McLain Ward (USA) riding Ilex during the Show Jumping Team – Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Live Commentary
Closing Thoughts
What a great team event, with Great Britain the stand out over the two rounds of competition. The British were just outstanding today, with beautiful horses and impeccable riding.
Course builders are such a big part of the mechanism of our sport, and what a course from Santiago Verela and assisted by Gregory Bodo. Without good builders, there is no top sport, and it has been two beautiful days of top-class sport.
Whilst I built this up to be the battle of the stallions, I am pulling back tonight and really thinking about the Dutchmen Harrie Smolders on Uricas, who I believe were the leading stallions of tonight. I will be keeping a good eye on this partnership into the Individual Qualifier next Monday.
Medal Update
The word coming out is that the Bronze Medal has been decided on fastest time, so that fast round from Julien for France secures them the bronze.
Team GB in Gold on 2 penalties, USA silver on 4, and France in Bronze on 7 penalties.
Scott Brash (GBR) on Jefferson (Bay/2009/Gelding/BWP/COOPER VAN DE HEFFINCK)
Scott Brash is in now, who trained with the best Michael Whittaker in the UK for many years. He is going to need all of that training, as he jumps the biggest round of his career.
That was just remarkable riding of the highest level.
Gold in the eventing for Team GB, Gold in the team jumping, that was the best round I have seen for some time from Scott, who now gains his second team Gold Medal, following on from Team Gold in London 2012.
Julien Epaillard (FRA) on Dubai du Cedre (Chestnut/2013/Mare/SF/BALOUBET DU ROUET)
Julien comes out in front of his home crowd with the weight of a nation on his shoulders. What a pressure cauldron.
So with that round of 4 faults, the USA know they are minimum silver medalist. France and the Netherlands may need to jump off for Bronze, finishing on 7 faults.
McLain Ward (USA) on Ilex (Chestnut/2013/Gelding/KWPN/BALTIC VDL)
McLain comes in from the US, with the knowledge a clear creates a medal of some description. At worst, bronze, at best, gold. The pressure!
All class, that was absolutely beyond anything we have seen in recent time for handling pressure. What a leader of our sport. At worst, a bronze for the US.
Cian O’Connor (IRL) on Maurice (Bay/2012/Gelding/BWP/THUNDER VD ZUUTHOEVE)
Cian O’Connor from Ireland, very uncharacteristically got a little messy throughout the course. 2 rails and a time fault for a total of 9. Looking back, perhaps Cian may have ridden a little differently.
Harrie Smolders (NED) on Uricas VD Kattevennen (Bay/2012/Stallion/HOLST/URIKO)
What a round, 1 fault for the Netherlands. 1 time fault, which could make all the difference. Netherlands total is 7.
Philipp Weishaupt (GER) on Zineday (Bay/2014/Gelding/WESTF/ZINEDINE)
Weishaupt and Zineday, are just all class, what a brilliant clear. Team Germany have set the benchmark on 8. It’s up to the others to beat that.
Peder Fredricson (SWE) on Catch Me Not S (Grey/2006/Gelding/SWB/CARDENTO 933)
Going so well, he just cramped in the air over the triple bar. Not their games unfortunately, 4 faults for a total of 12 for Sweden.
Jerome Guery (BEL) on Quel Homme de Hus (Bay/2006/Stallion/HOLST/QUIDAM DE REVEL)
How unfortunate, from what was a really great start, and 3 or 4 fences from home we end up with 8 faults. That brings Belgium to a team total of 20.
20 minute break
We head into a 20 minute break, with GB in 1st on 1 fault, followed by France (3 faults), USA (4 faults), Ireland (5 faults), Netherlands (6 faults), Germany (8 faults), Sweden (8 faults), Belgium (12 faults) and Israel (33 faults).
Great Britain are just outstanding on 1 penalty. They have won gold in the team event for eventing, could they do it in the Jumping. It is all to come.
20. Richard Vogel (GER) on United Touch S (Bay/2012/Stallion/WESTF/UNTOUCHED)
I built this evening as a battle of the stallions, and now we welcome United Touch S and Richie who have a lot to ride for. The pressure is on for Richard, as Germany will have a nation of expectation on his shoulders.
Wow, Richie Vogel really had a dynamic round, and unfortunately just a soft rail coming home. Glad to see him come home today on the 6, but that leaves Germany on 8, dropping them out of the top 5 for the moment.
19. Karl Cook (USA) on Caracole de la Roque (Bay/2012/Mare/SF/ZANDOR)
You cannot argue with clear yesterday and clear today. Wow from Karl Cook, who was a last minute replacement.
18. Harry Charles (GBR) on Romeo 88 (Bay/2009/Gelding/ZANG/CONTACT VAN DE HEFFINCK)
Just 25 years of age, the expectations of a showjumping nation on his shoulders. A clear here and it is game on for the gold medal.
What a great round from Harry. His father won gold in London, could the fairytale go another level to his son Harry. He has rattled the last oxer, but luck was on his side and it’s a faultless round to bring GB into top position before the break.
17. Wilm Vermeir (BEL) on IQ Van Het Steentje (Bay/2008/Gelding/BWP/TOULON)
After the unexpected 8 from Gilles Thomas, this round is so important for Belgium.
