DANIEL Coyle will start tomorrow’s Olympic individual show jumping final as one of the favourites for a medal after jumping yet another clear in today’s individual qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles in Paris.
The pair are one of just three to remain on a clean sheet over the three rounds of the competition so far. However, all combinations start the final on zero faults. “There was a lot of pressure today in all the wrong ways,” Coyle said afterwards.
“It was nothing to do with the jumping or the crowd, it was just trying to get through the finish with a good score because after this week, she deserves to be in the Olympic final no matter what so I would have been disappointed if she wasn't,” he added of his 14-year-old mare by Chippendale Z who is owned by Ariel Grange.
On the course, Coyle said: “It was a lot more simple today than the previous two days. I wouldn't like to pick the difference between the first and the second day, they were both really tough rounds, but this one is a little softer. There's a lot of clears which is a little scary, because who knows what he's going to build tomorrow!”
While the show jumpers enjoyed a two-day break since Friday’s team final, Coyle reported he had a rough 24 hours with food poising. “Last night was not a good night at all so I am going to go and rest from this moment forward, it’s not been a great 24 hours!”
Deep breath
Coyle will be joined by his teammate, Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly, who were foot perfect earlier in the day, jumping clear and with the second fastest round of the day, meaning they will be second last into the arena in tomorrow’s final.
“He still had a lot of energy which I was maybe a little worried about as this [an Olympic Games] is obviously unknown territory a little bit and it's quite hot out there,” Sweetnam said after his round, adding: “The course is quite tall, but straightforward, probably the same for everyone going out there plan wise. I wanted to be quick enough that if I did knock one, we would still have a chance for tomorrow. I can take a deep breath until later.”
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (ISH) at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher
Cian O’Connor was unlucky to finish with four faults when knocking the plank at fence six aboard the 12-year-old gelding Maurice, owned by the rider and the Stoute family from Keysoe International. The pair finished in 33rd place, just three places outside of qualification for tomorrow’s final.
“The horse jumped really good, he jumped class, it's one of the best rounds he jumped all year and he just touched the plank, that's the way it goes,” O’Connor commented afterwards, adding: “These horses aren't machines. They've been jumping all over the world and they give us their all. The horse has a pole down, and people get excited and say he wasn't able for it, that’s a load of nonsense. The horse jumped really well, he earned his place to be here, he jumped class again today and I'm absolutely over the moon with the horse.”
He added: "It's not over yet! I’m only three places out!"
Cian O'Connor and Maurice at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher
Contenders
Course designers Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo built another beautiful track with 14 fences, 17 jumping efforts, with faults spread out across the course. There were a total of 20 clears inside the time and one clear with a time fault. A further 19 combinations completed with just four faults.
As well as Coyle, the other riders to remain clear over all three rounds of jumping so far are USA’s Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque) and The Netherlands’ Kim Emmen (Imagine). Emmen’s 11-year-old grey gelding was previously ridden by Ireland’s Conor Drain.
Starting in pole position as last to go tomorrow will be Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre, the fastest combination today. Sweetnam and Coyle were the next two fastest and will be second and third last into the ring.
Asked about the course today, which some riders criticised for being too easy, Epaillard said: “I think it's difficult for the builders because you have some countries that don't jump at this level so much. They have to find the middle ground to make a good selection [for tomorrow], but also to make sure there is no big crash. I think today we had good sport. We had some 16 or 20 faults but not something crazy, so I think they did a good job and tomorrow they can build what they want!”
Shadow
The defending Olympic champion, Britain’s Ben Maher, who was part of the gold medal-winning team last Friday, had a scary moment when his mare, Dallas Vegas Batilly, dropped her back legs through the wall on the last line, but they qualified in 28th place and will have a chance to win back-to-back medals.
“There's a big shadow by the wall there now, and maybe I should have just gone in and taken her over to have a look. She just rolled around the corner and as she took off, it just took her by surprise. Luckily, I'm a little older and experienced and we made a quick recovery to get home.”
Maher will be joined in the final by his winning teammates Harry Charles and Scott Brash who both jumped clear rounds.
The individual final gets underway tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 10am local time (9am Irish time) with all combinations starting on a score of zero. The competition will be one round against the clock with a jump-off against the clock in case of a tie on penalties for first place.