Versailles, France—July 29
It was a tense morning for the Japanese eventing team, who were in bronze-medal position after cross-country, at the Paris Olympics after two of their horses: Cekatinka, ridden by Ryuzo Kitajima, and MGH Grafton Street, ridden by Yoshiaki Oiwa, were sent to the hold box. Cekatinka was withdrawn from the hold box, but MGH Grafton Street was re-presented and passed on second go. The Japanese can now substitute in their reserve pair, Toshiyuki Tanaka and Jefferson, to show jump but will receive 20 penalties for doing so. That puts them on a 113.8 and moves them into fifth behind Switzerland (102.4) and Belgium (111.0).
Australia’s pathfinder Virgil, ridden by Shane Rose, was also sent to the hold box but passed upon re-inspection. Australia only presented three horses as Kevin McNab’s Don Quidam was injured on yesterday’s cross-country. Their reserve, Shenae Lowings will ride Bold Venture, giving them an additional 20 penalties to make their score 314.3.
In addition to Don Quidam, four additional horses were not presented, two of which were competing on teams: Sarah Ennis’ Action Lady. M (Ireland), Carlos Parro’s Safira (Brazil), Sanna Siltakorpi’s Bofey Click (Finland) and Carlos Diaz Fernandez’ Taraje CP 21.10 (Spain).
Aoife Clark will show jump Freelance for Ireland, making their team score 141.1, moving them behind the United States (128.5) into ninth. Ruy Fonseca will show jump Ballypatrick SRS for Brazil, making their score 197.4, which does not change their placing of 12th after cross-country.
All U.S. horses passed.
ADVERTISEMENT
All of the Polish horses passed this morning, but they have subbed Wiktoria Knap and Quintus 134 for Jan Kaminski and Jard, making their team score 411.1. They remain in 16th.
The team show jumping competition, which also serves as the individual qualifier, will start at 11:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. ET). Individual riders will go first followed by the lowest placed-rider in the lowest-placed team. The team rotation will continue from lowest-placed to highest-placed, so Great Britain will show jump last.
The top 25 individuals will show jump at 3 p.m. (9 a.m. ET). Team and individual medals will be presented following the individual final.
The Chronicle has a reporter on site at the Paris Olympics. See all of our coverage here.
