WEG showjumping: top 4 riders for Sunday’s final

We have an absolute treat in store for us in Sunday’s horse-swapping final for the individual jumping championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

From Saturday’s thrilling decider, the top class quartet who will battle it out for the medals are:

• Patrice Delaveau of France riding the 12-year-old Quick Star stallion, Orient Express HDC
• Beezie Madden of USA riding the 12-year-old Randel Z gelding, Cortes C
• Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden riding the 14-year-old Caretino stallion, Casall Ask
• Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands riding the British-produced 10-year-old Rash R gelding, Zenith SFN

Just missing out on the final four were fifth-placed McLain Ward (USA) and finishing seventh in the world was the teenage Irish sensation Bertram Allen riding Molly Malone V.

All four riders will start on a clean slate for Sunday’s unique final where each rider jumps a round of fences on his or her own horse, before swapping on to each of the other three horses to jump the same track in turn. The world champion will be whoever has the fewest faults at the end of four rounds.

It’s going to be a thrilling conclusion, so tune in via twitter @horseandhound and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out 11 September.

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.