Paris Olympics Happy Hour: Fence 12 Doesn’t Mess Around
You’ve heard the phrase “Mess around and find out?” That’s what fence 12 said to the Olympic Jumpers in today’s individual qualifier.
Earlier this morning the Jumping Individual Qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics was completed. It featured 74 competitors vying for the 30 spots available in the Jumping Final to be held tomorrow. The course created by Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo at the gorgeous Château de Versailles featured 17 fences with a tough double and triple combination and an optimal time of 79 seconds.
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The fences featured elements of French history, including dedications to the invention of Braille, the history of Opera in France and prominent French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The course was quite tricky with its wide open layout that involved a lot of straight galloping lines, and a double combination directly after the big water jump.
Fence 12 was absolutely mind boggling to me. It featured a 1.60 meter wall in a geometric Paris equestrian logo pattern that was busy to the eye. A handful of understandable refusals did occur at fence 12 and one horse did brought it down — I know I wouldn’t want to jump that!
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Earlier this week, US jumping heartthrob Kent Farrington was forced to withdraw from the team and individual competition due to allergy issues with his mare Greta, which allowed first alternate Karl Cook to compete. Cook was able to jump clear in the qualifier today to advance to the final in 16th place aboard Caracole De La Roque. He has jumped clear in all three Olympic rounds he has competed in, including the team competition. Laura Kraut was the only other US competitor to qualify for the top 30, placing 27th with a time of 73.22 and four faults aboard Baloutine.
Rodrigo Pessoa, aboard Major Tom, also secured a spot in the final for Brazil. Although I do not follow jumping that closely and only catch an event or two a year, I was quite surprised to see Pessoa still competing. He was a big thing over 20 years ago when I was a kid. Everyone was obsessed with Rodrigo back then, but when the commentators said he was 51 and riding with his shoulder KT taped together, it all made sense. He put together a gorgeous clear round to place 17th with a time of 77.03 — I look forward to seeing him in the final.
Julien Epaillard riding for France aboard the very sporty mare Dubai Du Cedre finished the qualifier in the lead with no faults in a time of 73.07. Julien was followed by a pair of Irish riders for second and third, with Shane Sweetnam finishing in 73.35 and Daniel Coyle rounding out the top 3 with a 73.64.
Julien Epaillard (FRA) riding Dubai du Cedre during the Individual Show Jumping Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo Credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark.
Here are the top 10 heading into tomorrow’s final:
🇫🇷 Julien Epaillard & Dubai Du Cedre — 73.07
🇮🇪 Shane Sweetnam & James Kann Cruz — 73.35
🇮🇪 Daniel Coyle & Legacy — 73.64
🇳🇱 Harrie Smolders & Uricas V/D Kattevennen — 74.02
🇨🇭 Martin Fuchs & Leone Jei — 74.20
🇨🇭 Steve Guerdat & Dynamix De Belheme — 74.33
🇸🇪 Henrik von Eckermann & King Edward — 74.50
🇮🇹 Emanuele Camilli & Odense Odeveld — 75.10
🇳🇱 Kim Emmen & Imagine — 75.33
🇸🇦 Abdulrahman Alrajhi & Ventago — 75.35
You can view the full results here.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the jumping final and the last Olympic equestrian event for Paris 2024.
