Nick Skelton, who gained group gold at London 2012 and particular person gold at Rio 2016, seems to be past some overzealous stewards to a blinding Paris Video games
Paris 2024 will sit proper up there as among the best Olympics I’ve been to. From the wonderful amenities for the horses to the attractive backdrop, the showjumping was excellent.
I’ve all the time been in opposition to the brand new three-rider group format, a lot preferring to have a drop rating, but it surely labored rather well in Paris with a component of sudden dying – one fault and also you’re out – that made it so thrilling.
I’ve by no means seen Nice Britain’s trio of Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles experience higher, and for Scott to coax each final ounce of reserves from Jefferson – who could be removed from a simple experience – below immense strain to win gold confirmed excellent horsemanship.
Course-designers Santiago Varela and Grégory Bodo deserve a medal too. The fences had been stunning and so they did a wonderful job all through. The ultimate day’s monitor was as huge as I’ve seen however completely pitched – to get three clears for 3 medals is the final word aim in course-building however no imply feat.
I assumed Steve Guerdat was going to win and the gang actually acquired behind him, however that was a really arduous turnback to the vertical within the jump-off. Christian Kukuk is an excellent rider and has gained some huge grands prix with Checker 47, so he was a worthy winner. Then for Maikel van der Vleuten to win his second particular person Olympic bronze medal is an incredible achievement, albeit with a touch of heartbreak that he’s twice come so near gold.
It was such a disgrace to look at my companion Laura Kraut simply miss out on the final fence within the particular person remaining with Baloutinue, who I’d by no means seen leap higher – such had been the highs and lows.
I did smile listening to a BBC presenter say it was Nice Britain’s first group showjumping gold since 2012 when actually it was solely our second in 72 years. However we’ve secured 4 gold medals on the previous 4 Video games, so let’s hope our governing physique British Showjumping capitalises on this success, will get our exhibits again on a par with these in mainland Europe and makes us the envy of the world as soon as once more.
Simply allow us to experience
Understandably, horse welfare was on the forefront of everybody’s minds at these Video games. I’m all for proper procedures to ensure it stays a prime precedence, however the one slight dampener in Paris was what I’d name some overzealous stewarding.
Take Laura for instance – she loves her horses. They comply with her around the steady at residence, the place they obtain five-star therapy. However she and these different skilled riders had been instructed daily as to how they need to and shouldn’t be working their horses, who, like several human athlete, want their our bodies to be stretched, flexed and totally warmed-up.
We’re doing nothing incorrect, however there’s a worry that we could possibly be seen to be by do-gooders who suppose we use and abuse our beloved horses.
After the mud has settled on these Video games, the FEI wants to have a look at the blood rule as a result of having it so black and white isn’t honest. I noticed the tiny mark located below the horse’s girth for which Brazil’s Pedro Veniss was eradicated within the group contest. It was a bitter tablet to swallow for him. However think about if, for instance, Scott, having secured gold, had then been discovered to have a tiny rub mark and so they later needed to announce their elimination?
VAR for stewards?
If the stewards had a direct line to the judges and a video assistant referee (VAR)-style replay out there for any horse discovered to have blood on it, they may have a look at every case clearly to establish the place and why it occurred.
Often a rider might be at fault, through which case that’s a transparent elimination, however horses don’t leap these big fences on their very own. In case you don’t assist your horse, he’s simply as more likely to land on a again rail and harm himself, which is way worse than an unintended spur mark.
We could also be strolling a tightrope, however in Paris we got here collectively to showcase our sport in an especially constructive mild with 20,000 individuals packing the stands every day in assist. What extra might you need?
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Paris 2024 Olympic group gold medallist Scott Brash might be in motion at this 12 months’s LGCT of London and medallists’ ceremony
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Photograph
Harry Charles and Romeo 88 leap an excellent clear for a packed crowd within the group remaining.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future
