The final round was big and tough and only the strongest would survive this test of jumping with 13 jumping efforts over course which had 69secs time on it and Olaf Petersen was not going to be kind - the first fence, an oxer, sat at 1.45m for the front rail, 1.50m for the back rail, with a width of 1.58m - at least it wasn't square, I suppose!
There were 18 combinations sitting on 8 faults coming into this round and for the first time in many years, the final result could come from anywhere!
First out was Jung-Hyun Joo for Korea and this was a horrible draw for anyone, first on this huge and highly technical track and unfortunately the track proved too much for the 12 year old Selle Francais stallion Epsom Gesmeray, by Jalisco B and after a fall at the first part of the double at fence 4 and a further stop they left the arena with elimination.
Taizo Sugitani and the 11 year old KWPN gelding by Colando, Lamalushi had a ride through this course that would not have sent them into a spiral of despair - they left the arena with 3 fences on the ground and snapped rail to finish with a total score of 20. I wonder if they had to but the Course Designer a bottle of rum, for the broken rail - an old Australian custom!
Vincenzo Chimirri for Italy was another to lave the arena with elimination when two stops from the Selle Francais stallion Delfi Platiere put paid to their hopes of a top 10 placing today.
Captain Canada, Ian Miller and his KWPN gelding, Promise Me had what one could only call a "less than pleasing" round collecting 20 jumping and two time faults to finish with a total score of 30.
Controversay surround Alvaro Neto Miranda's round when he was "belled" after jumping the very unusual brick wall of arches - this fence had no wings but was flagged, as all fences are, and sadly for the Oldenburg gelding Countdown 23, their drift over this wall saw them jump outside the white flag which means they did not actually jump the fence at all - elimination for this combination.
Argentina's Martin Dopaz and his 11 year old Quidam du Revel gelding, Furka du Village left the arena wityh a very respectable 3 fences down and two time penalties over atrack which had so far seen 3 eliminatons out of 6 combinations! They finished with a total score of 25.
Soon-Won Hwang, second out for Korea, came through the finish flags with a round which saw 'unlucky" being the call, with 4 fences down on his impressive Caolys I stallion C.Chap - their total score was 24.
Robert Smith and Mr Springfield, an Irish Sport Horse gelding by Western Promise - this combination have been having success throughout the season and I would imagine that Robert would have been pleased to have come this far with a gelding many amongst commentators circles were not all that impressed with. In true Irish horse style though, the brain on this horse gives him ability many do not give him credit for and I have no doubt this horse will keep on improving as he gets older - it is the Irish way! They jumped a super round in this final and left the arena with just the 3rd part of the combination down - so just four faults to add to his first round of 8 - finishing with 12 faults this was far from a bad performance and I would strongly suggest that this horse will be one to watch out for in the final day at Aachen for the World Games in 2006!
Dirk Demeersman and the Corrado stallion, Clinton, the horse who has everyone "ooohing and aaahing". Clinton, the incredibly handsome 11 year old white stallion does not give the impression of being "an easy ride" as he fights and argues with his cool headed rider around every track I have seen him over this season. Clinton, perhaps well named, as he does like to "do things his own way" and perhaps this is what makes him so great - had just one rail down and had the spectators gasping as he took off from fence 9 the proverbial "mile away", put in huge effort and cleared it by plenty! He is still young at this level and again will be one of those we will expect to see in the final round at Aachen in 2006! This stallion already has progeny beginning their jumping careers but I would imagine they will not be for the 'faint hearted'! They were another combination to finish on 12 faults for the two rounds.
Ward McLain and Sapphire had a dreadful end to their Olympic run at Athens - they collected four faults at the first fence which is never a good start to any round but on landing after the second fence it was immediately obvious that something had gone wrong when McLain was desperately grabbing at an every lengthening rein to try and pull the horse up - the bit at snapped at the ring piece and the horse was running - Ward quickly went to the pocket end, jumped off and inspected the problem, realised there was nothing he could do to rectify the situation and the headcollar was put on andthis combination left the arena with retirement beside their names - what a very sad way to finish this event.
Christina Liebherr, the sole representative for Switzerland in this final round with her Libero H gelding No Mercy finished very respectably over this very tough track with two fences down and a single time fault to have a total two round of 17.
Rodrigo Pessoa and the great Baloubet du Rouet, the 15 year old stallion by Galoubet were next to go, carrying 8 faults from the first round, which would have been a disappointment to Pessoa I am sure, but they were to make no mistakes in this final round and came through the finish flags with no jumping and no time faults to clock up the first clear round in this final round to finish on their first round score of 8 faults - things were looking better for him but there were still plenty to go in the class. With Baloubet now reaching 15 years of age one would have to ask whether we will see him in Aachen in 2006 when he will be 17 years of age. Baloubet would now have to be listed as one of the 'great jumping horses' of our time with so many titles to his name - but to date the Olympic Gold has eluded them and this was not to change today as we all know.
