London 2012 Olympic Games - Showjumping

Egyptian Individual, Karim El Zoghby is pictured early out in the First round of the Team competition and second round of the Individual Qualifier riding the Cantos gelding, 'Wervel Wind' on what was a dramatic day of Showjumping that saw, German, France and Belgium, and Australia fail to qualify for the second round of the Team Competition, which at this point is led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Australia finished with a total of 12 penalties and is in equal tenth place with Germany and ahead of France 14 and Belgium 16.

Thankfully umbrellas were not confiscated on entry as they were in Kentucky. The skies opened with plenty of thunder to accompany the morning's competition. However, most seemed to be having fun despite the rain. They are of course used to it over here.

Syrian Individual and his well named 'Wonderboy' that was formerly ridden by Team GB Member, Ben Maher, pops over the 1.60m London Bus at fence three. We have heard of running for the bus, but jumping it?

Ireland did not qualify a Team for London, but Individual, Cian O'Connor qualified for further competition with a total of eight penalties incurred in the second, much tougher round riding the wonderful, 'Blue Loyd 12'.

Canadian Team Member, Jill Henselwood makes a lovely jump in to the Great Fire of London 8abc aboard the Granat gelding, 'George'. Canada qualified to go to the second and deciding round of the Teams competition in sixth place and Jill just missed out on Individual qualification with a two round total of 9. If the rider is a member of a qualified Team they jump tomorrow, with the top 31 going through to the Individual Final on Wednesday.

He may have copped a drenching, but GB Team veteran and showjumping legend, Nick Skelton copped plenty of applause after he completed a perfect double clear riding the Quick Star stallion, 'Big Star'.

Australian team member, James Paterson-Robertson, now based in Europe produced a super Team round, with just the barest toe in the water for four penalties around what he described as "a lot tougher track than yesterday"riding 'Lanosso'. And indeed it was, with only one fence under 1.50m and the last fence a 1.85m wide oxer by 1.53m high.

The Saudi's have bought very good horses and they ride them well and at the end of the first day of team competition the Saudi Arabian Team is in first place with a total of just 1 penalty. HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud led the way riding 'Davos' by Carthago Z to come home after two rounds of jumping with zero penalties.

Well known Mexican international rider, Jaime Azcarraga made up for a bad day yesterday with a beautiful clear riding the impressive Landprinz stallion, 'Gangster'. The Mexican Team finished in ninth place with a team total of 10.

Team GB member, Ben Maher has a perfect record so fat at the London Games riding the handsome Namelus R, stallion, 'Tripple X'. Team GB hold equal second place on four penalties with The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

Australian Team member, Julia Hargreaves declared her second Olympic course, "a lot bigger and tougher than yesterday". Julia jumped a good round riding her scopey 'Vedor' to lower the 1.51m x1.60,oxer at 5a,The London Montage and the 1.60m red Post box vertical at number 11. Although the Australian team will continue no further, Julia, with a total of eight penalties will contest the third Individual competition tomorrow that is run in conjunction with the Team Final..

Riding for the Ukraine, Bjorn Nagel is pictured riding the horse, 'Niack De L' Abbaye' , the Diamant De Semilly stallion that James Paterson Robinson rode for Australia at the Kentucky WEG in 2010. They jumped a good clear today and are pictured over fence 2 , The Olympic Fence standing at 1.50m square by 1.65m.

It is impossible to get anything but a great photo of Australian Team member, Edwina Tops -Alexander and her wonderful, Selle Francais gelding, 'Itot Du Chateau' by Le Tot De Semilly. Edwina is one of 12 riders on a zero score that go forward to the third Individual Qualifier tomorrow that is run in conjunction with the Teams Final.

Canadian legend, Ian Miller demonstrated just why he is still a force to be reckoned with at his tenth Olympic Games. In his 60s Ian rode a super clear round for his Team aboard the Quick Star gelding, 'Star Power'. With a total of four penalties (yesterday) over the two rounds, Ian will be in the hunt for Individual Medals on Wednesday.

