Olympic team showjumping: find out which nations qualified for the final

Olympic team showjumping qualifier: Gregory Wathelet and Nevados S. — Gregory Wathelet pictured at the Tokyo Olympics.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The top 10 nations in Friday’s Olympic team showjumping qualifier at the Tokyo Games made it through to Saturday’s final.

Here’s how they did it:

He said: “It was so good that I could ride with a bit less pressure today because we all know that tomorrow will be different, the course will be bigger, like the individual final two days ago. So we’ll need the horses to be fresh, with power. We feel confident – we have a good team, we have good riders, but for sure we have to see to so many details and it’s another class, another start, another level, and it’s going to be the 10 best teams there.”

Martin commented: “It felt good – he was a little bit backwards, backing off a lot. I needed to give more leg than usually, that was maybe a little bit because of the hard fault I had in the individual final on the last fence. That’s why I also took a little bit more time than I planned to the spooky wall – I took my time because the four strides after were long and I didn’t really rush for the time. I don’t think the time’s the main test today.”

Trailblazer Simon Delestre went clear for France in the Olympic team showjumping qualifier, with just one time-fault on Berlux Z. He was joined in the team by Penelope Leprevost (Vancouver De Lanlore), who had one fence down, and Mathieu Billot, who had nine faults on Quel Filou 13.

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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.

Which nations have qualified for the Olympic jumping team final? Here’s how they did it and what the riders said…

Pathfinder Henrik von Eckermann jumped clear on King Edward, as did his team-mates Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana) and Peder Fredricson (All In).

=2. Belgium – qualified on four faults

Gregory Wathelet was Belgium’s anchorman and finished with just two time-faults on Nevados S.

Gregory’s team-mates Pieter Devos (Claire Z) and Jerome Guery (Quel Homme De Hus) both jumped clear with just one time-fault.

=2. Germany – qualified on four faults

“My horse had a really good first round in this arena,” he said. “He tried everything and give me a great feeling. He’s a strong character. He knows what he wants and has a lot of energy. And on the course normally he wants to do everything right, he is really careful and he’s scopey.”

Germany was the third country to keep a clean sheet in terms of jumping faults – Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) and Daniel Deusser (Killer Queen) just had a time-fault each.

4. Switzerland – qualified on 10 faults

Martin Fuchs was Switzerland’s first rider and racked up just one time-fault on reigning European champion Clooney 51.

Martin was followed by Brian Balsiger on Twentytwo Des Biches, who went clear, and Steve Guerdat, who had two down and a time-fault on Venard De Cerisy.

5. USA – qualified on 13 faults

Jessica Springsteen was the USA’s middle rider and finished with one fence down in the final line on Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve.

She said: “I thought my horse jumped beautifully. I was thinking of the time allowed a little bit, but I needed to just regroup before that last line. But I’m thrilled with the way he’s jumping.

“I think in our sport it’s so much to do with timing, you have to have the right horse at the right time and you both have to be in your peak performance at that moment. Last fall, Don was feeling great and I knew I really wanted to do it 100% and make it a big focus of mine.”

Jessica’s team-mates Laura Kraut (Baloutinue) and McLain Ward (Contagious) each had a fence down, while McLain also added a time-fault.

6. France – qualified on 15 faults

Trailblazer Simon Delestre went clear for France in the Olympic team showjumping qualifier, with just one time-fault on Berlux Z. He was joined in the team by Penelope Leprevost (Vancouver De Lanlore), who had one fence down, and Mathieu Billot, who had nine faults on Quel Filou 13.

8. Brazil – qualified on 25 faults

9. The Netherlands – qualified on 26 faults

Marc Houtzager had five faults as the middle Dutch rider, on Dante, while pathfinder Willem Greve (Zypria S) had 13 and anchorman Maikel van der Vleuten – the individual bronze medallist on Wednesday night – clocked eight faults on Beauville Z.

