Britain has two riders still in the Rio Olympic showjumping competition. Today (Wednesday, 17 August) they will jump in the hope of securing a place in Friday’s individual final.
The British hopes and their times are:
- Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star — eighth into the arena, approximately 10.16am local time (2.16pm British time)
- Ben Maher on Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac — ninth into the arena, approximately 10.18am local time (2.18pm British time)
The other British riders are out of the running and will not compete today. John Whitaker had 23 faults yesterday with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia and so did not qualify for today, while Michael Whitaker has withdrawn Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato.
Nick and Ben have a running total of eight faults each going into this round and they need to finish in the top 35 after today in order to win a place in Friday’s contest, which decides the individual medals. On Friday, all the riders start on a clean slate. Fifty riders compete today.
While it is impossible to say at this stage exactly what Ben and Nick need to do to make it through to the final, it is likely they will have to put in clear rounds in order to stay in the running.
While Britain is out of the team contest, today is a crucial day for other nations as they battle it out for the team medals.
The nations in the running are Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, the USA (all on zero faults), France (on one fault), Canada (on four faults), Sweden and Switzerland (on eight faults).
Today’s session is due to finish at 12.45pm local time (4.45pm British time), so by then we will know who has won the Rio Olympic showjumping team medals.
Follow all the action today with H&H Live.
Ireland is no longer in the contest for any showjumping medals as their sole individual rider Greg Broderick and his mount Going Global failed to qualify for today’s round.
Continued below…
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