Team Eventing medals go to Great Britain, Canada and New Zealand.
British equestrian Eventers topped the charts at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) on Sunday, October 3rd, winning Team Eventing handily to win the gold medal. This marks the first WEG Team Eventing gold medal for British Equestrians since 1994.
“It’s very hard to pinpoint one thing to mark our success,” said Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt. “I think we’re very lucky back home to have fantastic support. And we have a good team here—we’ve been on lots of teams together now. We get on and have a lot of fun. We’re also riding fantastic horses, and we had luck on our side. Tina [Cook] didn’t have the luck on her side [on cross-country], so the pressure was very much on but the other three of us had a great competition, and we’re very lucky today.”
The Canadians placed second for the silver medal, coached by David O’Connor. Canadian equestrians have not won a World Championship medal since they struck gold in 1978.
Canadian equestrians praised David O’Connor, their coach.
The Canadians placed second for the silver medal, coached by David O’Connor. The New Zealand team earned the bronze medal for third place. Canadian equestrians have not won a World Championship medal since they struck gold in 1978.
The Canadian riders said that they owe much of their success to coach David O’Connor, who won the team gold medal on the U.S. team at the 2002 World Games. (David O’Connor’s wife, Karen O’Connor, competed in Eventing for the American team.)
“He is so responsible for, not just coaching us, but putting together the program that has created these results,” said Canadian team member Kyle Carter. “Four years ago the WEG was a real disappointment for us, and since then it’s gotten stronger and stronger—and it has everything to do with him. Everybody he’s brought in is just excellent and top-notch. He’s brought another level to it.”
“[David O’Connor] encourages us with positive reinforcement mentally, so it’s not just about the riding,” Canadian equestrian Selena O’Hanlon added. “It’s about what you do at home, how you think about it, and how you visualize it. I think that’s really big part of it, because in every other sport I can think of—like football, tennis, all of them—you have to read books to make sure you are mentally fit as well.”
The New Zealand team earned the bronze medal for third place.
The Eventing World Championship by Reem Acra competition included three phases: Dressage, Cross-Country and Stadium Jumping – all occurring at the Kentucky Horse Park of Lexington, Kentucky.
Here are the final standings for Team Eventing:
- Great Britain - W. Fox-Pitt / M. King / N. Wilson / K. Cook – 139.40
- Canada - S. Rhodes-Bosch / S. O'Hanlon / H. Bennett-Awad / K. Carter – 151.50
- New Zealand - A. Nicholson / M. Todd / C. Powell / C. Johnstone – 154
The American team (B. Martin / P. Dutton / K. O'Connor / B. Davidson Jr. ) finished fourth in Team Eventing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), followed by the German team (M. Jung / I. Klimke / A. Dibowski / D. Schrade ) in fifth place.
The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) continues through October 11th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
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