Sweden's Peder Fredericson and Magic Bengtsson jumped a super round adding just four faults to their first round score of 8 finishing on 12 faults - and at this stage people were beginning to ask whether perhaps the 12 faulters would be jumping off for medals.
Otto Becker for Germany, and Cento - they already had a team gold medal hanging in the stables, but today was not going to see them in the medal contention when they added 13 faults to their first round 8 faults which saw them finish with 21 points in total.m Again one would have to question whether this is the last major event we will see Cento at as he is another of the 15 year olds jumping in Athens.
Juan Carlos Garcia and Albin III for Italy had a bad miss and a refusal but all in all, considering the track did not disgrace themselves leaving with 12 faults to add to their first round 8 for a total of 20.
Ireland's first rider in this final - and the large and vocal band of Irish supporters gave Kevin Babington and Carling King a huge roar as he entered the arena. Babington, based in the USA, for family reasons has been very successful on this 10 year old son of Clover Hill and the horse, again displays the cool brain that the Irish horse is so well known for and they jumped a super round leaving just the 1st part of the treble on the ground to finish with 4 faults to add to their first round of 8 faults and they joined three others on a combined total of 12 faults.
Sweden's Rolf Goran-Bengtsson and Mac Kinley were another combination who left the arena with just four faults added to their first round total of 8 faults and they jumped a super round - this would be one that I would imagine Goran-Bengtsson would be hoping will get a berth for 2006 in Aachen.
Ludger Beerbaum and Goldfever, the 13 year old stallion by Grosso Z were next to go and the first thing which was obvious as they rode in was that Beerbaum had opted for a change of bit from the first round. In round one, Goldfever was wearing a double bridle and in this second round he was in a snaffle - ranked number 2 in the world, things were not going according to plan for this German rider and this round did nothing to improve things, when he collected a further 12 faults on his trip around this final track to finish with a two round total of 20 - I would doubt that this stallion would have had five fences in a season prior to coming to Athens and now he was leaving with 5 fences over two rounds - but at 13 yearsof age I would expect to see him in Aachen in two years time, and I would say that the early betting would see him as a medal chance.
Bruno Chimirro, for Italy - cousin to Vincenzo and he came into round two carry forward just 6 faults, with his Lanwind gelding, Landknecht but things just didn't go his way when a show flew off coming into the first part of the double of ditches and the horse just didn't settle well after this, leaving the arena with 15 jumping and two time faults to give them a two round total of 23 faults.
Bon-Gak Sohn, the highest placed Korean rider brought forward 5 penalties from round one on the 9 year old Cathargo gelding CIM Christo and perhaps the enormity of the moment got to him - but his final round score of 13 penalties is no disgrace and again a combination I expect we will see much more of in the future with top placings at top shows including 2006 World Games.
Ireland's Cian O'Connor was next out of the starters box - and after what can only be described as a very poor showing in the Nations Cup, they jumped a cracking Individual first round finishing with just four faults. The Irish Trainer, Capt. John Leddingham, Chef, Col Ned Campion and Team Vet, Marcus Swail felt that things were not right after the Nations Cup and it was felt that perhaps the horse had become caste at some stage as he showed stiffness and soreness in his neck and tenderness in his back - the exceptional team worked hard together with physio and whatever had been wrong certainly wasn't in this Individual Final and when Waterford Crystal and Cian rode through the finish flags they were clear of all faults - no jumping and no time, clocking up the second clear round for this final round - but there were eight combinations to go so nobody was "counting any chickens" at this stage - just fingers crossed in every house in Ireland as to date they had NO medals in any sports in Athens!
Ludo Philippaerts and the 12 year old stallion, Parco by Darco came into this final round carrying four faults but with two down they were sitting on 12 faults in total and Ireland began to hold its collective breath for Cian!
Wim Schroder's horse Montreal, who had been impressing many in Athens seemed to just "give up in this final round and sadly left the arena with an elimination for The Netherlands - not a result anyone would have seen coming - but it gave rise to the question which has been quietly whsipered in many circles throughout this Samsung Super League series "are we asking too much of horses?" and when horse with this much talent throw in the towel, perhaps the answer is "maybe"!
Thomas Velin and his 14 year old Selle Francais stallion Carnute, by Oberon du Moulin were next in carrying forward 4 faults but today wa snot going to be a "medal day" for Denmark when Carnute lowered two fences and collected a time penalty finishing with a two round total of 13 penalties.
Chris Kappler and the very impressive and talented Ramiro stallion, Royal Kaliber were next to try their luck over this tough track, which had so far produced only two clear rounds and they carried forward 4 penalties from round one. They jumped brilliantly and showed their total talent through the treble which they jumped faultlessly but they did have one very unlucky rail, and it was unlucky to finish with a two round total of 8 faults equalling with Rodrigo Pessoa who jumped a clear second round.
