and was suspended and sent home immediately.

The equestrian events at the 2004 Athens Games were marred by four doping cases – two of them jumpers, Irish rider Cian O’Connor and Germany’s Ludgar Beerbaum, when they lost their medals. This Olympics provided the same controversy, which is a devastating problem for our sport. One such positive swab may lose the team bronze medal for the Norwegians.