2004 Olympic Games - Eventing

Nicolas Touzaint still in the lead after cross country of Eventing

Italian Albino Garbari was a happy course designer at the end of the cross country today in Markopoulo Equestrian centre. "We were very fortunate with the weather, which played a huge role in the success of the day. It was quite a challenging task to design the first ever Olympic cross country on the new short format."

Happy as well was Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) who is leading the competition after clearing the 34 fences of his horse Galan de Sauvagere, to keep his dressage score at 29.40 points.

Former European Champion Bettina Hoy(GER) ranks second, having topped her dressage score with 3.60 penalties for time faults, ending on a score of 35.60 on Ringwood Cockatoo. "I am delighted with Ringwood Cockatoo" said Bettina, "we now have a real confidence in each other, after a difficult time last year. He was my husband's horse to start with, but they didnt get well along together."

Powerful jumping performance catapulted USA Kemberly Severson one place forward to rank third. Staying with the time, the Team World Champion had a score of 36.20 with Winsome Andante.

France is leading the team ranking with 113.40, ahead of Germany 6.2 points behind on 119.60. Great Britain fell down to third place on 125.60.

To the great disappointment of the public who came in number to watch their Eventing star, Heidi Antikatzidis fell at fence 31 (steps) "Pottery Masterpiece" and put an end to the Greek hopes for an individual medal in Eventing.

Nicolas Touzaint, Bettina Hoy and Kimberly Severson praised the course. "The course was a good mixture of straight forward big fences that were relatively easy and trickier obstacles. The topography of the course was also one of my concerns" said Touzaint. "I think the new Olympic format is the way forward for the sport," added Bettina Hoy.

Beside the horse of Joris Vanspringel (BEL), Over and Over, who suffered a serious injury on fence 26 and had to be brought to the Veterinary Clinic where he will be operated this afternoon, all horses finished the course in excellent conditions, to the delight of Prof Leo Jeffcott, Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee. He praised the excellent cooperation between the veterinary officials and the Team veterinarians. The horses were well hydrated and all was in place in the Finishing area to bring down the temperature of the horses after the effort (unlimited amount of water, ice and misting fans).

Images by Diana DeRosa

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