Ridden in the hackamore bitless bridle, just the single rail from this trying little horse. There is not much of him but gosh he has a heart.
16. Kim Emmen (NED) on Imagine (Grey/2013/Gelding/KWPN/CASSINI GOLD)
A late team call up, Kim and Imagine have gone clear back to back across both days. Just amazing, a great result for the Dutch.
15. Daniel Coyle (IRL) on Legacy (Bay/2010/Mare/ZANG/CHIPPENDALE Z)
Rattled the last rail but it stayed, gosh what a brilliant ride. Forward and accurate. A great round for a fantastic clear.
14. Olivier Perreau (FRA) on Dorai d’Aiguilly (Bay/2013/Mare/SF/KANNAN)
Clear round to the French rider Olivier Perreau and Dorai d’Aiguilly. He took a stride out to the last, and really absolutely challenged this horse to be as brave as him. Together they did a marvelous job.
13. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) on Zuccero HV (Grey/2012/Stallion/HOLST/VDL ZIROCCO BLUE)
One of the outstanding rides of yesterday, Rolf at 62 years of age on the Zirocco Blue horse, can the veteran go back to back? He is certainly in some form and what an inspiration.
Wow, Rolf had the first fence, and the pressure that would put on you at a Team event in the Olympics is immense. RGB you, and Zuccero HV, are amazing. This would have been the biggest track they have faced together, very impressive.
12. Ashlee Bond (ISR) on Donatello 141 (Bay/2011/Gelding/WESTF/DIARADO)
Unlucky for Ashlee Bond, she got a little long in the rein, a little untidy and unfortunately this course doesn’t have any room to be unbalanced.
10. Christian Kukuk (GER) on Checker 47 (Grey/2010/Gelding/WESTF/COMME IL FAUT 5)
4 faults. In context, with two strong riders to come, that might not be the worst result in the world.
9. Laura Kraut (USA) on Baloutinue (Bay/2010/Gelding/HANN/BALOU DU ROUET)
Super round for Laura Kraut, to be honest they probably should have jumped clear. A little too quick and Baloutine just couldn’t get his leg out of the way, just a rider error. 4 faults.
Next up is Christian for Germany, this is going to be a landmark ride. I am predicting a German win.
8. Ben Maher (GBR) on Dallas Vegas Batilly (Bay/2013/Mare/SF/CAP KENNEDY)
That. Was. Incredible. Accurately positioned, balanced, it doesn’t get any better. This man is a master. Clear with 1 time, GB are into the lead.
7. Gilles Thomas (BEL) on Ermitage Kalone (Chestnut/2014/Stallion/SF/CATOKI)
Well there you go, if you hadn’t seen it you probably wouldn’t have believed it. He was perhaps a little careless at the last fence. Clearly the double is short, the horses are having to back right up. Even the great Ermitage Kalone struggled here, and at 10, he has plenty of learning and Championships ahead.
8 faults today, no one saw that coming.
6. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) on Beauville Z (Bay/2010/Gelding/ZANG/BUSTIQUE)
Unlucky for Maikel and Beauville Z. A total of six with 2 time. Unfortunately as he landed over the fence he had the rail and it looked like he may have stretched down on his hocks. All looks fine as he walks off of the arena.
5. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on James Kann Cruz (Grey/2013/Gelding/ISH/KANNAN)
Shane recognized he was behind on the clock and made a move at the last, unfortunately he just paid the price with the front rail, and just 1 time.
4. Simon Delestre (FRA) on I Amelusina R 51 (Chestnut/2013/Stallion/KWPN/DEXTER R)
3 time faults from the French rider Simon Delestre, who added in the early part of the course. It remains to be seen if they just finish with time faults after dislodging a flag, which could end in elimination.
3. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) on King Edward (Chestnut/2010/Gelding/BWP/EDWARD 28)
As a massive fan of King Edward, it pains me to say that I predicted he may have a rail around this track, and that he has. I feel this just isn’t their competition this weekend, Santiago Varela has again asked many questions on this course. The flimsy pole on the related line, if King Edward has had it down, watch out, I think it will come down a few more times.
Unlucky for this combination, I really felt it was a better rhythm and more effort then last night.
2. Robin Muhr (ISR) on Galaxy HM (Black/2011/Gelding/KWPN/QUALITY TIME TN)
Unlucky for the pathfinder Robin Muhr, everyhting going so well until the back 25% of the course. A related line on two distances was the difference, it was just a little untidy coming home.
This is going to be a very big round for Henrick now and for one of the best horse’s we have seen in Showjumping, they have the Swedish team on their shoulders who are looking to retain their gold medal.
Welcome from Martin
Evening everyone, and a big welcome to those from Australia and around the world. A magic night of showjumping ahead, and it will be a battle from the leading stallions as United Touch and Ermitage Kalone go head to head tonight.
1. Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) on Porthos Maestro WH Z (Bay/2014/Gelding/ZANG/PICASSO Z)
We have had an early update that one horse from the Mexican team has been withdrawn, which will mean this team will not ride today and will finish 10th in the Games.
