After yesterday’s disappointing cross country day, it was down to Christopher Burton and Andrew Hoy for Australia to make an impression and ride fast clears at the final day of the eventing at Greenwich Park.
Andrew was placed 13th after the morning’s proceedings riding Rutherglen, while Christopher was ninth riding HP Leilani. Lucinda Fredericks was delighted to jump a clear round with just one time penalty in this session on the very promising Flying Finish. The Germans continued their consistent winning streak to pick up the team gold medal, with the Brits placing second, and the Kiwis taking third. Australia finished a very credible sixth in the team event, but after such a promising start it was a bitter pill to swallow for fans! The scores had been so tight all along, but it was the punishing ground conditions on XC day that sealed Australia’s fate, with Sam and Clayton’s unfortunate eliminations.
However, there was still all to play for in the afternoon, as the individual medals were still to be decided. Andrew Hoy started and finished on 57.3, riding an assured round on Rutherglen within the time of 60 seconds (which inexplicably was changed from 58 seconds, as the contest began.) But it wasn’t enough to catch up the leaders, and he slipped to thirteenth place.
Christopher Burton began the afternoon’s proceedings within three fences off the top of the scoreboard, but had two fences down, ending his individual medal hopes with 62.10, and taking him to sixteenth place. American Phillip Dutton on Aussie horse Mystery Whisper started on 70.1 but knocked the first fence down, to gain 83.10 penalty points for 23rd place.
Christopher Burton
Kiwi Mark Todd started the afternoon in seventh place with Campino, but had two fences down to finish in 12th. His team mate Andrew Nicholson followed in the same vein, with one fence down to gain 49 penalties. However this was enough to take him to fourth place individually, a fantastic result that was well deserved, just missing out on a medal behind Germany’s Sandra Auffarth.
The top five placed riders individually were World and European champion Germany’s Michael Jung, riding Sam; Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Osholt riding her home bred Wega; Germany’s Sandra Auffarth riding Opgun Louvo; Andrew Nicholson for New Zealand riding Nereo – and the UK’s Mary King with Imperial Cavalier, placed fifth.
In conclusion, this has been a super competition with incredibly close scores from start to finish – it has allowed the Australian riders to shine in the dressage, brought Christopher Burton to the wider attention of the international audience, and shown the world that the Aussies are a serious eventing nation with the ability to lead the board. As is often the case with our sport, it only takes a twist of fate to change the rankings and dash the riders’ hopes!
It has been a Games to remember, and of course we will all be back to fight another day, and another Games. Congratulations must primarily go to the Kiwis, who had a great result, being placed third overall in the team event. New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, who placed fourth individually, also came within a hair’s breadth of medalling – especially well done to Andrew from the Eventful Life team! And of course, all the nations and riders that fought so hard, and rode so well, to make this a very special Games indeed.
Germany - the winning team
For full individual results CLICK HERE
For full team results CLICK HERE
