VERSAILLES, France--Great Britain continues to hold the lead in the Eventing team competition at the Paris Olympics after the cross country in the magnificent parkland of Château De Versailles on Sunday, July 28, while the U.S. dropped from sixth to ninth of the 16 team competing.

Michael Jung Chipmunk (Photo by Kim MacMillan"
The U.S. team of Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake, Liz Hallday on Nutcracker and Boyd Martin on Fedarman B had started behind the eight ball after finishing sixth after dressage, and dropped even further behind after Pamukcu had a stop and time faults.

Germany's Michael Jung on Chipmunk leads individually on 17.80 with Great Britain's Laura Collett on London 52 second on 18.30 and Christopher Burton of Australia on Shadow Man third on 22,00

Great Britain leads on 82.50, with France second on 87.20 and Japan third on 93.80, followed by Switzerland, 102.40, Belgium, 111.00, New Zealand, 118.20, Sweden,, 120.10, Ireland, 121.10, USA, 128.5, Netherlands, 147.5, Canada, 158.00, Brazil, 177.40, Italy, 229.10, Germany, 278.90, Australia, 294.30 and Poland, 391.10.

Germany, second after dressage, dropped out of competition after Christoph Wahler was eliminated when he fell off after his horse put a front foot in a ditch and pitched him off.

 

THAT WAS the same fence when Pamukcu had a stop after Blake put a foot in the ditch and Pamucku chose to take the long route after that.

Laura Collett on London 52 (Photo by Sarah Miller)
She finished 47th of the 56 competitors that finished, while eight were eliminated, withdrawn or retired.

Pamukcu went first for the team and was sixth to go overall.

"The course was riding fantastic until I came to the ditch," she said. "Blake fell in the ditch, so I went the long way. When you fall in a ditch that way there are only a few options. He's a good jumper, so he should be good tomorrow."

Halliday finished 22nd on 33.80, adding 7.2 time faults to her dressage score.

Rain the night before dressage had affected the going.

"Nutcracker slipped a couple of times, so all all  my time came from the flat, being careful on the turns," said Halliday. "The crowds were immense. I was a little slow going to fence three because he was looking at the crowd, but after the water he never looked at the crowd again. He's so powerful, and he can gallop forever. He had tons of run left, so I was  a little annoyed I was not a bit quicker."

"He's a good jumper," said Halliday of the show jumping. "I just have to watch how I ride him. He's a sensitive horse."

"I've dreamed of being at the Olympics for a long time," she said. "Then to be so close (as the alternate) and now to be here (when Will Coleman on Diabolo had to drop out) is amazing."

Martin is the best of the three Americans, but he only stands 17th on a score of 32.60, adding only 1.6 time faults to his dressage score.

The U.S. has to improve its dressage scores to complete in the top echelons internationally.

Boyd Martin Fedarman B (Photo by Allen MacMillan)
"My horse was brilliant every step of the way," said Martin. "I was lucky  as I got a few tips as to which turns were worst, and those cost me a little time, but i don't know if I could have gone much faster."

"My horse got tired the last three fences,"  he said. "I hope today didn't take too much out of him, but I had him pretty fit, so he should bounce back strong."

"I'm quietly confident for tomorrow," he said. "He's probably the best jumper in the field, I just have to ride well."

"This was one of the most memorable courses I've ever been at," said Martin. "It was an unbelievable crowd in a picturesque setting."

 Unfortunately, after finishing so far behind after dressage and then dropping even farther back, no matter how well U.S. horses jump the U.S. doesn't have much hope of even finishing in the top half of the field.

To the delight of the thousands of French fans who turned out to enjoy wonderful sport in the most spectacular of venues, it is the hosts - Team France - that sit in the silver medal spot.

Liz Halliday on Nutcracker (Photo by Allen MacMillan)
Japan - following three brilliant rounds - have moved up from overnight fifth into bronze medal position, followed by Switzerland, Belgium and New Zealand in the next three placings.

The running score of 82.50 for Britain leaves them just 4.7 penalty points ahead of the French, while Japan are 6.6 points further behind.

A masterclass of Cross-Country riding saw Germany’s final team member, Michael Jung on Chipmunk FRH, was double clear to stay on his dressage score of 17.89 overtake Laura Collett on London 52 to be in the lead when Collett picked up time penalties to score 18.30.

Adding nothing to his Dressage score of 22.00, Australia’s Christopher Burton on Shadow Man held on to bronze medal spot, so it’s even closer in the battle for individual medals, as  fourth-placed Felix Vogg from Switzerland on Dao De L’ocean is breathing down his neck on a running tally of 22.10.

Jumping gets underway at 5 am Eastern time, with all the individuals going first followed in rveerse order of standing by the teams, one rider for each team going for each of the 16 teams, and then the second for each team and then the third.