Main image: Hilary Scott and homebred Oaks Milky Way, by Leanjo de Koster/FEI.
Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
With only a handful of days to go until the jumping gets underway at Versailles for the 2024 Paris Olympics, here is a quick run-down of how the competition is set to unfold.
Teams competition
Twenty qualified nations are set to contest the team competition, which will consist of both a Qualifying Round and a Team Final. The Qualifying Round will be run as a Table A against the clock according to Jumping Rules Art 238.2.1. Placings will be determined by adding the penalties and time incurred by the three participating athletes for that team. The top ten teams from the qualifying round will progress to the Team Final, which will be conducted under a Table A 238.2.1 with a jump off against the clock, if there is an equality of penalties for first place.
Individual competition
The team competition will be followed by the Individual Qualifier in which 75 athletes from 35 different countries will vie for a position in the top thirty to progress to the Individual Final.
Tokyo 2020 team gold medallists Sweden will again be a team to watch, with Henrick Von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson all returning to defend their title alongside Malin Baryard-Johnsson as their travelling reserve. Individual gold medallist Ben Maher of Great Britain will also be looking to defend his title albeit aboard a different mount this time in Point Break.
Australian team
This year, Australia will be represented for the first time by an all-female team of Hilary Scott and Milky Way, Thaisa Erwin and Hialita B and Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield. Amber Fuller and Nopal van Tallaertwill also attend as a travelling reserve.
Paris is set to mark Edwina Tops-Alexander’s fifth Olympic representation. Partnered with the 2010 gelding Fellow Castlefield, some of Edwina’s recent results include a sixth place in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco, demonstrating that the pair are certainly in form coming into an Olympics. Edwina and Fellow Castlefield will be accompanied by groom Wilma Ekblom.
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield competing in Doha earlier this year. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
With three debutants in Thaisa Erwin, Hilary Scott and Amber Fuller it is an exciting time for Australian jumping enthusiasts.
Thaisa Erwin will partner with the expressive 2012 chestnut mare Hialita B owned by Michael and Wendy Smith in her first Olympic representation. Thaisa, who has been based in the United States for several years brings a wealth of international competition experience to the games with multiple Nations Cup representations. Thaisa and Hialita B will be accompanied by groom Olivia Coles. Read more about Thaisa Erwin’s road to Paris in the June issue of Equestrian Life.
Thaisa Erwin and Hialita B at Rotterdam. Image by Shannon Brinkman.
Hilary Scott will join Thaisa and Edwina with her long-term partner Oaks Milky Way owned by Alice Cameron. Hilary who has also been living abroad for a number of years has had great success with Oaks Milky Way on the international stage, including being a member of the team which secured Australia’s team qualification for the Paris games. Anna Altenburg will travel alongside Hilary and Oaks Milky Way as their groom.
Amber Fuller will travel to Versailles with the brilliant 2013 grey gelding Nopal Van Tallaert, owned by the Douglass Family, as Australia’s travelling reserve. Amber and Nopal Van Tallaert honed their skills on the Australian circuit before heading abroad where they have achieved some great results together including a third a CSIO5* 1.50m class at CHIO Rotterdam just last month. Amber will be accompanied by groom Alexandra Bignasca.
Amber Fuller and Nopal Van Tallaert at CHIO Rotterdam, 2024. Image by DigiShots.
Jumping schedule (times are AEST):
Thursday, 1 August
7:00pm – Jumping Team Qualifier
Friday, 2 August
10:00pm – Jumping Team Final
Monday, 5 August
10:00pm – Jumping Individual Qualifier
Tuesday, 6 August
6:00pm – Jumping Individual Final
View the full schedule for equestrian at the Paris Olympics here.
Tune in during the Games to hear from jumping expert Martin Gostelow
Join us here at Equestrian Life during the Jumping competition in Paris, where we will be providing live updates as the action unfolds. No stranger to casting an eye over Olympic fields, Martin Gostelow was the official Olympic commentator for Channel 7 TV coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games for jumping as well as dressage and eventing. Of late, you’ve no doubt heard his expert commentary broadcast via ClipMyHorse.TV’s coverage of elite-level jumping events here in Australia. We look forward to bringing you his expert insights from what is shaping up to be a thrilling four days of Jumping action in Paris.
