2006 World Equestrian Games Week 2

With the withdrawal of Boyd Exell as the result of a badly broken leg, Bob Edwards carried the flag for Australia in the Driving Championships. He is seen here with his team in the dressage phase.

Norwegan Individual, Geir Guilliksen jumped a good four penalty round aboard the Corrado gelding, 'Cattani' to be in 20th position after two rounds of competition.

Australian Peter McMahon was second out today, he and 'Kolora Stud Genoa' looked a talented combination. They lowered two fences but just, and added one time penalty to end in 81st place of 114 competitors.

The Ukraine is not known as a showjumping nation, however, they are in second place after two rounds of the Team competition. Bjorn Nagel and the Polydore stallion, 'Pilgrim' added just one time penalty today to confirm that place.

The Dutch Team are in first place after two Team rounds. Veteran, Piet Raymakers despite just having one rail down and one time penalty was the Team discard today riding 'Van Schijndel's Curtis', a gelding by Coriano.

The Spanish fans went wild when Ricardo Jurado jumped clear riding the Landfriese gelding, 'Procasa Le Monde'. They are currently in ninth place with the Spanish team, seventh.

Portugese rider, Luciana Diniiz looked a super rider and the stallion, by Folclore, 'Dover' a super jumper. The individual combination are currently in 12th place, jumping clear today.

Ludger Beerbaum jumped clear riding the Landwind gelding, 'L'Espoir' for the German Team, which is in fourth place. But tomorrow is another day.

Shane Breen led the Irish team by example today. He rode the Crusing gelding, 'World Cruise' to jump clear and be in individual 10th place, with the Irish Team just making the top ten cut to go through to the second round of the Nations Cup. This picture shows a double take of the open water.

Aachen showjumping Course Designer, Franke Rothenberge.

Rod Brown and 'Mr Burns' jumped well in the first round of the Nations Cup. They lowered the oxer 4b and then number 8, and oxer on a related line after the open water. Burns got a bit strong after the water, but was a little unlucky at 4b. They finished this round with a total of nine, with the inclusion of a time penalty, to finish the two rounds in 74th place.

Former Belgian rider, Jean Claude Van Geenberghe helped the Ukraine to be in second place in the Team competition, jumping a clear round aboard, 'Osta RugsTresor'. They are in Individual sixth place.

Jeroen Dubbeldam helped the Dutch to the provisional lead, adding just one time penalty riding the Ohio gelding, 'BCM Up and Down'. They are in Individual 11th place.

Another rainy day in Aachen. To be fair it did not last long and the day was quite sunny.

Much to the dismay of the German crowd, the 2001 European Champion, Christian Ahlmann and his Calato gelding, 'Coster' lowered two fences. Mind you he does not look as if he would in this photo.

The Brazilian Team are in sixth place at this stage of competition. They only have three riders as Rodrigo Pessoa's Athens Gold Medallist, Baloubet de Rouet was withdrawn before the WEG due to injury. Here Alvaro Miranda rides the Indoctro gelding 'Nike'. They had two down and one time penalty to be in 50th place individually.

Finnish rider Noora Pentti with the impressive Calando stallion 'Evli Cagliostro' in the second round of the Teams competition.

L-R Chef d' Equipe, Stephen Lamb and Coach, Jamie Coman need not have been so worried, as Edwina Alexander and 'Isovlas Pialotta' jumped a sensational clear in the second round of the Teams competition.

Edwina Alexander and 'Isovlas Pialotta', a mare by Pilot are a classy act. They jumped a super clear today to be in fifth position. The Australian Team finished in 16th place which was the best IOC Region G performance and therefore a Beijing Olympic qualification.

France's Herve Godignon and 'Oberlix' by Burgraaff jumped a four penalty round today. However, the effort was not enough to help the 2002 Team World Champions make the cut for the second round, as France finished in 11th place.

What must this feel like? German Team members, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and 'Shutterfly' literally fly over the water. They added just one time penalty. Maybe too much time in the air?

USA Team rider, McLain Ward was fourth yesterday and had just one down today riding the Darco mare, 'Sapphire'. The USA are in provisional third place with Ward 14th.

Australian Team rider, Jamie Kermond and 'Stylish King' had no trouble at the 1.53m x 1.70m liverpool today. A foot in the water and three down saw them finish down the line, but they were far from a disgrace and jumped some really super fences. They now head to Lanarken in Belgium for the European Young Rider Championships in just a couple of weeks.

Dutch Team combination, Gerco Schroder and 'Eurocommerce Berlin' just looked sensational, an understandable clear. They are currently in third place.

Belgian rider, Jos Lansink's 'Cassini stallion, 'Cavalor Cumano' was just playing with the fences today. They jumped clear to be in 15th place individually, with the Belgian Team in ninth place.

A German Showjumping fan.

Japanese rider, Tazio Sugitani jumped a great clear aboard the Damiro gelding, 'Obelix'. Sugitani is in 26th place with the Japanest Team 18th.

Young Australian dressage rider, Robbie Soster from Victoria was one of the large Australian contingent of spectators at Aachen.

Jordan's Ibrahim Bisharat was thrilled to jump clear today riding his Latano gelding, 'Qwinto'. They are in provisional 39th place.

Sweden's Malin Baryard-Johnsson and the Robin Z mare, 'Butterfly Flip' have been a very successful combination for some years. However, they have not had the best time at Aachen, finishing well down the order.

No show without Punch. Well-known Australian equestrian personality, Peter Clossey enjoying the showjumping.