There
is no place worse to finish in an Olympic competition than fourth - so near
and yet so far! Nonetheless, that is where the US Dressage Team finished,
missing the Bronze Medal for the first time in twenty years - since the 1988 Games.
The Medals went to: Gold
- Germany - 72.916
Silver - The Netherlands - 71.750
Bronze
- Denmark - 68.875
4th - USA - 67.819 Full
Team Results are at the bottom of these Articles The
Germans were led, as usual, by thirty-nine year old Isabell Werth, on Satchmo,
who leads the individual competition on a score of 76.417. Now that Germany has
won the Team Gold, Werth has become the first equestrian ever to win five Gold
Medals. (Team Gold in 1992 - Barcelona; 1996 - Atlanta/Conyers; Team Gold 2000
- Sydney; Individual Gold 1996 Atlanta Conyers and Team Gold 2008 - Hong Komg)
Werth still has a chance to win a sixth Gold Medal in the Individual Grand Prix
Dressage.). The
top score for The Netherlands went to Anky Van Grunsven, (herself a
double Olympic Individual Gold Medalist - 2000 - Sydney and 2004 - Athens-Markopoulo
and now four times an Olympic Team Silver Medalist - 1992 - Barcelona; 1996 -
Atlanta/Conyers; 2000 - Sydney; and 2008 Bejing/ Hong Kong) who rode
Salinero to a score of 74.750.
The Danish Team was led by Natalie Zu
Sayn-Wittengenstein, who finished eight individually. Her score was 70.417. The
top twenty-five, listed below, will move on to the Grand Prix Special to be held
on Saturday, August 16th. 1. Isabell WERTH (GER),
Satchmo -76.417
2. Anky VAN GRUNSVEN (NED), Salinero - 74.750
3. Heike
KEMMER (GER), Bonaparte - 72.250
4. Emma HINDLE (GBR) - 71.125
5. Imke
SCHELLEKENS-BARTELS (NED) - 70.875
6. Kyra KYRKLUND (FIN) - 70.583
7.
Courtney KING (USA), Mythilus - 70.458
8 . Nathalie ZU SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN
(DEN) - 70.417
9. Nadine CAPELLMANN (GER), Elvis VA - 70.083
10.
Steffen PETERS (USA), Ravel - 70.000
11. Hans Peter MINDERHOUD
(NED) - 69.625
12. Bernadette PUJALS (MEX) - 69.250
13. Jan BRINK (SWE)
- 68.875
14. Andreas HELGSTRAND (DEN) - 68.833
15. Alexandra KORELOVA
(RUS) - 68.500
16. Michal RAPCEWICZ (POL) - 67.458
17. Anne VAN OLST (DEN)
- 67.375
18. Patrik KITTEL (SWE) - 67.125
19. Ashley
HOLZER (CAN), Pop Art - 67.042
20. Hubert PERRING (FRA) - 66.833
21. Marc
BOBLET (FRA) - 66.125
22. Juan Manuel MUNOZ (ESP) - 66.083
23. Tinne SILFVEN
(SWE) - 66.042
24. Laura BECHTOLSHEIMER (GBR) - 65.917
25. Kristy OATLEY
(AUS), Quando Quando - 65.750 Also
Ran: 34. Debbie
McDonald (USA), Brentina -
63.000 US
Team Barely Beaten for Dressage Bronze; King-Dye Remains Highest Placed American
at 2008 Olympic Games
By Joanie Morris
Hong Kong, China
– Steffen Peters, the anchor rider for the US Team, did everything
he could to coax a brilliant performance out of Ravel to secure the team bronze
medal. Peters really went for broke and finished the first Individual Qualifier
in 10th place individually on a 70.00%, which wasn’t quite good enough for
a team medal after teammate Debbie McDonald had a completely uncharacteristic
performance on Brentina. Ravel, who is only 10 years old, tried his heart
out; but, his inexperience in such a big venue cost him a couple of marks. The
US Team finished fourth on a final score of 67.817%.
