Super Swedes come out on top in Jumping Team Qualifier
Team GB made the cut today at the Tokyo Jumping Team Qualifier finishing in 7th place and leaving it all to play for in tomorrow's final.
Sadly it was disappointment for Team Ireland with elimination for Shane Sweetnam after his horse lost a shoe and struggled with the rest of its round. The course asked a big question of many of today's combinations and begs the question whether the change to team formate from 4 down to 3 horse rider combiantions has been the right decision and whether it raises issues with animal welfare?
However on a brighter note - the Swedish team are proving to be all powerful across all days of competition out in Tokyo!
With three fabulous clear rounds the Swedish team of Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward), Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana) and Peder Fredricson (All In) finished with the only zero score in the Jumping Team qualifier at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Baji Koen tonight.
In a competition filled with drama, Israel, Ireland and the host team from Japan were all eliminated while Mexico, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Morocco, China and Egypt also missed the cut.
Only the top-10 teams could qualify for tomorrow evening’s Team Final and with just four faults apiece, Belgium and Germany enjoyed an easy passage through.
They will be joined by Switzerland, USA, the defending champions from France, Great Britain, Brazil, The Netherlands and Argentina when the action resumes tomorrow when all teams once again start on a zero score.
What the rider's had to say;
Holly Smith "The last line was always going to be difficult and to be honest, my mistake before that line maybe helped us a little bit because it gave us a way up call"
Harry Charles "It wasn't easy, but we just had to get on with it - there was no way, I couldn't not jump, so I'm happy that it went as well as it could have done. He ended very good, very confident and his jump is super so harm done today?
Ben Maher "I had a talk with Scott Brash just before I went in and he said we had a good margin to make the team final tomorrow, so I could take it a little easier."
A huge thank you to Andrew Baldock for providing with the days sporting round up.
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