Britain’s showjumpers may have missed out on a European team medal but it was nonetheless a case of ‘mission complete’ for the quartet, who secured their ticket to Rio 2016 today in Aachen.
Team
The Brits came into today’s team final in fourth place, facing an uphill climb if they were to reach the medal podium.
Pathfinder Ben Maher – who survived a remarkable near miss during yesterday’s competition when Diva took off early at the last fence – was back to his best. His chestnut mare is never the easiest of partners, but he steered her round with such skill and sympathy, produced one of the early clears of the day.
His team-mates Jessica Mendoza (Spirit T) and Joe Clee (Utamaro d´Ecaussines) both picked up four faults apiece. Hopes were then pinned on Michael Whitaker and Cassionato, but two fences down meant they became the discount score for the team.
Medals
With the Netherlands taking gold ahead of Germany in silver, and Switzerland claiming bronze, Britain will go home without a European team showjumping medal for the first time since 2009. But having picked up their qualification to compete at next year’s Rio 2016 Games, the reigning Olympic gold medallists will have a chance of defending their title.
“We were less than one fault away from the bronze medal which is really disappointing but the main thing was to qualify and we did that, though the medal would have been a real bonus,” said Michael Whitaker.
His 10-year-old grey stallion was unlucky to have two fences today, after jumping clear in the first two rounds. “He’s never been under that kind of pressure and he’s never seen fences like that. He’s learned so much this year and he’ll be a completely different horse again by next year,” added Michael.
Individuals
Today’s competition has left two British riders in with a chance of claiming an individual medal.
Joe Clee’s four faults today saw him drop from third place down to eighth with a total of 5 faults, but he’s still less than one fence behind the current leader, Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya (1.47pen).
Incidentally, Moya’s ride Carlo 273 is the former mount of Nick Skelton, with the Brit winning individual gold on him four years ago in Madrid.
Best
Clee remains as focused as ever on the job ahead of him, with the individual final looming on Sunday. “I still want a medal, and I’m going to try my best,” he said.
Ben Maher is also well within contention, with a cumulative 5.55 faults putting him in 10th place. He’s hoping to win another European medal after claiming individual silver two years ago in Herning.
“Diva is in the form of her life at the moment, but she hasn’t jumped too many fences like this in her life,” said Ben. “I know what it takes at these events, and it’s always a case of getting the team done first, but we’re in a pretty good position.”