“Overall
I’m really pleased,” said Peters wholives in San Diego, CA. “I
had nothing to lose so I really went for it. He was quite good; but, he got nervous
in the free walk toward the screen. There were a couple of things that weren’t
quite as good as normal. There were a lot of good things in there.”
Peters feels that the horse will
be improved in Saturday’s Grand Prix Special, after getting some experience
in the main arena tonight. “He
only did his first grand prix in March,” said Peters. “I can’t
risk it that much in the changes yet but I really went for it in the trot work.”
The funny thing about horses
is that sometimes it really just doesn’t go to plan. Peters’
performance couldn’t erase the completely uncharacteristic test put
in by Debbie McDonald and Peggy and Parry Thomas’ Brentina. Veterans
(and medalists) of the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games, the Hailey,
ID combination are always dependable for a good mark. Tonight
it was not meant to be. “She started
spooking when I went in the ring,” said a despondent McDonald after
scoring 63.00%. “I have no idea what she was spooking at, I couldn’t
put my leg on her. I was totally surprised. I don’t really know what to say,
I feel awful for the team. She was so much different than she was in the warm-up
she totally took me by surprise.” The
17-year-old Hanoverian mare made big mistakes in the canter pirouettes and McDonald
could never ask her to really go for it in the ring. The mare has been rock steady
all spring and summer, she was second to Ravel at the USEF Selection Trials and
no one expected her to unravel in the ring. The plan coming into these Games was
for the mare to be retired upon returning home, even though this is not the way
McDonald would like to see her go out – it certainly will take nothing away
from her illustrious career. Courtney
King-Dye and Mythilus had put in an excellent performance on the previous
evening to kick off the US’ effort with a score of 70.458%. The pair made
a splash at their first Olympic Games with a mistake free test. They head into
the first round of the individual competition on a score of 70.458%, which leaves
them in seventh place. The top 25 riders
return to the ring on Saturday with a clean slate in Grand Prix Special.
The Germans won convincingly another team Gold medal, the
trio of Heike Kemmer (Bonaparte), Nadine Capellmann (Elvis
VA) and Isabel Werth (Satchmo) finished on a final score of 72.917%. Werth
and Satchmo had the highest individual percentage of 76.417%. It is not surprising
that Werth and van Grunsven were one-two as their dominance is historical.
The Dutch team won Silver on a score
of 71.750% and the Danish won Bronze by less than a point over the US.
The show jumpers finally get the closing act underway tomorrow
after days of patiently waiting. All the horses were passed the horse inspection
with flying colors this morning and the US horses looked phenomenal which was
a great testament to all the grooms, riders and staff and Dr. Tim Ober
who looks after the show jumpers much of the year. Authentic,
Carlsson vom Dach, Cedric, Champ and Sapphire all looked fit and well jogging
in the sunny Sha Tin main arena. The first Show Jumping Individual Qualifier gets
underway tomorrow night as the dressage takes a day off before their individual
competition starts. The US drew 14th of 16 teams for tomorrow. ENDS
Team
Germany - Nadine Capellmann (Elvis VA); Heike Kemmer (Bonaparte); and Isabell
Werth (Satchmo) - win the nation's tenth Olympic Dressage title.
(c)
Dirk Caremans As expected after yesterday's
first session, it was the Germans who claimed Dressage team gold at the
Sha Tin Olympic Stadium in Hong Kong tonight (Thursday), with victory sealed by
an emphatic test from Isabell Werth and Satchmo in the closing stages.
The Netherlands had to settle
for silver while Denmark earned their first-ever Olympic dressage team
medal when taking bronze. And the Americans, compromised by a below-par performance
from Debbie McDonald and Brentina who simply failed to show their sparkle,
finished just outside the medal zone in fourth ahead of Sweden in fifth
and Great Britain in sixth. Werth's
mark of 76.417% was earned with a near-flawless display that oozed confidence
and determination and put her at the top of the individual leaderboard; but, she
put her country's success down to just one thing - "The whole team really
pulled together, we were working for each other and supporting each other. I'm
really happy and it's very exciting because a lot of people didn't believe in
us after the European Championship last year but we really proved ourselves today!"
