McLain Ward (USA) riding Ilex during the Show Jumping Team – Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo Credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark
Anticipation Builds for the Jumping Team Final
Well, what an exciting build-up we’ve had, and tonight’s Team Final promises to be a spectacular evening of top-class show jumping from the heart of Paris. The Jumping Team Final kicks off at 10 PM AEST, and the atmosphere will be electric. We have the top ten teams from the qualifier ready to contest for a medal, and the competition is set to be fierce. Let’s dive into what we can expect from the top teams.
Swedish Team: Champions Ready to Shine
The Swedes come in as the reigning Olympic and World champions, and they’ve had quite the journey. Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward faced some challenges last night. King Edward wasn’t at his smoothest, but von Eckermann’s experience and determination ensured they finished with a clear round. It wasn’t the strongest ride for the pair, but as we know in show jumping, a clear is a clear.
Going into the team final tonight, the fences are going to be a hole or two higher and a little bit wider in the oxers. Knowing this, I just wonder, should this pair come out and have a similar round today, they could potentially have a rail. I imagine Henrik will have spent the night reviewing his ride, and making a really solid plan with coach Ludger Beerbaum to ensure that doesn’t happen.
The second Swedish rider, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson at 62 years of age, gave us a masterclass performance with Zuccero HV. His ride was one of the standouts of the evening.
Last to go, Peder Fredricson and his horse Catch Me Not S had a bit of trouble last night. Fredricson is an absolute fighter himself, and he comes in as the individual silver medalist from Tokyo. He will no doubt have a different ride for tonight.
I do think the courses Santiago Varela is building are suiting that outdoor traveling, scopier, taller horse, who may well have an advantage over the little battler horse.
Knowing that King Edward and Catch-Me-Not S, ridden both by von Eckemann and Fredricson, are the smaller type, they may be slightly disadvantaged by what’s being put in front of them. It will be interesting to see what they can do, and there are no more experienced riders for the task ahead.
Richie Vogel and the German Team: Seeking Redemption
Germany, the only team to finish the qualifier on zero penalties, are strong favourites heading into tonight.
I do believe that Richie Vogel on United Touch came in carrying immense pressure, especially after the dramatic finish at Aachen. For those who missed it, Richie came to the last fence, having got the Grand Prix in the bag. A stride out he put his hand in the air to celebrate victory, only to find the last fence fell down when it was a bit of a disconnect with the bridle. It would have been front of mind for him last night.
The pair still went on to deliver a clear round, albeit with some hesitation. Tonight, I expect him to ride with more confidence and show us what he’s truly capable of, and am happy to see the German team have taken him out of that anchor position and put him into second.
The German team are methodical and precise, and with their strong lineup, they are really the ones to watch.
Ben Maher: Stand Out Performance
One of my stand out rides last night was from the reigning Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher onboard Dallas Vegas Batilly. I think everyone was thinking “what’s he going to do now after the extraordinary relationship he had with Explosion?”, and wow, did he show us.
His ride was not just centimetre perfect, it was a millimetre perfect. It was a six-star ride over a five-star course. It was a six-star ride over a five-star course. Ben is an artist, and he is at the top of his game.
And so Ben is looking strong for the individual, but certainly, from a team point of view, I think he can help his team members to a top performance. Both Harry Charles and Scott Brash had four. I think they will both be more than capable of pulling it out on the day.
US and French Teams: Poised for a Surprise
The US team had a mixed performance, but they have the potential to surprise us tonight. They have a blend of experience and young talent, and if they can iron out those faults from last night, they might just pull off something special.
The French team, riding on home turf, finished seventh in the qualifier. The support from the home crowd could be a game-changer for them. Don’t count them out just yet; they have the potential to climb up the ranks.
Team Belgium – Gilles Thomas on Ermitage Kalone are ones to watch
The other standout ride last night for me was Gilles Thomas on the stallion Ermitage Kalone. At 26 years of age, Gilles is such a stellar rider, and I have no doubt both he and this horse will be world leaders in the future.
The two of them yesterday were all class. He came out of the combination and made the six look so comfortable. This young rider and this horse are absolutely a talent, and will be ones to watch tonight.
Looking Forward to the Final
Tonight’s final is set to be an intense battle. The Swedish team, despite some struggles, remains a formidable force with their championship pedigree. The German team, with Richie Vogel, are clear favourites. But let’s not forget the US and French teams, who are perfectly capable of turning the tables.
As the teams prepare to tackle the challenging course, we’re all waiting with bated breath to see who will emerge victorious. The combination of skill, strategy, and sheer determination will make for an unforgettable night of show jumping. Join us at 10 PM AEST to witness this thrilling conclusion.
