September 1, 2006

Team U.S.A. Takes the Team Silver Medal in Show Jumping
By Brian Sosby and Jeannie Blancq Putney, USEF

It was a late start for the show jumpers on Thursday at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), but it is better late than never. The Main Stadium was once again packed to the rafters, full of fans cheering the competitors and witnessing the contest of the team medal in Aachen. Earlier in the day, the second of two days of driving dressage was wrapped up, with an American driver sitting at first and fifth positions.

The second round (B) of the Nations Cup was held in the early evening, and up first were the individual riders. Last to take to the 13-obstacle (16-effort) course were the team members from the top 10 countries to make the cut. It was only the best tonight—The Netherlands, Ukraine, U.S.A., Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium and Ireland. Each country sent forth its best jumpers in hopes of being awarded a medal.

At the end of the late night, it was a hard-fought Team Silver medal victory for Team U.S.A., and it was Beezie Madden and Authentic that were called upon in a clutch—and they delivered in spades. Posting the only triple clear round of the competition thus far (one of only four in the Nations Cup), Madden put in a fairy-tale round that lifted the United States in the ranks, from out-of-medals range and onto the medal podium, to accept the Silver on a score of 18.85.

“We still have a lot of jumping to go,” said Madden, cautiously looking toward individual competition on Saturday, and possibly Sunday’s top four rider spots up for grabs. “My horse feels good. I hope I will be in on Sunday, but there is a long way to go.”

Madden was asked, should she make it to the final four, what horse would she most like to ride of the other horses in the competition. “I think any horse that makes it to the final four would be a pleasure to ride,” she said. “Shutterfly, Meredith’s horse, I’d love to ride that one.” She was referring to German rider Meredith Michael Beerbaum’s mount.

U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris commented on the state of the sport at the post-awards press conference. “The universality of the sport is very, very different today,” he began. “There are many people across the world, who ride superbly on lovely horses that are beautifully managed and beautifully schooled. And, I’m very happy, and I say that having been in the sport at this level for 50 years, and to see the evolution and the way it is going does my heart good.”

The Gold medal was awarded to the team from The Netherlands on a final Nations Cup score of 11.01. Bronze medal honors were bestowed upon Germany with a score of 19.16, just one one-hundredth of a point ahead of the Ukrainian team that finished on 19.17.

First up for the Americans were Margie Engle and Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold. The pair downed one rail. Number two to jump for Team U.S.A. was Laura Kraut and Miss Independent. Immediately, there were problems when the pair downed the first rail, visibly off their game early on. They regrouped, but dropped a second rail. McLain Ward and Sapphire were third to be tested by the course, and they sailed across it without penalties of any kind—a much needed clean-and-clear—that moved the U.S. team a step closer to the medals. Finally, Madden hit a proverbial homerun with her third clean-and-clear round that had Americans in attendance jumping to their feet and pumping their fists in a victory dance.

Show jumping takes a day off on Friday before heading into the Top 25 individual medal competition on Saturday afternoon. It’s certain to pack the house and bring the world’s best show jumpers to the penultimate test leading to the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded on Sunday afternoon as the final medals handed out at the 2006 WEG.

Madden and Authentic lead the individual medal race on a “perfect” score of 0.0. In second is Gerco Schroder and Eurocommerce Berlin (Germany) on 0.43. Third place is held by Ludger Beerbaum (Germany) and L’Espoir at 2.70. American McLain Ward and Sapphire are sitting at fifth place with a score of 4.87.

Among the American riders making the cut for the finals are Madden and Ward. There are three Dutch riders, three Ukrainian riders, two British riders, two Swedish riders and two Swiss riders joining the two Americans in the top 25.

Friday’s Competition
Competition at the 2006 WEG continues on Friday with the first of two days of reining. The team medal will be decided in this discipline, plus the marathon phase of driving will take place.

Heading into the final weekend of the Games, there is plenty of equestrian competition in store, with Saturday seeing the final driving competition, plus the top 25 show jumpers will battle it out on course to see who makes it to the coveted final four spots to vie for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.