Mexican Team member, Alberto Michan explodes in to the Great Fire of London treble riding the Cassini I mare, 'Rosalia la Silla', They jumped two perfect rounds and go forward to the Individual Final in equal first place.

After a disastrous day yesterday, Australian team Member, Matt Williams demonstrated both his determination and his talent today with a 12 penalty round riding the Heartbreaker gelding, 'Watch Me'. The talented horse was not entirely at home in London, but as one of the riders mentioned; "you get a year's experience in one day at the Olympics".

Brazil holds seventh place in the Team competition and that in part thanks to the double clear produced by Alvaro de Miranda and the Baloubet De Rouet gelding, 'Rahmannshof's Bogeno'.

Beautiful rider and USA Team Member, McLain Ward makes a stylish jump over the 1.60m London Bus at fence three. Clear yesterday and four penalties today thanks to a foot in the water at seven ha assured them a start in the Individual Final and the US Team hold equal seventh place and go through to the team decider tomorrow.

Dutch Team Member, Jur Vrieling riding , 'Babalu' is pictured over the delicate Tower Bridge Liverpool at fence four. They lowered two today, but go through to the final thanks to their perfect trip yesterday. The Dutch Team are in equal second place with a two round total of four penalties. (The best three scores from the four riders to count.)

World Champion, Philippe Le Jeune makes a beautiful jump aboard his World Championship Partner, 'Vigo D'Arsouilles' in to the London Montage double 5ab. Surprisingly they had eight penalties, but thanks to the clear round yesterday, we will see them in the Individual Final.

USA Team Member, Beezie Madden makes a perfect jump over the 1.60m fence 11 that caused quite a bit of trouble. They jumped a four penalty round today, making some amends for the elimination yesterday. The US Team made the cut for the team Final tomorrow.

After elimination yesterday, Swedish Team Member, Lisen Fredricson just lowered the middle of the treble riding the obviously talented, Cardento gelding, 'Matrix' pictured here over the Abbey Road oxer at number six. Sweden has qualified in equal second place.

Switzerland's Paul Estermann is one of the 12 with a double clear over the two days of jumping riding the talented mare, 'Castlefields Eclipse'.

Eighteen year old US Team rider, Reed Kessler is the youngest rider in the Showjumping at the Games, if not the Equestrian section. She rode her Skippy II mare, 'Cylana' to jump with one time penalty and eight for a two round total of nine. We will see her back in the Team Final tomorrow.

Swiss Team rider, Werner Muff and his horse, 'Kiamon' have the same expression as they jump a four penalty second round today. They will be back in action for the Team Final tomorrow and by the look of Kiamon, should make the Individual Final as well.

Former World Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa jumped one and four over the two tracks so far to sit on a score of 5 riding the Taloc la Silla gelding, 'Rebozo'. The Brazilian Team have adopted the nasal strips that are used by the Eventers.

France's Oliver Guillon jumped a four penalty round riding the Donald Rouge gelding, ' Lord de Theize' , but tragically for the French, it was not enough to keep them from not making the cut for the Team Final. And remember France took the Silver Medal at WEG two years ago.

2012 World Cup Champion, Rich Fellers shows just how it is done, jumping clear on both days with his super Cruising stallion, 'Flexible'. They proved to be the best of the reigning Olympic Champions and the US Team made the cut, just to the Team Final tomorrow

The youthful looking , but experienced Dutch Team Member, Gerco Schroder jumped clear and four riding the Nabab de Reve stallion, 'London'. The Dutch Team are in equal second place with four penalties and tomorrow will be an exciting day of jumping.

Not even the great stylist and 2006 World Champion, Jos Lansink riding the Nabab de Reve mare, 'Valentina Van T'Heike' could save Belgium from missing the cut. They jumped clear and four over the two rounds and will continue as an Individual.