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Sydney 2000

Germany wins Team Gold

The Germans claimed a record fifth Team Gold medal in Dressage with performances in the 70s by all four German riders:
(1) Isabell Werth & Gigolo 76.32,
(4)Nadine Cappellmann & Farbenfroh, 74.68;
(5) Alexandra Simons de Ridder & Chacomo 74.28 and (
7)Ulla Salzgeber & Rusty 73.16

The Dutch led by Anky & Bonfire won the Silver Medal repeating their Atlanta performance:

2. Anky van Grunsven & Bonfire, 75.00
3. Coby van Baalen & Ferro, 74.92
5. Arjen Teeuwissen & Goliath, 73.24
9. Ellen Bontje & Silvano 71.44

These two teams are legions ahead of the rest of the dressage world claiming 8 of the 9 top places. Only Lone Jorgensen & Kennedy of Denmark was in the 70s league: 71.84. The Danish team without their top competitor Lars Pedersen & Blue Horse Cavan who had surgery right after Aachen CHIO, still gave the US a run for the bronze medal.

Christine Traurig the last competitor cinched the bronze for the US with a superb ride on Etienne - and high point for the US with 69.84%
Sue Blinks & Flim Flam had a nice but conservative ride on Tuesday - last ride of the first day - 69.00% Guenter Seidel & Foltaire showed no effects of his colic several weeks ago with 67.80% -- "the little engine that could" came through.

The Australian team -- the first time they have fielded a team for the dressage competition having had only a single rider at both Atlanta (Mary Hanna) and at Barcelona -- put in a very credible performance.

The official Olympic web site: www.olympics.com has instant scores.

Judges:
E: Volker Moritz, GER
H: Jan Peeters (NED)
C: Eric Lette (SWE) Head of FEI Judges
M: Axel Steiner (USA)
B: Mary Seefried (AUS)

Results are to two decimals. The top 25 advance to Friday's Grand Prix special and the top 15 advance to Saturday's Grand Prix kur to determine the individual medalists. The individual medals are the total of the scores (unweighted) in the Grand Prix, Special & Kur. While four riders from each country can advance to the Special -- all four Germans, Dutch and Americans -- only three from each team can advance to the freestyle. Perhaps this rule will be changed by the next Olympics.

We are typing up notes on each ride and will email them to you asap. The weather on Tuesday was cold and rainy most of the day and started out the same on Wednesday with a downpour ending just an hour before the start. Some of the first horses showed their displeasure at having to compete on a slightly muddy but solid field. By afternoon on Wednesday, the sun came out and the crowd was seeking shade and water.

The equestrian facility was built on swamp land and may be torn down after the games.

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