10. Argentina – qualified on 27 faults

Matias Albarracin (Cannavaro 9), jumping for the first time this week, had the best performance with six faults. Fabian Sejanes clocked seven faults on Emir, while Martin Dopzao had 14 penalties on Quintino 9.

The 10 qualifying teams will all start on a zero score in the Olympic team showjumping final on Saturday 7 August, which begins at 7pm local time (11am British time).

You might also be interested in:

‘We’ll come out fighting tomorrow’: Britain secures place in Olympic team showjumping final

Flawless Sweden are in a league of their own in Tokyo Olympic showjumping team qualifier

‘The whole course is tough — and the time is very tight’: riders react to Olympic team showjumping track

‘With this new format everything counts’: shock exit for Ireland in Olympic team showjumping

Pathfinder Henrik von Eckermann jumped clear on King Edward, as did his team-mates Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana) and Peder Fredricson (All In).

=2. Belgium – qualified on four faults

Gregory Wathelet was Belgium’s anchorman and finished with just two time-faults on Nevados S.

Gregory’s team-mates Pieter Devos (Claire Z) and Jerome Guery (Quel Homme De Hus) both jumped clear with just one time-fault.

=2. Germany – qualified on four faults

“My horse had a really good first round in this arena,” he said. “He tried everything and give me a great feeling. He’s a strong character. He knows what he wants and has a lot of energy. And on the course normally he wants to do everything right, he is really careful and he’s scopey.”

Germany was the third country to keep a clean sheet in terms of jumping faults – Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) and Daniel Deusser (Killer Queen) just had a time-fault each.

4. Switzerland – qualified on 10 faults

Martin Fuchs was Switzerland’s first rider and racked up just one time-fault on reigning European champion Clooney 51.

Martin was followed by Brian Balsiger on Twentytwo Des Biches, who went clear, and Steve Guerdat, who had two down and a time-fault on Venard De Cerisy.

5. USA – qualified on 13 faults

Jessica Springsteen was the USA’s middle rider and finished with one fence down in the final line on Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve.

She said: “I thought my horse jumped beautifully. I was thinking of the time allowed a little bit, but I needed to just regroup before that last line. But I’m thrilled with the way he’s jumping.

“I think in our sport it’s so much to do with timing, you have to have the right horse at the right time and you both have to be in your peak performance at that moment. Last fall, Don was feeling great and I knew I really wanted to do it 100% and make it a big focus of mine.”

Jessica’s team-mates Laura Kraut (Baloutinue) and McLain Ward (Contagious) each had a fence down, while McLain also added a time-fault.

6. France – qualified on 15 faults

Trailblazer Simon Delestre went clear for France in the Olympic team showjumping qualifier, with just one time-fault on Berlux Z. He was joined in the team by Penelope Leprevost (Vancouver De Lanlore), who had one fence down, and Mathieu Billot, who had nine faults on Quel Filou 13.

8. Brazil – qualified on 25 faults

9. The Netherlands – qualified on 26 faults

Marc Houtzager had five faults as the middle Dutch rider, on Dante, while pathfinder Willem Greve (Zypria S) had 13 and anchorman Maikel van der Vleuten – the individual bronze medallist on Wednesday night – clocked eight faults on Beauville Z.

10. Argentina – qualified on 27 faults

Matias Albarracin (Cannavaro 9), jumping for the first time this week, had the best performance with six faults. Fabian Sejanes clocked seven faults on Emir, while Martin Dopzao had 14 penalties on Quintino 9.

The 10 qualifying teams will all start on a zero score in the Olympic team showjumping final on Saturday 7 August, which begins at 7pm local time (11am British time).

You might also be interested in:

‘We’ll come out fighting tomorrow’: Britain secures place in Olympic team showjumping final

Flawless Sweden are in a league of their own in Tokyo Olympic showjumping team qualifier

‘The whole course is tough — and the time is very tight’: riders react to Olympic team showjumping track

‘With this new format everything counts’: shock exit for Ireland in Olympic team showjumping

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