Top 25 go into the Individual Final which is probably 10 too many. There are horses in this class carrying so many faults that they have no chance of winning, why send the poor things around another time?
Stuart Tinney’s Pluto has two down, an improvement on his 17 faults in the first round. Another of those pesky what ifs… if dear Pluto could have done this in the team jump off we would have taken home gold. If Shane had gone the long way at that last water… if, bloody, if.
Mark Todd finishes his Rio with a beautiful clear on Leonidas, what if…
Mark Todd and Leonadis
Sam and Paulank Brockhagh, the mare is a jumping machine, clear, and for the next couple of minutes, Sam is holding a gold medal in his grasp. Not for long, with just one down, Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice grab the lead with 51.8.
Sam and Paulank Brockhagh
Christopher and Santano, it will be a miracle if this nine year old does not fall apart in this second round. But they don’t, great jumping all the way to the last two, both down, 53.6.
Christopher and Santano
Astier Nicolas and Piaf de B’Neville, downs the back rail of the big oxer, but just one down and two time, end on 48 and the only ones who can beat them are…. Magical Michi and Super Sam.
Astier Nicolas and Piaf de B’Neville
Of course they can, clear and one of the greatest horsemen of all time has claimed two gold Olympic medals in succession, just the third person in history to do some, the wonderful Mark Todd and some Dutch rider in the 20’s whose name slips the memory.
Silver to Astier Nicholas, who quipped to Toddy at the presser, “in twenty years time I will be the same age as you” – he has time to find his gold, and he too is a marvelous rider.
Bronze to Phillip Dutton, another what if, Mighty Nice failed that vet check, Sam Griffiths would have been on his way home with a bauble…
Magical Michi and Super Sam
What an event, great horses, great riding, horsemen take a bow… Thank you Rio.
Congratulations Michi and Sam – but all those “if”s add up to a bright future for Aussie eventers which is exciting to think about. The black baby can only grow stronger.
Gutsy effort from the whole team.
Bronze is a beautiful colour!
No disappointment for this fan.
Me too thanks for the roller coaster ride and all so tight at the finish,great for the sport. Understandably we wanted our guys to win.
There isn’t any room for that small word if, just keep on keeping on .