Showjumpers lose battle

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 43

Showjumpers lose battle

PA Seoul New Zealand waged an honourable but unsuccessful battle with its rival, Australia, in the team section of the Olympic showjumping competition yesterday. It finished twelfth of the 16 nations, two places behind Australia which it had marked as a yardstick in the high class competition. West Germany won the gold medal with a total number of 17.25 team penalties, the United States the silver with 20.50 and France 27.50, the bronze. By comparison, New Zealand accumulated 97.00 penalties, 15.50 more than eleventhplaced Ireland. The showjumping manager, Alan Hampton, said the knives would probably be out in New Zealand, but he considered the side had justified its trip to Seoul although he was disappointed at not achieving the goal. • The team had been realistic enough not to set its sights too high and the decision to try and better Australia was based on the 3-1 defeat inflicted on the New. Zealanders in a trans-Tasman test series last year. “Unfortunately in New Zealand there is a tendency to knock people. They only want to know those that win medals,” Mr Hampton said. “But this is the biggest number of teams in an Olympic showjumping competition and for the

first time professional riders have been given a way to compete as well. “I can justify our selection by saying that we will be looking to go to Barcelona in 1992.” The Olympic team competition was held over two rounds, the first to determine the top 12 teams for a medals jump-off. New Zealand sneaked into the medal round claiming the final berth. Mr Hampton said it was New Zealand riders and not the horses that have to improve but with more international experience the gap would eventually be closed. New Zealand’s star performer was the double three-day event gold medallist, Mark Todd. Riding Bago he tipped three poles off in the first round and two in the medal round where he was also penalised 0.25 time faults. Harvey Wilson and his showy 11-year-old gelding, Crosby, ended the two rounds with 36.50 faults while Maurice Beatson and Jefferson Junior were penalised 48.00. Colin Mclntosh on Gigolo were the poor performers and their 52 penalties was the score dropped from calculations. John Cottle’s mount, Ups and Downs, was showing signs of soreness on the eve of the competition and with the pair due to contest the second round of the individual section tomorrow it was decided not to risk the horse.