When? The Riders WC starts on Saturday and runs until Sunday.
Was? The championship is decided in Herning in Jutland.
The blood splatter put an end to the Olympics
The images from Irishman Cian O’Connor’s ride in the individual Olympic final in Tokyo last summer were dramatic.
On the white horse Kilkenny, blood spatter was clearly visible after the horse suffered a nosebleed. The rider did not notice it, and many were surprised that the referee did not remove the team from the track. After the class, however, the FEI, the International Equestrian Federation, announced that the so-called blood rule only applies when there is blood on the horse’s mouth or sides. Nosebleeds are not grounds for disqualification.
Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny cleared all obstacles flawlessly, but incurred a time fault. With that result, he finished seventh.
When it was time for the team competition, however, the team did not make it to the start. According to the rider, the horse was fine, but he chose not to start in the team competition out of concern for the horse.
Now another major championship awaits, and when the battle for World Cup show jumping medals begins in Herning in Jutland on Wednesday, Cian O’Connor will once again be one of the four riders in the Irish team.
But this time he’s not riding Kilkenny. Only in June this year did the ten-year-old gelding make his first competition after last summer’s Olympics, and he is far from ready for any championship.
Instead, Cian O’Connor in Herning will ride his new horse C Vier. The horse was previously ridden by the German David Will. Will and C Vier came seventh in last summer’s EC.
Australia lacks top riders
The Australian World Cup jumping team is missing the country’s two highest ranked riders Rowan Willis and Edwina Tops-Alexander.
It can be traced back to last summer’s turbulence.
When the Olympic team was presented, Rowan Willis was a reserve – despite much better results than Jamie Kermond, who was selected instead.
Which led to Rowan Willis refusing to go to Tokyo.
History took another turn when Jamie Kermond just before the races tested positive for cocaine, and was suspended.
Only Edwina Tops-Alexander and Katie Lauire remained, who were only allowed to ride individually.
That what happened before and during the Olympics created wounds that have not yet healed became clear when the WC team was presented and both Willis and Tops-Alexander were missing.
Springsteen’s horse was not approved
American Olympic silver medalist Jessica Springsteen is in place in Herning, but this time as a reserve.
As the union captains only have to report which four crews are part of the team one hour before the first showjumping class – which is on Wednesday – all five team horses were vet inspected on Monday.
Jessica Springsteen’s horse Zecilie did not pass the first inspection. On Tuesday morning, however, the horse gets another chance.
A further four horses were not approved
Zecilie was not the only horse that did not pass during Monday’s veterinary inspection.
Another four horses must undergo a second inspection to determine whether they will be allowed to start or not.
It’s happening on Tuesday:
After the first three intense days of competition, it will be a quiet Tuesday.
During the day, however, the show jumpers and horses get the chance to test the surface in the WC arena during a warm-up where each country gets a number of minutes on the track.
Television broadcasts
SVT broadcasts during the championship, but as there are no jumping or dressage competitions on Tuesday, there are no broadcasts then.
Read more:
Of course, big brother joins little brother in the WC team
Covid-infected riders start individually
This is how Sweden will remain the best: “Step out of the comfort zone”
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