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An apparent initial scoring error - a failure to give Bettina Hoy(GER) either 12 or 14 Show Jumping time faults or faults for a "foul" (the official scores have 12 time faults on the team scores and 14 on the individual scores), has put the USA in the Bronze Medal position and Kim Severson in the Individual Silver Medal position heading into the Individual Show Jumping Final tonight at Markopoulo Equestrian Center, in Greece.

Stay tuned - - -

"Germany (has) accumulated a further 12 penalties because of a foul committed by Bettina Hoy, which was only spotted by the judges at a later stage. They are knocked from the gold medal spot into fourth." (Horse & Hound)

2:30 PM - More News: Apparently Bettina Hoy crossed the Start Line, of Show Jumping twice - the French noticed it and protested, hence the 12 extra faults.

Team Results:

Gold Medal: France - 140.4 (Touzaint, Teulere, Courreges)

Silver Medal: Great Britain - 143.0 (Funnell, Law, King)

Bronze Medal: United States - 145.6 (Severson, Chiacchia,
Tryon)

4. Germany - 145.8 (Romeike, Hoy, Dibowski
5. New Zealand - 176.2 (Tompkins, Grayling, Tait)
6. Australia - 185.8 (Morrow, Dutton Tinney)
7. Belgium - 193.0 (van Rijckevorsel , Donckers, Degros)
8. Ireland - 217.0 (Kyle, Griffin, Shortt)
9. Sweden - 234 (Gallerdal, Algotsson, S., Algotsson, L)
10. Italy - 257 (Menchi, Brecciaroli, Magni)
11. Brazil - 301 (Gouveia, Marins, Paro)
12. Canada - 301.2 ( Mandeville, Winter, Roque)
13. Austria - 306.4 (Ambros, Stegl, Riedl)
14. Poland - 376.4 (Rajnert, Rasek, Spisak)

The Top Twelve Individuals Going into Tonight's Individual Show Jumping are:

1. Nicholas Touzaint (FRA), Galan de Sauvagere - 33.4
2. Kim Severson (USA), Winsome Adante - 41.2 (7.8)
3. Pippa Funnell (GBR), Primmore's Pride - 42.6 (9.2)
4. Leslie Law (GBR), Shear L'Eau - 44.4 (11)
5. Hinrich Romeike (GER), Marius - 45.2 (11.8)
6. Jean Teulere (FRA), Espoire de la Mare - 46.4 (13)
7. Heelan Tompkins (NZL), Glengarrick - 48.0 (15.0)
8. Bettina Hoy (GER), Ringwood Cockatoo - 49.6 (16.2)*
9. Rebel Morrow (AUS), Oaklea Groover - 50.2 (16.8)
10. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Nova Top - 50.8 (17.4)
11. Amy Tryon (USA), Poggio II - 51.8 (18.4)
12. Darren Chiacchia (USA), Windfall 2 - 52.6 (19.2)

* Bettina's score is uncertain as it is 49.6 in the individual scores and 47.6 in the team scores.

(The numbers in parentheses are the number of faults out of first place.)

Report

Well it certainly has been an emotional day! - and it ain't over yet!

First, there is the agony of having Windfall 2 and Darren in the Holding Box at the Vet Check. Windfall passes WHEW! - that's over.

Second, the Brits receive what seemed a near fatal body blow when they lose William and Tamarillo, their highest scoring pair. This drops them to fourth and puts the USA in Bronze Medal position.

Julie show jumps double clear; but, her score is already so poor that it isn't going to help.

Amy jumps a double clear - Yippee!

John has 12 show jumping faults - Groan!

Darren has 8 show jumping faults - Groan!

The Brits, who are fabulous competitors as well as talented horsemen, shake off the loss of William Fox Pitt. Mary King, the consumate pro, riding in her fourth Olympics,originally the Travelling Spare and moved on to the British Team when Sarah Cutteridge's The Wexford Lady has issues, has 2 rails down. Then the Brits come roaring back. Leslie Law show jumps clean.

No one has ever doubted Pippa Funnell's sang froid, but, she had a vile day on Tuesday. Primmore's Pride was close to impossible to hold. Pippa picked up 11.2 time faults and crossed the finish line of Cross Country distraught and exhaused.

Undeterred, she and Primmore's Pride enter the Show Jumping arena back in the frame, totally under control and determined. They jump a beautiful double clear! Now do we know why Pippa won the Rolex Grand Slam last year?

Kim needs to jump clean to win the Bronze medal for the USA. Dan is good until the last fence, orange planks on flat cups, that have been a problem all day. The top plank falls and they are one second over time.

There goes the Bronze Medal by 2.6 faults and the "what if's" begin. (- a fault here, a second there - each rider blames themselves - if ONLY!) Everyone is very disappointed and wanders off dispiritedly.

BUT, the French notice that poor Bettina Hoy, who moments before had been ecstatic because she thought her clear round had won the Gold for Germany, has gone through the start flags twice and protest. She suddenly gets 12 faults added and the Germans drop to fourth. The USA gets the Bronze Medal, the Brits get the Silver and the sharp eyed French get the Gold.

Is this the "Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat," or what???

- and, what's more, it's not over. The Individual Medals are yet to be decided.

Once again - STAY TUNED!!!

* * * * * * * *

At the Final Veterinary Inspection at the Markopoulo Equestrian Center this morning, Top of the Line, Olivia Bunn's (AUS) ride did not pass. Thay had been standing in 15th place on 46.4.

Darren Chiacchia's (USA) Windfall was held; but, passed on re-inspection.

Bulletin: 8:40 AM EDST: There is a report on the Athens 2000 web site that Britain's William Fox-Pitt is "out of the competition."

According to Horse & Hound, Tamarillo fractured a stifle in three places. This is said to be a non-life threatening injury.

For Australia, Olivia Bunn's Top of the line was not passed.

The Belgian horse Over and Over, ridden by Joris Vanspringel, was put down last night.

Sad, sad news for all concerned. eventingetc sends their sympathy to all concerned.