she said. TARGET German spirits had already
been lifted by Heike Kemmer's first-day leading score of 72.250% and that
continued to be the target in the early stages tonight when Spain's Juan Manuel
Munoz was first into the arena with the high-stepping stallion Fuego who registered
a mark of 66.083%. It was Denmark's Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein who first
broke the 70.000 mark, however, when her lovely Danish Warmblood gelding Digby
showed fabulous piaffe and passage along with correct canter-work, and when they
put 70.417% on the board, the Danes were very definitely on the rise. In
order to capitalise on Kemmer's first-day advantage it was always going
to be essential that Germany's second rider, Nadine Capellmann, kept the
pressure on with a good result from Elvis and she did not disappoint although
she was critical of her own performance. "I was not pleased with the piaffe;
but, in general it was good although there were some small mistakes. It could
be that I was trying for too much and in the end I got less. My first mistake
was in my first extended trot," she explained after scoring 70.083%. DEVASTATED She
wasn't the only one who thought she could have done better; America's Debbie
McDonald was devastated by her performance with the 17-year old Brentina who
seemed to struggle all the way through. "I don't know what to say, I just
feel awful, I know I've finished the team," she said after the judges awarded
her a mark of 63.000%. "It felt terrible and I knew when we got to the pirouettes
it was just a bad day. She was much different in the warm-up - it took me by surprise
as much as anything else," she added, looking shocked and distressed. Everyone
wondered if Anky Van Grunsven could pull the Dutch back into the game with
one of her dazzling displays of brilliance with Salinero; but, when she recorded
a mark of 74.750 to take the individual lead it was clear that The Netherlands
were unlikely to stay far enough ahead to claim the ultimate prize. "I couldn't
take all the risks," she said. "I almost wanted to do too much; but,
I had to be safe for the team – in the Grand Prix Special and the Kür
I can take risks - this was not the time," she explained. "After
yesterday we already forgot about the gold medal," Van Grunsven pointed
out. "The first two results from Holland were just not good enough; but,
the draw didn't help although on the other hand we should have had a better performance
and another country was better than we were," she added. "It's not the
end of my life," she continued, "Although I am disappointed". And
she said that this will probably be her last Olympic appearance as she wants to
take more time with her children and retirement may be on the cards. "I am
getting older and I have already been spoiled with two unbelievable horses. Unless
somebody offers me another wonderful horse I cannot see myself going to London,"
she explained. But she's not quite finished here in Hong Kong yet - "I still
have a very fresh and strong horse," she said, looking forward to the individual
medal challenge ahead. RETIRED Meanwhil,e
Portugal's Miguel Ralao Duarte had to retire when his 13-year old mare
Oxalis became totally uncooperative in the ring while Great Britain's Laura
Bechtolsheimer was doing nicely with Mistral Hojris until the judge's bell
rang to tell her she had made a mistake in her test and she subsequently fell
apart. "My horse offered my everything," the deeply disappointed 23-year
old said, "But I let him down." Japan's
Hiroshi Hoketsu was looking very good indeed until his mare Whisper suddenly
caught sight of the dreaded big screen and took fright, badly spoiling his test,
but Finland's Kyra Kyrklund and Max put in a balanced and focused performance
to earn 70.583, which was always going to keep her in the frame. "I'm very
pleased because for three days Max had a high temperature and I had to wait and
see if he would come right," she explained. "However, for the last few
days he felt better and I thought he could be competitive again although he was
almost too fresh tonight!" she added. CHARMING As
the competition began to draw to a close Russia's Alexandra Korelova and
the lovely grey stallion Balagur charmed the crowd and pleased the judges enough
to gain a mark of 68.500. The girl who hails from central Russia knew that she
and her special horse had done a good job. "His breeding is Orlov trotter
and I have been riding him for six years," she explained. However his appearance
at Olympic level is quite something because he never performed a Dressage test
until the age of 11, when he was bought by Alexandra from the local police force
where he was used for crowd control and street policing. "Tonight I think
he felt like he was doing crowd control again because he didn't want to walk and
was looking around the stadium; but, then he settled and I was very pleased with
how he went," said the rider who has trained with George Theodorescu
and most recently with Monica Theodorescu and who believes that her very
cute 18-year old horse still has plenty of competition years ahead of him - "He
feels like a five year old!" she insisted. FATE But
all eyes were on Isabell Werth who, second-last to go, knew that the fate of the
2008 Olympic team Dressage gold medal lay in her hands. And she rose to the occasion
with grace and poise, delivering a test that was filled with power, impulsion
and precision. "Heike gave us a positive base from which to start
and then Nadine did a good test too, so I knew it was important to be safe
and that I could not afford to make a mistake," Isabell said afterwards.
