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Sep 01, 2014
Germany Wins Dual World Championship in Normandy; Team USA in Good Spirits as Boyd Martin Places Eighth
Germany struck gold twice at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, capturing both the team and individual gold medals for eventing on Sunday.
Germany’s team score of 177.9 was followed by Great Britain with silver (198.8) and the Netherlands with bronze (246.8). Individual medals went to Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo (GER, gold, 52.0); her teammate and former World Champion Michael Jung on Fischer Rocana FST (GER, silver, 52.3), and William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning (GBR, bronze, 54.3). The US finished eleventh with Boyd Martin placing eighth and Lynn Symansky in 47th. Kim Severson placed 23rd as an individual and Sinead Halpin finished in 38th.
“I never dreamed that we could be double World Champions. This is amazing and unbelievable,” said Auffarth after her clear round before an electrified crowd that packed the 21,000 seats in d’Ornano Stadium in Caen.
The Stadium phase turned out to be extremely influential in the placings, with just 13 clear rounds among 60 starters.
Straight after what turned out to be the winning ride, William Fox-Pitt trotted Chilli Morning handily through the tunnel under the stadium bleachers that leads into the arena, smiling and relaxed. He was holding first place until his horse pulled a rail early on. Rather than expressing disappointment at losing the gold, the ever-chipper rider said, "It’s a little bit frustrating, but he could have had two (fences down) – he was leg-weary. I'd love to have won gold, but I'm more relieved than frustrated (with the bronze). I'm happy to have clung on to a medal."
Jung, who had been the reigning World Champion but has now moved to silver medalist, was proud of his horse. “She was quiet and relaxed in the stadium,” he said of the mare who came to him as a five-year-old. “She really concentrated on the fences.”
With regard to his teammate, Auffarth, he said: “Sandra has always been just under the top placings. She and her horse have a big partnership and their show jumping round was perfect so she really is the World Champion.”
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Here is what the US chef d’equipe and some of the U.S. riders who competed in Sunday’s stadium jumping had to say just before the awards ceremony:
David O’Connor (chef d’equipe):
“I’m a great believer in the riders. I think they’re riding well. This was one of those endurance days that took a toll on lot of countries. It was a hard day to watch in some ways. The fences actually jumped well until the last water combination. But with the footing…
The horses came through this very well and did some very, very good show jumping today in stadium. Overall, as the sport goes, Boyd put a good round in and Kim’s horse just jumped to the top of the standards.”
Boyd Martin:
“My horse [Shamwari 4] really put in a huge effort [on cross-country], so I was happy with just one rail down in stadium. He was a little bit tired from yesterday but came out and jumped well, I thought.
We just bought this horse this year, and he’s come third at Rolex [CCI4* in the U.S.], and third at Luhmuhlen [CCI4* in Germany] and finished all right here, so I think obviously he’s my top horse at the moment and he’s still young so I think we’re still to see the better of him. He’s probably the best thing I’ve ever ridden and world-class in every aspect. I hardly know him and he put in a fantastic result.
The team result wasn’t that good, but we’ve got a good group of riders and a new wonderful administration and we can only go up from here. It’s perfect now for me and Shamwari. I’ll have some time to get to know him before 2016 [the Olympic Games]. I’m going to go home, regroup and get back to work.”
Sinead Halpin:
“I never felt like I was off a four-person team – I felt like I was on a six-person team. I couldn’t have been luckier to be in this group. We all came together. I have a lot to reflect on when we go home.
My horse jumped really well today. He’s a lovely horse; he’s not really affected by the atmosphere. I came around to the triple and just steadied a little too much. He was worried that he hit the rail. He’s a very emotional horse, so when something goes wrong it takes him a little bit to recover. The first half was one of the most steady rounds he’s done. It’s amazing. He’s 14 and just comes out every day just gets better and learns, so by the time he’s 20 we’ll get it!”
Kim Severson:
“It feels good to be back. It’s something I didn’t think I’d be doing again. I missed it, but I didn’t know I missed it until now. I got in [my horse’s way] once or twice in stadium today. I know he can jump – it’s just a matter of me pointing him in the right direction and staying out of his way. He wants to do a good job and he doesn’t want to touch the rails. He’s pretty cool!”
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