Everyone comes to the Olympic Games with high hopes. Some are looking to win a medal while others are happy simply to compete (or in the case of eventing, complete) and there are always ups and downs along the way
Not the way Ruy Fonseca had hoped to end his Rio Olympic Games
Ruy Fonseca
The popular Brazilian rider who is based in the UK, Ruy Fonseca, didn’t have quite the home Olympic Games he had hoped for. The individual medallist from the Pan Am Games who has been a real ambassador for Rio and the 2016 Olympic Games in the lead-up, admitted that “It hasn’t been my one this time. When it goes like that, it goes all the way and it’s a shame”
After a disappointing dressage score and difficulties on cross country Ruy was on his way to completing the event when his horse Tom Bombadilla Too stopped unexpectedly in the show jumping, depositing Ruy unceremoniously on the other side after performing an impressive somersault
“He was jumping one of the best rounds, probably one of the best rounds that I’ve had with him at that level but when he suddenly stopped and dropped the neck I had no chance”
Clare Abbot
Irish team member and part time teacher Clare Abbot was one of the few riders in Rio who isn’t a professional rider. She didn’t have the best of days on cross country but a good clear show jumping round on Tuesday perked her up considerably
“He felt brilliant. He just bounced around in – he’s always so feisty but a three day really suits him because he’s a bit tireder. It make him more rideable, I can put some leg on and ride the canter more positively to the fences but he’s always very careful and really wants to jump a clear round. His stamina and energy are real strengths of his, it just never seems to run out; the blips on cross country were a disappointment and we were devastated as a team but to have my horse finish on such good form is a real positive for the future. Ireland has the makings of a seriously good team, we just need a bit of luck along the way”
Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V - more to come in the future
Pippa Funnell
The British team didn’t have the best of events but on the final day, after four clear rounds from the team, Pippa Funnell was once again becoming more upbeat about the future for Team GB
“I thought that Kitty’s round was just a peach of a ride. It was lovely to see Gemma and Kitty come into this limelight and ride the way they did, I think that’s really exciting for the future. I’m really, really impressed with them.
We were disappointed with the cross country day but we’ve picked ourselves up, we’re all in this together, here for each other and I think that the overriding thing is we’re just gutted that we didn’t deliver for Yogi (Breisner). He’s put so much in to the teams all these years and it’s just so sad that we didn’t get away with yesterday
“Of course there are going to be critics and we’ll go home saying where do we go from here but I think that anyone in the know would be impressed with how the younger horses went and it is exciting for the future with these horses. Yes they did have the odd blip but they’ve showed the ability that they’ve got in all three phases”
Carlos Lobos Munoz
Carlos Lobos Munoz was one of the more local riders to compete, coming from the South American country of Chile to compete in Rio. The 35 year old rider, who serves in the Chilean army and cut a dashing figure in his uniform at the horse inspection, had a great competition to finish 29th overall ahead of many more celebrated combinations with his Selle Français gelding Ranco. They started with a dressage score of 49.30 and showed a real partnership as they tackled the cross country, taking the long options but coming home safely with 42.80 time penalties. The chestnut horse had his ears pricked the whole way around the testing cross country course and the next day rolled only one rail in the show jumping
Alex Hua Tian
Alex Hua Tian’s nine year old horse Don Geniro surpassed all of the expectations of China’s only eventing rider’s expectations, finishing in eighth place.
The ‘lazy’ dressage horse turned eventer moved from 12th after dressage to 11th with a good cross country of 13.2 time penalties but it was the result in the show jumping, just four faults in each round, which Alex was particularly thrilled with
“A clear round would have been extraordinary. He could well have gone in there and had two or three fences down but this track really suited him – much more open distances than we’re used and the big arena suits the Don because he’s got an enormous stride”
“I can't believe it. I came here hoping to be in the top 20 - I never imagined this!” said the 26-year-old rider “This was a great week for me, for equestrian sport and for China. The hard work starts now with raising funds for the next four years. It does not stop. Other riders will think about Badminton or Burghley but for me it will be Tokyo.”
"It just wasn't our day"
Ingrid Klimke
“My personal aim was to finish the way I started. I was very pleased with the dressage and now I’m very pleased with the jumping. Yesterday was disappointing; I would be lying if I say that we celebrated with a few beers last night but on the other hand Bobby is still my hero because he did so many wonderful things (on cross country), there was just one moment when we made a mistake so I can’t really be too sad. There are many things that could be worse; he is healthy, we have more years ahead of us, he is jumping well today after yesterday’s course and, for me, his health is the most important thing”
“I really enjoy being in the eventing scene because there are always big hugs for those who are disappointed. Yesterday there were many of us who had a big hug and said ‘It just wasn’t our day’ and others we congratulated because they did a wonderful round. It’s just great to be together and have these special moments. We love the challenge of a Championship so we have to live through all these ups and downs”
