At the end of the first team rotation in the eventing competition of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the British team maintain their lead. The Olympic eventing cross-country is action packed to this point.
A strong round, clear inside the optimum time, for Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, cemented things at this early stage.
The Australian team are in silver medal position, thanks to a clear jumping round from Kevin McNab and Don Quidam, but the combination clocked up 2.8 time-faults.
The United States are in team bronze, following a sold round from Phillip Dutton and Z, who again jumped clear across country, but incurred 4.8 time-faults.
Olympic eventing cross-country first team rotation results
Jonelle Price, the fist team member out on course for New Zealand, jumped clear across country, and picked up just two time-faults.
“He gave me a lovely ride, to be honest – he’s quite experienced now with the the two years I’ve had him and we’ve developed a really good partnership over that time,” Jonelle said after her round. “He wasn’t the fastest horse when I first got him, but he’s done nothing but improve, and while I thought we weren’t going to be the fastest of the day, I was hoping we could be close or thereabouts and, and we’ve certainly done that. Obviously I would have liked to have been five seconds faster, but we’re happy with it.”
Julia Krajewski, pathfinder for the German team with Amande De B’Neville, put in a great round to finish just one second over the optimum time, adding .4 of a time penalty to their 25.2 dressage. They currently hold individual silver position going into the final showjumping phase.
“My horse was a little bit surprised with the surroundings. She got a bit distracted by the moving camera in the middle of the course, but generally she just showed me what a cool mare she is,” Julia said after her round. “She was jumping, super galloping, even if she was a little bit off the line, she has the biggest heart and she’s the biggest lion and huge fighter. I would like to say it was all fun, but probably three-quarters was real fun, then I had to do a bit of work, but she was really cool.”
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