It’s double Gold for Germany
It was hard fought until the end but the German eventers walked away with a clutch of medals at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Germany’s Sandra Auffarth was crowned double medallist taking both the individual and team gold after a nail-biting finale to four days of intense competition in the Eventing. “I knew that my horse was good enough but I didn’t think this could happen. Its amazing and still unbelievable. I’ve had him since he was a five year old but I didn’t think he was a World Champion then. When he was seven, he showed me his qualities at Le Lion d’Angers. That was the first time I realised what a good horse he was.”
60 individuals jumped around Frederic Cottier’s full up track and the lack clears was testament to a combination of the gruelling cross-country test and the electric atmosphere in the arena which was packed to full capacity. The first clear of the day came from German rider Dirk Schrade which set the standard for the nation who recorded a further four clears from a total of only 11.
There was a lot to play for when the top three jumped in the Stade D’Ornaro in Caen in front of 20,000 spectators, with less than a fence in hand. The Germans kept a cool head and jumped masterful rounds with four team members jumping clear. When Jung who was in third and Auffarth in second position overnight both jumped immaculate clears, the pressure was on William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. But it was not to be and William tipped the front rail of the second fence. This dropping William to bronze medal position. “I’d loved to have won but we were luckily not to slip further down the order.” He said of his round.
Even with the absence of Harry Meade, the three British completions were still good enough for the silver medal which were perhaps beyond original expectations. Zara Phillips produced the only double clear of the Brits on High Kingdom moving her up from 15th position overnight to 11th. Commenting afterwards she said: “He has been fantastic all week. He jumped amazingly in really soft going and came out today and did the same thing. Today he proved he can deal with the big atmosphere and jump clear.”
When asked whether the Germans will continue to still reign supreme at the Rio Olympics in two year, Phillips replied “yes but we’re catching them” with a rueful smile.
