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Romeike Holds off Miles for Eventing Gold American Rider and First-time Olympian Miles Takes Home Silver
By the Associated Press
Posted Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:34 AM ET

Agencia EFE
Hinrich Romeike (GER) finished fifth in Athens with Marius; but, in Beijing, riding the same horse, the German claimed Gold in individual eventing. HONG KONG (AP) -- Germany had a big night Tuesday in equestrian competition, taking Gold Medals in both team and individual eventing.

Hinrich Romeike won the individual title, scoring 54.2 penalty points on Marius to edge the American silver-medalist Gina Miles (USA), riding McKinlaigh (56.1 points). Kristina Cook of Great Britain was also close for bronze with 57.4.

Germany took the team gold in an exciting showdown with Australia that went down to each team's last rider, and they were separated by only one dropped jump rail.

Romeike and Australia's Megan Jones, riding Irish Jester, each had one fence down in the team round. That clinched the gold for Germany with 166.1 penalty points, while Australia won the silver with 171.2 points, and Great Britain took the bronze with 185.7. (Hinrich and Marius are pictured at the right. Agenoia EFE Photo courtesy of NBC Olympics.)

Germany was leading going into this last show-jumping phase after the grueling cross-country phase on Monday. The show-jumping segment is designed to test how well the horses bounce back from the rigors of the cross-country endurance phase; but, all the horses looked eager to jump on Tuesday, especially Marius.

"I was astonished how fresh he was," said Romeike.

Jones was philosophical about bringing home Silver instead of Gold: "It's amazing to come home from your first Games with any sort of bling."

After the team round, the obstacles were raised and the riders then jumped again to determine individual medals with the result once more in doubt until the end. The top eight riders were separated by a score of just one dropped rail, which counts for 4 points.

Miles went clean in both rounds and moved from fifth to second, while Cook also had two clean rounds and made the podium after starting the evening in 10th.

Eventing competitions are usually held in daytime; but, the show jumping was held at night here for lower temperatures to benefit the horses. Miles said jumping under the bright lights gave her an edge.

"He's a big horse and I'm a small rider and that gave him extra life," she said.

The U.S. team, which had done well in the dressage phase, had a disappointing Monday on cross-country and finally finished seventh with 250 points.

Eventing -- formerly called the three-day event -- is an equestrian triathlon that includes dressage, followed by a cross-country jumping and endurance phase, then a stadium jumping phase. Five riders compete for each team with the best three scores counting toward the team medals.

The Olympic equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong instead of Beijing due to quarantine restrictions in mainland China.

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Miles Jumps up to Individual Silver; Germany Proves Invincible at 2008 Olympic Games in Eventing

By Joanie Morris

(Phillip Dutton Disqualified)

Hong Kong, China – Gina Miles waved the flag for the US tonight at Sha Tin, winning an Individual Silver medal with McKinlaigh. The duo jumped two textbook clean rounds, adding nothing to their two-day score of 56.1.

“I always knew he was the best event horse in the world,” said Miles. “He had his day to shine at the Olympic Games.”

The 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Thom Schulz and Laura Coats stepped around the show jumping courses like an open hunter. Miles, from Creston, CA, represented the US at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and the 2007 Pan American Games.

“It was my dream just to be in the individual final, to be fourth or fifth.” said Miles. “This is the reward for a lifetime of hard work.”

Miles’ victory wasn’t without a little bit of drama. McKinlaigh was put in the holding box at the final horse inspection. McKinlaigh was re-presented and passed after discussion between the Ground Jury of Martin Plewa, Christian Landholt and Marilyn Payne and the Veterinary Panel.

Overnight leader Hinrich Romeike rode Marius to an impressive Gold medal performance for Germany. An amateur rider, Romeike makes his living as a dentist in Germany. Marius put in an unbelievable performance for his grateful jockey. The pair had one rail down in the first round but returned to the ring and jumped a beautiful clear round.

“This horse means everything to my career,” said Romeike of his nearly white 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “I would be nothing without this horse. I am a dental surgeon and dentist. I ride after work.”

