Chipmunk stamps his form
Germany follows the formbook to lay claim to both golds in the first phase, while Britain’s riders excel for team silver
ROS CANTER nailed her dressage test on Friday afternoon to claim the individual bronze slot and punch Britain into team silver position.
Allstar B is a big, bony horse and lacks natural elegance, but he has an impeccable temperament, correct training and a rider who matches him in these qualities. Ros knows “Alby” extremely well and had given him Thursday off “because he was so good the day before and felt ready to go”.
The pair’s 24.6 was earned through performing a consistent, mistake-free test.
“He never changes in the atmosphere,” said Ros. “He puts 110% in every time, so the pressure is on me as I want to do him proud and everyone else who has helped me.
“He can be lazy and on the last centre line he normally wants to jam the brakes on, so I’m pleased he kept going.”
The Brits all performed well, hitting or exceeding expectations.
Piggy French had an unfortunate start when Quarrycrest Echo cantered out of the first halt.
“You never want to do that because of the first impression it gives the judges — it can take a while for them to get positive again with the marks,” she said.
But she clawed back points with impressive off-the-floor flying changes to finish on 27.8 for 15th after the dressage.
Toledo De Kerser held a lovely outline for 28.4 under
Tom McEwen. The pair were so unlucky to trip in the final flying change. Had they scored sevens for this instead of 4.5, four and two, they would have been in the top three after dressage. But they had to settle for 19th, on 28.4.
Tom explained that lessons with Ferdi Eilberg have helped to raise his game.
“Toledo’s also improved as he’s got stronger — I’m not one to rush a lovely young horse,” he said.
Fourth team members Gemma Tattersall and Arctic Soul were never here for the dressage and put in a creditable test with a couple of sticky moments in the
flying changes to be in touch on 32.4 for 46th.
British fans held their breath as individual Tina Cook rode in. Billy The Red had exploded at Aachen and Luhmühlen, struggling to contain himself in the halts after experiencing exciting prize-givings in 2017.
Tina’s first halt was fleeting, but the work after that was excellent, bar a bad first flying change. Her other halts were “solid as a rock” — she scored a 10 from Anne-Mette Binder for the mid-test one, as did four other riders. She walked away with 29.1 for 23rd.
CREATING EXPRESSION WITHOUT TENSION
IT was no surprise that Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH led this phase, achieving their third sub-20 score this year with a 19.9, which gave her a 3.4-penalty margin over her compatriot Ingrid Klimke (SAP Hale Bob OLD).
Chipmunk could have escaped from the pure dressage arena next door, such was the uphill shape of his outline and his suppleness, submission and energy.
“Everybody knows we can do a 19 and, though no one tells you, they expect it and secretly joke about it, so there is definitely pressure,” said Julia.
“His other 19s have been in three-stars and this is his first time doing the four-star test. He can be tense in walk and this was his most relaxed walk so far.”
Ros Canter put her finger on the edge that Julia and Ingrid have — “the ability to make their horses have expression without it coming out as tension”.
CLOSE MARGINS
THE Germans had a 7.4-penalty margin over Britain, but just 6.1 marks covered the following five teams. The USA held third, led by Boyd Martin (Tseterleg) in eighth, while individual fourth for Rio team gold medallists Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot ENE HN helped France to the same position.
Australia was fifth, spearheaded by Emma McNab in seventh, her test marred only by Fernhill Tabasco jogging in the walk. Tim Price (Cekatinka) was 11th for the sixth-placed New Zealand team, with Mark Todd the discard score after McClaren showed his greenness.
Ireland sat seventh, fronted by Sarah Ennis in sixth. It was unfortunate that Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky (10th) suffered a serious discrepancy when US judge Jane Hamlin placed them 43rd but Anne-Mette Binder and Andrew Bennie had them sixth and fourth.