Team GB have sealed Team Gold this week out in Tokyo and what a performance from the squad - they have delivered the lowest ever finishing score by a team in the history of Olympic Eventing!
GOLD: Team Gold Medalists: Oliver Townend, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen
Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class, Tom McEwen on Toledo de Kerser and Laura Collett on London 52 have put in stellar performances over the last five days to secure the Gold medal.
Tom McEwen went on to secure individual Silver medal, with a text book clear in the second round, sadly a clean sweep on the individual podium wasn’t to be, but all our athletes can be extremely proud, they all finished in the top 10 at their debut Olympics, that is some feat.
Silver lining… Tom McEwen & Toledo de Kerser during the CCI4*S at Aston le Walls International earlier this season
The team delivered across all three phases and in that, secured a record breaking team finishing score, by some margin, ahead of their nearest rivals. Yes the German’s fluffing their lines helped in some small part but I’m still confident they wouldn’t have caught us. Bartle is now after all in our camp and the man is an eventing genius!
Kentucky 5* winner and Team Gold medalist, the formidable Ballaghmor Class & Oliver Townend at Aston le Walls Elite, March 2021
Oliver and Ballaghmor Class went out on cross country and delivered another effortless round that filled Team GB with confidence, Laura and London 52 again made a championship xc look easy (that scoring error mid round was literally heart-stopping, bloody technology!) and the icing on the cake was delivered by Tom and Toledo, who barely broke a sweat.
Talking about being unable to be caught, it’s no secret that selection was extremely tough in the first place to get on the GB Team, and that has no doubt gone a long way to being the driving force for the Team’s success, but equally the chasing pack will have to keep up their game, to knock these riders out of contention for future teams. Not only did they have outstanding equine partners, they worked together as a team and that’s what wins medals.
And it’s for all of us, that Team medal secures not only serious bragging rights for the next three years, but also secures vital funding for the sport as a whole, for us all to enjoy. The harsh reality is medals equal funding and the team delivered on all fronts.
Another 5* victor, now with a Team Gold to add to their impressive CV, London 52 and Laura Collett at Aston le Walls earlier this season
And finally a mention for the unsung heroes of the team – Ros Canter & her groom Sarah Charnley (the one-woman GB fan squad seen with flag aloft at every phase and discipline out in Tokyo). These two ladies played an invaluable part in team morale, being a helping hand on the ground in so many ways and being Team GBs loudest supporters during what must have been an odd time for them both. The role they both played cannot be underestimated or under-appreciated.
The games overall delivered on all the hype and promise, the facilities looked incredible and by in large all the equines coped well with conditions owing to the planning that had gone into the venue.
The cross country looked every bit a championship track – there was definitely a a few moments of sadness that I had given up my fence judging place at Tokyo last year, as it would have been amazing to see the course in person, but alas that was just another dream that covid dampened – Derek de Grazia is a magician and this track only goes to upping the prayers that Burghley returns next year to see what he does with that course.
There are several horses to take out of the games, but to be honest I haven’t ventured far from the individual podium…
Amande de B’Neville has been outstanding, not just out in Tokyo but during her preparation runs also, the win at Saumur was eye catching in the CCI4*L and the 11-year-old mare has come here and delivered solid, championship performances in all three phases.
Toledo de Kerser, well what can I say that hasn’t already been said before, one of the most reliable 5* performers with an incredibly enviable showjumping record. Tom & Toledo looked every bit Olympic medalists in all phases.
Vassily de Lassos – the king of the FOD has done it again, the only horse in the field to do so. Surely, bar something unfortunate, we’ll see both of these in Paris in three years’ time.
Now comes the realisation that basically Tokyo has filled all my conversations for seemingly the last 18 months, so…. what next, team picks for Paris 2024 anyone?!
Oh wait, there’s a small matter of a European Championships to be decided next month…