Things were beginning to look very interesting now with two on 8 faults and just four to go!
Marco Kutscher, the youngest member of the German team, and their only hope now for an Individual member cam einto round two carrying forward 4 faults with Montender, a clear round would put him in contention for a medal, challenging Cian O'Connor for Ireland but sadly for this very impressive Contender son they left with 4 jumping faults and collected one time penalty for being 0.07secs out of the time allowed.
Daniel Meech would have to be considered as one of the most improved riders on the International circuit over this past 12 months - at Dublin Horse Show in 2003 he looked very much out of his depth, making some riding errors you would not expect at that level -this was not the case today! His first round on board the Wetsphalian stallion Diagnonal was nsuperb, the horse found his distances easily and was ridden to perfection - Daniel is obviouspy a young man who has had his nose to the grindstone over the past 12 months and his hard work paid off - he jumped well within the league of the 'best in the world" and even though the "moment" appears to have got to him in the final round I have no doubt that this young man will be a major playerin Aachen in two years time - New Zealand should be very very proud of the accomplishment of this rider - and I would out his three rails and one time fault in the the final round down to nerves - and nobody would tar and feather him for that!
And so with just two to go Cian knew he was in with a medal for Ireland - their first Olympic medal since 1998 and when the cameras spotted him in the pocket he was well pleased at this stage but now his focus must go to team mate Jessica Kurten and the mare Castle Forbes Maike who carried no penalties forward from round one!
But things did not go well for Jessica - the horse collected rails at all three parts of the treble combination and the mare was looking tired! Jessica is too acomplished and talented a rider to make mistakes and one can only say that the horse just didn't come up to the mark at this final and important round today and after carrying forward no penalties they left the arena with a two round total of 21 - not the result anyone expected but no doubt, being the professional that she is, Jessica will regroup and will be back jumping in the winners circle very quickly.
So now Cian was looking at a silver medal at worst - but the last to go was definitely the favourite for the gold - Nick Skelton and Arko III for Great Britain - they came into round two with no penalties - one fence down and there would be a jump off for Gold - anymore than that and Ireland would take home the gold.
Today in Athens - the day belonged to the Irish when Arko lowered 3 fences and collected a time penalty along the way finishing out of the medals with 13 penalties - not the result Great Britain and Nick had hoped for but the Irish went wild - they had not only clocked up their countries first medal since 1998 but it was GOLD for home based rider, Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal.
So now - there was still a jump off to come - as Chris Kappler and Rodrigo Pessoa were sitting on equal points and had to jump off for Silver and Bronze!
Rodrigo was first to go with Baloubet - and this is an awful position - did he go for a steady clear round and risk Kappler rounding him up on time or did he risk a fence down and go for speed!? Well he opted for speed and clear and took an amazingly risky turn, which comes from years of riding tis stallion at top level and it came off - the time was incredible and all was looking good until that dreaded last fence fell leaving them with 4 faults in 49.42secs - this was going to be hard to top for Kappler and he now had a huge decision - did he go for a steady clear and risk a fence falling which would leave him behind on time or did he just "put the pedal down" and pray all stayed in place!
Kappler came through the start flags and it seemed he was going to "push for the time" and risk a fence falling - the crowd was behind him and then total disaster struck! The horse knuckled over on landing, as we have seen to tohers do at this event and it hobbled off - quite obviously Royal Kaliber was the third horse to have done a tendon - the depair on Kapplers face softened the most hardened of hearts - it was all over for them! They had the bronze but it was by no means because they weren't up to the job of taking a silver medal!
Unfortunately the cameras swung to a very sad display of unsportsmanlike behaviour from Pessoa as he raised his arm in victory as the horse limped off - yes he would be delighted to have a silver medal but surely not at the expense of a horse injuring itself - a very sad moment in the sport for me personally and one which will not win the Brazilian rider too many fans around the world as this footage was seen by millions.
But let us leave that moment alone - the totol joy for Ireland rang out around the world as Cian O'COnnor, the 24 year old, based in Ireland and Waterford Crystal entered the record book as the Gold medal winners for Athens 2004!
The estate we live in rang out with the screams of delight from our house which was jammed to the rafters with Aussie's and Irish watching the class - Ireland is a small country with a very small population and they now hold the reinging World Champion, Dermott Lennon and the reigning Olympic Gold medallist, Cian O'Connor - what an exceptional result!
Cian O'Connor returns to Ireland on Monday and there will be many state receptions held in his honour and jumpingaround.com will be there to bring you the pictures and the atmosphere so check in daily for all the latst news!
CONGRATULATIONS TO IRELAND AND CIAN O'CONNOR ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL!