Great Britain’s Tina Cook jumped up from seventh going into the second show jumping into the Bronze medal position with 10-year-old Miners Frolic. This pair jumped two beautiful clear rounds.

The irony was, when Romeike cantered into the show jumping ring for the first round¬- it didn’t even matter how he jumped because the Germans had already won the Team Gold medal on the strength of the performance of Frank Ostholt (on Mr. Medicott), Andreas Dibowski (Butts Leon) and Ingrid Klimke (Abraxxas). Romeike’s one fence down maintained the overall individual lead (Klimke, who had been in second, had one down too) and the German Team finished on 166.10, five points clear of the Australians (171.20). Great Britain was third on 185.7.

52 horses show jumped over Leopoldo Palacios course and it became clear quite early that clear rounds would be hard to find. The first round was for every horse remaining in the competition and to determine the team medals. The top 25 horses (a maximum of three from each nation) returned for the second round to determine individual medals. This format is only used in the Olympic Games.

Phillip Dutton had two uncharacteristic rails down in the first round on Bruce Duchossios’ Connaught. The 15-year-old Irish thoroughbred gelding is known to be incredibly careful but he was a victim of the very electric atmosphere.

“He wasn’t concentrating,” said Dutton after his first round. “I think the lights and the atmosphere distracted him. I thought he would be a little bit tired but he wasn’t, he was pretty sharp. He was looking at everything else and not focusing on the jumps. I’m a bit disappointed.”

Dutton also returned for the second round with Connaught and the horse jumped his typical clear round. Unfortunately Dutton was eliminated from the individual portion of the competition because he inadvertently broke FEI Rule 257.253 for using illegal equipment. Connaught was wearing a pair of hind boots that were too heavy under this new rule incepted in February. Neither the Chef d’Equipe Mark Phillips or Dutton knew about the rule. There was never any intention to operate outside the rules. (Phillip and Connaught are pictured at the left at the Mandatory Outing last month.)

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet put in a solid effort. Holder has struggled with the show jumping in the past with ‘Comet’ and was pleased with the 13-year-old Thoroughbred’s effort. They had two down but Holder wasn’t disappointed in her horse.

Karen O’Connor will use these Games as a stepping stone for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with Mandiba.

“I’m very proud of my horse,” said O’Connor. “I’m looking forward to Kentucky in two years.”

The Olympic Games continue in Sha Tin tomorrow with the first round of the Dressage competition at 7.15 pm. Courtney King-Dye will lead it off for the US with Mythilus at 9.28 pm.

ENDS

A little bit of Eventing History:

Charles Pahud du Montanges, of Holland, won the Individual Three Day Event Gold Medal in both 1928, in Amsterdam, and in 1932, in Los Angeles. He rode Marcroix both times. Holland won the Team Gold in 1924 in Paris, in 1928 in Amsterdam and was second in Los Angeles in 1932 and de Montanges was on the Dutch team all three times.

"Lieutenant Pahud de Mortanges raised his medal total to four gold medals and one silver. Captured by the Nazis in 1942, he escaped and became second in command of the free Dutch fighting the Germans. After World War II, Pashud served as president of The Netherlands Olympic Committeeand as a member of the International Olympic Committee."

(The above is thanks to The Complete Book of the Olympics, 2008 Edition, compiled by David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky.)

Individual Results Show Jumping

45th -Karen O'Connor, Mandiba - 4 jumping, 1 time = 5 - final score - 131.70

43rd - Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 8 jumping, o time = 8 - final score - 125.70

Editor's Note: At this point in the competition there have been 9 double clears and one elimination from 39 completions. Two Germans have jumped double clears - Dibowski and Ostholt. One Australian, Johnson has jumped a double clear and another, Lucinda Fredericks, had no jumping faults but two time faults.

