A total of 88 combinations from 27 nations presented to the ground jury to confirm their readiness for competition, commencing Thursday.
An excited crowd, fresh horses and a now infamous pink pot plant on the turning circle resulted in more than the standard amount of entertainment and adrenaline than a trot up usually holds.
Three combinations were sent to the holding box to present again, including host nation Germany’s Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia. Along with the Czech Republic’s Matej Sukdolak and Qaid, and the Netherlands Sanne de Jong and Enjoy, they were ultimately all accepted into the competition.
Australian team passes with flying colours
The Australian team flew through, looking fit and focused – Andrew Hoy did, however, take the briefest of moments to acknowledge the Aussie supporters in the stands, with a quick smile and eyebrow raise before turning around the aforementioned pink pot plant and breezing back down the track with Vassily de Lassos for an easy pass into the competition.
Andrew is certainly no stranger to a Championship horse inspection, having represented Australia at eight Olympics and World Championships/World Equestrian Games apiece, but for the rest of the young team, this was their very first moment of Australian team representation at the championship level – but you wouldn’t know it.
Oliver Barrett with Sandhills Briar, Olivia Barton with APH Sodoku, Sophia Hill and Humble Glory, and Sam Woods and SS Eight Count were the image of composure and fitness, easily gaining their acceptance into the competition.
Australian team and individual named
The Australian team will be comprised of Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos, Oliver Barrett with Sandhills Briar, Sophia Hill and Humble Glory, and Sam Woods and SS Eight Count, while Olivia Barton with APH Sodoku will ride as the individual combination.
Thursday, 13 August
Sophia Hill and Humble Glory: 5:58pm AEST (9:58am local time)
Sam Woods and SS Eight Count: 9:06pm AEST (1:06pm local time)
Olivia Barton and APH Sodoku: 12:39am AEST, 14 August (4:39pm local time)
Friday, 14 August
Oliver Barrett with Sandhills Briar: 7:04pm AEST (11:04am local time)
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos: 11:26pm AEST (3:26pm local time)
Collateral floral damage
The atmosphere created hype, and a fair bit of spice for most of the field, with a severe distrust of the aforementioned pink pot plant on the turning circle widening many equine eyes – it’s well known that an eventer is only brave if galloping at the ‘scary thing’, so this exact method was adopted by many horses, who decided the best approach was to gallop either at or away from the flowers, with some collateral floral damage incurred in the process and many duos required to present again. It’s called a ‘trot up’ after all, not a ‘sprint up’.
Experienced teams and combinations paid no mind the decor or the crowds, most notably the British team, who jogged on by like it was just another day; they’re pretty used to the attention.
The same could be said for New Zealand, the USA and Germany, who all generally kept things calm until Julia Krajewski’s fischerChipmunk FRH performed some impressive acrobatics at the end of the runway, in response to emphatic applause from the home crowd that they had been accepted.
With the entire starting list now confirmed, there is every indication that the actual competition will deliver just as much adrenaline and photo worthy moments over the next four days at the incredible Aachen.
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