A zero is just enough: these individuals managed to qualify for the Final
Some horses weren’t too charmed by the Japanse Sumo Wrestlers and quite a few faults where made in the final double, yet for a little time going clear didn’t seem all that was needed to progress from today’s qualifier. In total, 25 of 73 participants stayed clear and exactly 4 combinations had a single time fault and one with two. With these 30 riders participating in tomorrow’s individual final, yet quite a few big names didn’t make it to the next round at all.
The course, designed by Santiago Varela, accompanied by his technical team including the Dutchmen Louis Konikx and Quintin Maertens, was made out of 14 obstacles over 17 wonderful Japan-inspired fences. In case you’re curious, here’s a description of all the fences used and the meaning behind their designs.
Tricky corner and spooky wrestlers
Up until the first break, eight riders stayed clear and two riders finished with one time fault. Ibrahim Hani Bisharat (JOR) was first to enter the ring, riding Blushing (v. Epsom Gesmeray), but retired his course after being caught out by the triple combination. Mouda Zeyada (EGY) was the first to put in a clear round, albeit with one time penalty. His ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood Galanthos SHK (v. Arthos R), brought into the sport by Dutch rider Kim Hoogenraat, put in a lovely, smooth round, making his rider from Egypt proud.
It were the Japanse riders who clearly impressed in the first part of the competition. Daisuke Fukushima and his thirteen-year-old Chanyon (v. Chacco-Blue) put in a seemingly easy, faultless round, being the first combination to stay clear within the time. Koki Saito and the impressive grey stallion Chilensky (v. Chintan) jumped a wonderful clear round with lots of power, scope and enthusiasm. Eiken Sato and his amazing Saphyr des Lacs (v. Mr. Blue) endorsed the quality of the Japanse team once again, by putting in a clear lap with only a single time fault.
It was the narrow, rollback corner towards the spooky Sumo Wrestler-fence (number 10) that unexpectedly caught out quite a few combinations, including Mathieu Billiot (FRA) with Quil Filou 13, Abdel Said (EGY) with Bandit Savoie and Penelope Leprevost (FRA) with Vancouver de Lanlore, who all noted refusals on that particular fence.
Darragh Kenny (IER) and Cartello (v. Cartani 4), Bertram Allen (IRL) and Pacino Amiro (v. Pacino), Nayel Nassar (EGY) with Igor van de Wittemoere (v. Cooper v/d Heffinck), Nicolas Delmotte (FRA) with Urvoso du Roch (v. Nervoso), Cian O’Connor (IRL) with Kilkenny (v. Cardento) and Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Bardolina 2 (v. Clarimo) all put in a faultless round.
In doubt
After the first break however, doubt started creeping in if a clear round is enough to qualify for the individual finale… an additional 12 riders stayed clear in the second half of the competition. Only 30 combinations will be able to qualify for tomorrow’s finale, with some significant names yet to start.
Ashley Bond (ISR) with Donatello 141, Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT) with the lovely Verdi-son Valour, Harry Charles with Romeo 99 for Great-Britain, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) with King Edward, Ben Maher (GBR) with Explosion W and Martin Fuchs with Clooney 51 all added their names to the list of faultless participants. Yuri Mansur (BRA) with Alfons, Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) with her incredibly quick Indiana, Scott Brash (GBR) with Jefferson, Luciana Diniz (POR) with Vertigo du Desert, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) with Edgar M and Peder Fredreicson for Sweden riding All In (v. Kashmir van Schuttershof) did so as well.
There was a clear round for Beat Mandli (SUI) with Dsarie and Geir Gulliksen (NOR) with Quatro too, but both added a time fault to their score.
Alberto Michan for Israel took a tumble at the open water jump and Steve Guerdat (SUI) with Venard de Cerisy (v. Open Up Semilly) took a very unfortunate pole with them, possibly missing out on qualifying with his score of 4 penalties.
A zero is just enough
Up until that tricky last line, Willem Greve (NED) and Zypria S (v. Canturo) were definitely going places. An unfortunate fault on the first jump of the double however, put Greve out of his chance to qualify. Although Dante showed a bit of sassy mare-ish behaviour before the start, Marc Houtzager rode in a nice and even rhythm to a spot in the final. Michael van der Vleuten and Beauville Z (v. Bustique) joined his fellow Dutchman with a quick, clear round.
As expected Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen kept clear and so did all riders of the Belgium team: Niels Bruynseels (BEL) with Delux van T&L, Gregory Wathelet (BEL) with Nevados S and Jerome Guery (BEL) with Quel Homme de Hus.
A fan favourite to miss out on qualifiying is Emanuele Gaudiano with Chalou (v. Chacco-Blue), after coming to 9 penalties. Without a team to compete for, it’s a one-way trip back home for the Italian. Jessica Springsteen, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, didn’t manage to stay clear either.
Qualified riders
And so, tomorrow at 12:00 CET we’ll be seeing these thirty riders fight for th.e individual bronze, silver and gold medals…
- Ben Maher (GBR) – Explosion W
- Darragh Kenny (IRL) – Cartello
- Ashlee Bond (ISR) – Donatello 141
- Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) – Beauville Z
- Mario Deslauriers (CAN) – Bardolina 2
- Bertram Allen (IRL) – Pacino Amiro
- Gregory Wathelet (BEL) – Nevados S
- Luciana Diniz (POR) – Vertigo du Desert
- Scott Brash (GBR) – Jefferson
- Peder Fredericson (SWE) – All In
- Jerome Guery (BEL) – Quel Homme de Hus
- Daniel Deusser (GER) – Killer Queen
- Niels Bruynseels (BEL) – Delux van T&L
- Yuri Mansur (BRA) – Alfons
- Harry Charles (GBR) – Romeo 88
- Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) – Indiana
- Nicolas Delmotte (FRA) – Urvoso du Roch
- Daisuke Fukushima (JPN) – Chanyon
- Martin Fuchs (SUI) – Clooney 51
- Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT) – Valour
- Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – King Edward
- Marc Houtzager (NED) – Dante
- Nayel Nassar (EGY) – Igor van de Wittemoere
- Koki Saito (JPN) – Chilenksy
- Cian O’Connor (IRL) – Kilkenny
- Geir Gulluksen (NOR) – Quatro
- Eiken Sato (JPN) – Saphyr des Lacs
- Beat Mandli (SUI) – Dsarie
- Mouda Zeyada (EGY) – Galanthos SHK
- Daniel Meech (NZL) – Cinca 3
Source: DigiShots News
Photos: Dirk Caremans – Hippo Foto Media