Phillip Dutton, Connaught - 8 jumping, no time = 8 - final score - 68.20

Gina Miles - McKinlaigh - Double Clear - final score - 56.10

Final 3-Day Team Results:

1. Germany - 166.10

2. Australia - 171.20

3. Great Britain - 185.70

4. Sweden - 230.50

5. New Zealand - 240.90

6. Italy - 246.40

7. USA - 250.00

8. Ireland - 278.10

9. Canada - 321.00

10. Brazil - 334.10

Elim: France

The second round of Show Jumping for the Individual Medals begins at 10:45 AM EDST today - Tuesday. Phillip Dutton, who currently stands 16th on 68.20, and Gina Miles, who currently stands fourth on 56.10, will both jump second rounds of Show Jumping over a new and different course for the Individual Medals.

Final Veterinary Examination

All 57 horses presented at the final veterinary inspection for Eventing were passed fit to compete by the Ground Jury this afternoon, although there were some anxious moments for both America's Gina Miles and Australia's Sonja Johnson.

With eight of the 68 participating horse-and-rider combinations eliminated on yesterday's cross-country track, and three more withdrawn including Danish rider Peter Flarup's Silver Ray and the Swedish horses Keymaster (Magnus Gallerdal) and Bally's Geronimo (Viktoria Carlerback), the number going into this evening's final Jumping phase has therefore been reduced.

The majority were in great shape after yesterday's tremendously exciting challenge and the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2008 Olympic Eventing contest.

Germany holds the advantage on both the team and individual leaderboards and their horses looked stunning once again as they trotted up with a real spring in their step. The Italians were really impressive yesterday when moving up from fifth to fourth place in the team rankings and their equine athletes also looked fresh, although Stefano Brecciaroli was much more enthusiastic about the trotting business than his Irish-bred Cappa Hill who could see no good reason to hurry and, instead of trotting up beside his rider, was quite happy to just tow along behind.

Gina Miles' McKinlaigh was sent to the holding box to the dismay of the American supporters and, shortly afterwards, Australia's Sonja Johnson followed suit with Ringwould Jaguar. On returning to the inspection ramp, Gina had to undergo an agonising five-minute consultation between the Ground Jury and veterinary team before eventually getting the nod, while Sonja simply trotted her gelding once more before earning their approval.

One of the most impressive horses of the afternoon was Sweden's Stand by Me who is ridden by Linda Algotsson and who looks far younger than his 18 years. Lying 18th individually as the action begins tonight he will be one to watch as is the only other 18-year old in the competition, Eric Vigeanel's Coronado Prior who is lying 30th for France.

Meanwhile it is interesting to note that, amongst the starting field of 69 horses in the Olympic Eventing discipline 18 (26%) are Irish-bred, and every one of them have made it through to the closing stages of this most demanding of equestrian sports.

Keymaster Is Recovering. Disappointment for Clementino, Flarup and Carlerback 12/08/2008

Horse-injury problems have cut short the Olympic ambitions of Brazilian Dressage competitor Rogerio Clementino, and event riders Peter Flarup from Denmark and Viktoria Carlerback of Sweden.

Clementino never even got to the starting-gate as his grey Lusitano stallion, Nilo VO, was re-examined by the veterinary team on Monday and declared too unsound to compete, to the deep disappointment of the 26-year who was really looking forward to being the first African-Brazilian to ride in equestrian Olympic competition. And this also puts paid to the chances of the Brazilian Dressage team as they already had only three riders.

Peter Flarup and Silver Ray rocketed up from 45th place after dressage to 20th place after yesterday's thrilling cross-country day at Beas River in which they enjoyed a fantastic cruise around the track; but, there were concerns about a front leg later in the day. Following examination it was decided that the horse should be withdrawn. "It's nothing serious and he might have been OK to jump today; but, I'm not prepared to take the risk - he is too important to me," the 32 year old rider said this morning.

Carlerback also enjoyed her cross-country run yesterday with Bally's Geronimo; but later last night it was confirmed that her horse had a tendon injury from which he is expected to recover within a few months. The Swedish team earlier lost the services of Magnus Gallerdal's Keymaster who, this afternoon, is reported to be recovering after surgery performed at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's top-class Veterinary Hospital which is located close by the equestrian Olympic core venue at Sha Tin.

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