The British horses have all passed the horse inspection this morning at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, keeping hopes of an eventing team gold or silver medal alive — although there were anxious moments when Zara Phillips‘ ride High Kingdom was sent to the holding box. He passed on re-inspection.
Only four British competitors remain in the competition after yesterday’s cross-country. Oliver Townend pulled up Black Tie II when he had two stops on course, while Harry Meade’s Wild Lone collapsed and died after finishing.
William Fox-Pitt (Chilli Morning, pictured) leads individually and is joined in the team Zara and High Kingdom (15th) and Tina Cook (De Novo News, 14th). Individual Nicola Wilson sits in 12th with Annie Clover. The British team are 8.9 penalties behind the leading Germans.
The German horses also all passed, as did the Australian team — the Australians hold team bronze after cross-country, 40 penalties behind Britain.
Bill Levett, an Australian individual competitor who lay 19th overnight after a clear with 27.6 time-faults, withdrew Shannondale Titan before the trot-up because of a nasty overreach.
Boyd Martin’s ride Shamwari was sent to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection. Shamwari is the best-placed of the American horses still in the competition, sitting ninth. He jumped clear yesterday with 13.6 time-penalties.
Three other horses also went to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection: Sarah Ennis for Ireland with Horseware Stellor Rebound (57th), Denmark’s Peter Flarup with CTS Twin Peaks (45th) and the USA’s Kim Severson with Fernhill Fearless (32nd).
The horses will now be driven to Caen in convoy and will start showjumping in reverse order in the D’Ornano stadium — also venue for the pure dressage and showjumping — at 2.30pm (local time, 1.30pm British time).
Keep checking HorseandHound.co.uk for more from WEG. Full report on the eventing in the magazine out this Thursday, 4 September.
