Olympic Medal Contenders - Your Guesses!

[OneDaySoon]

OK, who are your Top Contenders? I now Snoopy is going to be all over this, so let's have some fun and see what we think:

My Best Bets on Medal Contenders:

Individual - Top Contenders:
Lucinda Fredericks
William Fox Pitt
Andrew Nicholson
Nicholas Tousaint
Frank Osholt
Clayton Fredericks
Phillip Dutton
Amy Tryon
Mark Todd
Caroline Powell
Becky Holder :yes:
Niall Griffin
Patricia Ryan
Karen O'Connor

Team Contenders:
USA :winkgrin:
Australia
Great Britain
Germany
France

Going to hide behind the barn now...

[mythical84]

I think Team Fredericks (err, I mean Team Australia ;) ) is going to be hard to beat.

I also think that the Team USA has a good chance of medaling. I think Amy, Phillip and Becky are going to put in good dressage tests. Hopefully Gina and Karen are up there with them.

Ack ... I can't wait for it all to start!

[Jealoushe]

Mark Todd, Mary King

However I do think those who are great at the long format may not be the top contenders over this weird short and jumpy course....so really...I dont know.

[OneDaySoon]

Here is the Complete List:

http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/EQ/C56C/EQX403R01.shtml#EQX403R01

[OneDaySoon]

Shameless Bump - com'on guys it time to party and play!!!

[TexasTB]

Okay, after watching the first session of dressage,

I think its going to be a longshot for the Brits to place well individually, William was one of their top dressage riders and the test was very mediocre. The aussies and USA are my bet for being in top 3 after Dressage. The 3rd slot goes to either France or Germany.

It's sounding like the time on XC is going to be very influential, and in that case i think the USA is in with a very good chance. Connaught, Poggio, and Comet are all horses with a great record for going clear and fast XC.

This, I think, is what may hinder the Germans. They are technicians, for sure, but their preference for the WB-style horses, who are successful in the dressage and SJ phases, won't do them a whole lot of favors in a competition that is about the time on XC.

The Kiwis and the Brits are teams that I think will make a comeback on cross country day, to make up for an average dressage performance. They are "seat of your pants" kind of riders, but also very strong technically, and that is the kind of riding that I predict the course will require.

As for the Aussies, Lucinda and Clayton are definitely going to be right up there and competitive in this phase. However, the team is missing some of its key players, such as Andrew Hoy and Phillip Dutton, and so the rest of the team is generally new to team competition. So to me, its a question of how much the Fredericks can compensate for, and how good the other team members can be despite some inexperience.


If I'm taking a guess, here's my predictions at this point for how its going to turn out:

Team:
1. USA
2. Australia
3. Great Britain

Individual:
1. Lucinda Fredericks
2. Nicolas Touzait
3. Phillip Dutton

[TexasTB]

bumping this up again

[RiverBendPol]

Nicholas Touziant has just scratched, before his dressage, as has his team mate who's name just slipped my mind-54 year old man...What a shame. The Aussies have been BRILLIANT. Becky's test was gorrrrrrrgeous. How about Tina Cook? Yikers, nice start for an Olympic debut!

[OneDaySoon]

Ingrid was AMAZING! After seeing the XC photos, I think the dressage is going to weigh a bit heavier in the final scores. Go Becky!

[krobert]

"As for the Aussies, Lucinda and Clayton are definitely going to be right up there and competitive in this phase. However, the team is missing some of its key players, such as Andrew Hoy and Phillip Dutton, and so the rest of the team is generally new to team competition. So to me, its a question of how much the Fredericks can compensate for, and how good the other team members can be despite some inexperience."

Don't discount the other Aussies just because they are not big names (all 3 are Aussie based and definately not no names over this side of the world!). All are seriously capable and will be in to give it a really good crack. Both Megan and Sonja were part of team Bronze medalists at WEG (with Andrew & Clayton) and Shane after a disapointing mistake at WEG backed up straight after with a 3rd at Burghley. The tight, twisty, technical course will definately suit Megan, Sonja and Lucinda's nippy little horses and Shane is a true profesional who always goes hard (he will be going even harder after being disapointed with Lucky's hissy fit in the dressage as he would normally be up there with those in the top 10).

Aussie Team will be hard to beat! :D

[Jagged]

Team-
Aus
USA
GB

Indiv.
Lucinda Fredricks
Phillip Dutton
Amy Tryon

[OneDaySoon]

Well folks who knew (other than Gnep) that the Germans would clean-up and the podium would not be filled with well known international riders (from say the list below)!! I am really wondering what this says about the event, the riders, the conditions, the lead-up training, the selectors, anything else?

Here was my original list, with the one and only top ten finisher shown in Bold.

Individual - Top Contenders:
Lucinda Fredericks (26th)
William Fox Pitt (12th)
Andrew Nicholson (E)
Nicholas Tousaint (WD)
Frank Osholt (25th)
Clayton Fredericks
Phillip Dutton (DQ)
Amy Tryon (E)
Mark Todd (17th)
Caroline Powell (14th)
Becky Holder (42nd)
Niall Griffin (38th)
Patricia Ryan (43rd)
Karen O'Connor (44th)

Team Contenders:
USA (DQ?)
Australia (2nd)
Great Britain (3rd)
Germany (1st)
France

[Reynard Ridge]

All I can say is, "Yeah, Gina!" :lol:

[OneDaySoon]

All I can say is, "Yeah, Gina!" :lol:

Oh she and Mac are awesome, I am sorry to say I succumbed to the "he's a warmblood that will suffer in Hong Kong" mentality - and then look at all the WBs that cleaned-up? After watching the whole darn thing, I think it really depends on the horse, not necessarily whether they are TB or WB. Some of the TBs looked as ragged after XC as the WBs that loped along like it was a day in Hyde Park.

[Jealoushe]

Oh she and Mac are awesome, I am sorry to say I succumbed to the "he's a warmblood that will suffer in Hong Kong" mentality - and then look at all the WBs that cleaned-up? After watching the whole darn thing, I think it really depends on the horse, not necessarily whether they are TB or WB. Some of the TBs looked as ragged after XC as the WBs that loped along like it was a day in Hyde Park.

Wouldn't exactly call an ISH a warmblood...

[snoopy]

Wouldn't exactly call an ISH a warmblood...



At one point they were infact referred to as the poor man's warmblood!!!!

Now they are worth more....

[Moesha]

All I can say is, "Yeah, Gina!" :lol:

She has got to be on cloud nine!! :)