Great Britain still in the hunt after Harry Charles jumps in Tokyo Olympic team showjumping qualifier

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The British entries for the showjumping World Championships include Harry Charlewith Romeo 88, pictured here competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Harry Charles riding Romeq 88 in the Team Jumping Qualifier for the Team Final for the Olympic Jumping Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Harry Charles, Great Britain’s second rider from the three-man squad in the Olympic showjumping team qualifier at the Tokyo Games, has kept the team in with a fighting chance after posting a 12-fault round with Romeo 88.

The pair had retired from Wednesday’s individual final after the faults began to accumulate that evening, but looked in fine form early on during their round over Santiago Varela’s meaty track for the Olympic showjumping team qualifier. However once again, three rails fell and 22-year-old Harry coaxed home Ann Thompson’s super 12-year-old gelding with 12 penalties to add to pathfinder Holly Smith’s opening four-fault round.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing 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.