PrintThe U.S. team had a tough day at Beas River, on Michael Etherington-Smith's cross-country course, with Gina Miles and Phillip Dutton the bright spots in a dramatic day of competition. Miles stands fifth, and Dutton is 14th, while the team dropped to seventh following the elimination of Amy Tryon, two runouts for Karen O’Connor and a runout and technical refusal for Becky Holder.
Overnight leader Lucinda Fredericks of Australia slipped to 11th with 27.2. time penalties. Most time penalties were in the teens, with no one coming close to the time of 8:00. Shane Rose of Australia was fastest, with just 9.2. penalties (23 seconds slow).
The German team took over the lead (158.10), with Australia a close second (162.00) and Great Britain third (173.70). Two Germans—Hinrich Romeike/Marius and Ingrid Klimke/Abraxxas—stand first and second, with Australians Megan Jones and Clayton Fredericks third and fourth.
The much-feared weather turned out not to play a role—it was rainy and cool, in the mid to upper 20s Celsius with high humidity, and although the rain picked up for the last batch of riders, the riders said the footing held up well. Nearly 10,000 spectators turned out to watch.
“I pressed from the beginning,” said Romeike. “If not today, when would you ever? It was tougher than I expected, and the last third was really tiring. It was really knackering.”
But the dentist by profession had nothing but praise for his gorgeous gray with impeccable jumping style. “I always have the impression that his last round is his best round, and it was again his best today,” he said. “Every time he does it. I don’t know how, but he does—thank you Marius.”
“I was really happy because my little black pony just cantered around,” said Klimke. “It was great fun. The only pity is it was over so quickly. Yesterday he saw the fences and wanted to start right away. The horses knew and wanted to have their fun.”
Tough Day For Americans
Tryon fell at the 10th fence, The Birdcages table, when Poggio hit the fence with his front end and stumbled on landing. “I don’t know [what happened]; I’d like to watch the replay. In my mind, I had a good shot out of the turn,” she said. “He caught his right front and slipped before the table. He landed and stumbled, and I thought I’d saved it, but then he stumbled again.”
Under the new FEI rules, Tryon couldn’t complete the course after a fall, even though she and Poggio were both fine.
