OG Tokyo: Swedes impress, 5 KWPN-horses reach team final
It was a bit of a battlefield today in the first round of the team championships. The three Dutchmen got a 13/5/8 result and were the ninth country to qualify for the final.
Repeating their remarkable result of the individual final, the three Swedish combinations steered clear of any penalties. We must hope this will be rewarded with a fantastic medal tomorrow because Henrik von Eckermann, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Peder Frediscon were demonstrating top level horsemanship today. The latter was the only individual medalist to again remain clear with Kashmir van Schuttershof-son H&M All In.
Great Britain
Even Ben Maher and his incredible Explosion W (Chacco-Blue out of Uarina ster sport-spr prest by Baloubet du Rouet, bred by Willy Wijnen from Berlicum) had one rail down today. That can happen to the best of course and Great Britain is currently in seventh place, among them Holly Smith and KWPN-horse Denver (Memphis out of Toscin by Chico’s Boy, bred by Anton and Marleen Woertman, 4 penalties). Sweden is in the lead (0), Belgium and Germany are in the shared second position with 4 penalties.
Five KWPN-horses
Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z (s.Bustique) also encountered two jumping mistakes today, bringing the total for the Dutch team to 26 penalties. Closely following Brazil (with the clear Marlon Zanotelli and VDL Edgar M in the team) and ahead of Argentina by one point. And thereby we will see five KWPN-horses and two KWPN-recognized stallions Quabri de l’Isle and Vancouver de Lanlore tomorrow in the all-decisive final.
Photo VDL Edgar M: Dirk Caremans, Hippofoto.be