"I went in with a really good feeling because the other riders had done a
good job; but, it was a lot of pressure because last year we lost gold to The
Netherlands at the Europeans and we knew it was time to wake up - we didn't like
it!" she said. And Kemmer pointed out "The Netherlands and Germany
are partners really because we fight against each other and it makes great sport;
but, outside the ring we can drink a glass of champagne together!". For
the second time this week the champagne corks are popping, not just in Hong Kong,
but all over Germany as Isabell Werth, Nadine Capellman and Heike
Kemmer scooped their country's tenth Olympic team dressage title in the finest
of style. With this success added to the team and individual Eventing gold won
earlier in the week, can anyone stop the Germans from making a clean sweep
of the equestrian medals at the 2008 Olympic Games? Contact
Malina Gueorguiev
FEI Communication Department
Fédération
Equestre Internationale
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
t +41 21 310 47 47
f
+41 21 310 47 60
1.
Germany - 72.917
KEMMER Heike BONAPARTE - 72.250
CAPELLMANN
Nadine ELVIS VA - 70.083
WERTH Isabell SATCHMO - 71.750
2.
The Netherlands
MINDERHOUD Hans Peter NADINE - 69.625
SCHELLEKENS-BARTELS
Imke SUNRISE 70.875
VAN GRUNSVEN Anky SALINERO 73.125 75.000 73.542 74.750
3. Denmark - 68.875
VAN OLST Anne
CLEARWATER 67.292 65.625 70.000 67.375
ZU SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN Nathalie DIGBY
69.792 69.792 71.875 70.417
HELGSTRAND Andreas DON SCHUFRO 68.333 68.333
68.958 68.833
4. USA - 67.819
KING Courtney
MYTHILUS - 70.458
McDONALD Debbie BRENTINA - 63.000
PETERS Steffen RAVEL
- 70.000
5. Sweden - 67.347
KITTEL Patrik
FLORESCO - 67.125
SILFVEN Tinne SOLOS CAREX - 66.042
BRINK Jan BRIAR
- 68.875
6. Great Britain - 66.806
GREGORY
Jane LUCKY STAR 63.375
HINDLE Emma LANCET - 71.125
BECHTOLSHEIMER Laura
MISTRAL HOJRIS - 65.917
7. France - 65.403
BOBLET Marc WHITINI STAR - 66.125
CHEVANNE Julia CALIMUCHO - 63.250
PERRING Hubert DIABOLO ST MAURICE - 66.833
8. Australia
- 64.625
RYAN Heath GREENOAKS DUNDEE - 62.541
BERESFORD Hayley
RELAMPAGO - 65.583
OATLEY Kristy QUANDO QUANDO - 65.750
9.
Canada - 63.514
REID Leslie ORION - 59.750
BROOKS Jacqueline
GRAN GESTO - 63.750
HOLZER Ashley POP ART - 67.042
10.
Japan - 60.653
KITAI Yuko RAMBO - 59.250
YAGI Mieko DOW JONES
- 60.167
HOKETSU Hiroshi WHISPER - 62.542
Did
Not Finish - Portugal - 62.2
PINTO
Daniel GALOPIN DE LA FONT - 63.083
PINTO Carlos NOTAVEL - 61.708
RALAO
DUARTE Miguel OXALIS DE MEIA LUA RT RT
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