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Jumping Final Round B, 27th
August 2004 at 8.30 PM
Pictures and Report by Berni Saunders
For the medal decider
jump-off he raised some of the jumps a little and turned the track
around so that the horses had to approach the jumps from a new angle.
There was one clear
winner, Irish lad Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal took only
one fence in the two rounds and complete the competition with 4 penalty
points. The next two were equal with 8 penalties over the two
rounds. They are Brazilian combination Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet
Du Rouet and from the USA Chris Kappler and his elegant and Athletic
brown stallion Royal Kaliber.
Course Designer Olaf
Pederson from Germany makes some adjustments to ensure that the contest
is demanding and the silver goes to the most deserving.
In a thrilling and
concentrated performance Baloubet goes around
with no rails falling so they are now waiting to see what Royal Kaliber
can do.
Olaf Pederson turned the
course to approach the Greek Coins from the
opposite direction. This obstacle cause some problems earlier in the
competition.
Royal Kaliber lands very
awkwardly on his off foreleg and does
not look at all comfortable as he moves away from the huge jump
This is the next obstacle
and as he touches down just after this moment, he cannot bear weight and
Chris Kappler jumps off the horse, he leads Royal Kaliber and he cannot
take any weight at all. It is a tragic moment and we all felt for
this wonderful horse. Rodrigo Pessoa takes silver by default and
the brave Chris Kappler takes the bronze. Of course his immediate
concern is his Royal Kaliber's wellfare and the horse ambulance was called to take Royal Kaliber back to the state of the art veterinary facility at the
Markopoulo Equestrian complex. This is the third of the
showjumpers to fall victim of injury on the grass that many felt was too
giving. We were told later that this
injury was a deep flexor tendon injury and while Royal Kaliber will be
out of action for a while, the experts expected his to recover.
The idea of medals is far
from the top priority at this moment, we all
feel for this beautiful horse and his wonderful owner who will accept
the bronze medal without his partner to share their moment of glory.
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Page 1 |
Authentic / Epsom Gesmeray / Lamalushi |
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Page 2 |
Delfi Platiere / Promise Me / Countdown 23 |
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Page 3 |
Furka De Village / C Chap / Mr. Springfield |
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Page 4 |
Clinton / Sapphire / No Mercy |
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Page 5 |
Baloubet De Rouet / Magic Bengtsson
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Page 6
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Cento / Albin lll |
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Page 7 |
Carling King / Mac Kinley |
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Page 8 |
Goldfever / Landknecht |
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Page 9 |
Waterford Crystal |
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Page 10 |
Parco / Montreal |
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Page 11 |
Carnute /
Royal Kaliber |
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Page 12 |
Montender / Diagonal |
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Page 13 |
Castle Forbes Maike / Arko lll |
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Page 14 |
Baloubet Dr Rouet / Royal Kaliber
Jump off for Silver |
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Page 15 |
The Medal Ceremony |
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