I’m not. XC or no XC. SJ or no SJ.
Can they drop score from each phase or only at the end?
Not me! I’m ALL over TEAM USA (Go Red White and Blue!!!), (BUT) I love the Aussies!!! Lucinda and her little mare are my favorites for the entire Olympics!
I’d love to see Lucinda and her mare win the individual gold, but I wouldn’t be too upset if another Aussie had a stop XC. I’m glad to hear the XC is a good, solid course this year. Hopefully it wont just be a dressage competition.
The Germans still have their two most experienced riders to go on their young Butts horses. Lots of room for them to move up tonight (tomorrow?).
Headley Britannia and Ben Along Time are among the very best 3 phase horses in the world, so I really can’t see much hope against the Aussies, barring some catastrophe. (Knock wood).
I think it is way too early to be handing the gold medal to them. They have a great shot at it but there is still cross country and show jumping to come, a lot can happen, don’t get ahead of yourself.
I would love to see Lucinda and Headley Britannia win individual gold though.
I would love to see – and I’d put good money on – Brit and Lucinda EASILY taking the gold. This competition was MADE for them.
But I would NOT NOT NOT bet on the team at all. After taking a good look at the course, I think that the Aussie selectors erred in not putting Hoy and Ryan on instead of the three who qualified by staying down under. I do not think those three are ready to get around this particular type of course because I do not think they’ve had the experience and/or the access to the type of questions on this course.
How’s THAT for a firm opinion, huh? :yes::eek:
A very valid one!!
I feel the same way, especially about Andrew. NONE of the other Aussies on the team have the competition results he has on his resume, including his current form, 8th at Badminton which IMO should have guaranteed him a spot on the team.
Don’t count out Ingrid Klimke to challenge for an individual medal either, it would be nice to see a few ladies on the podium.
Germany, perhaps?
No way. I don’t think our guys can make it. I would wish but I don’t see it. My guess is AUSSIES take gold and the US takes 2nd. But it’s nice to have at least a technical possibility for a ‘photo-finish’ 
[QUOTE=Kareen;3432247]
No way. I don’t think our guys can make it. I would wish but I don’t see it. My guess is AUSSIES take gold and the US takes 2nd. But it’s nice to have at least a technical possibility for a ‘photo-finish’ :)[/QUOTE]
The US second? I think that is a looooooonnnnnng shot.
That’s what I was thinking!
Have you forgotten about the Germans?
Well, for a team of Olymppic novices who people said hadn’t seen these sorts of questions/fences and would struggle with them …
they did pretty well, I think. All in the top 20, no other xc penalties but time (like everyone else) and the fastest time of the day (Shane Rose).
Pretty good for riders who aren’t ready.
I would - after they lost their Gold medals in 2004, I think the Germans will do everything ‘to get it back’, so to speak.
Watching them last night XC was awesome, I just was blown away by Marius and his rider - talk about a partnership and then Ingrid with her ‘little black pony’ (as she calls him) - those guys are going to be hard to beat - just my 2 cents.
Kareen is German. :lol:
Oops, didn’t even notice that. Well I think the German team has a good shot at it, I am hoping Ingrid gets an individual medal, and Mary King too. What happened to Lucinda? Am I reading the leaderboard correctly and she has all those time faults? I thought all the Aussies were bragging she had individual gold locked up but it looks as though she is several slots down the ladder now, or am I just not reading it correctly?
[QUOTE=BAC;3434315]
What happened to Lucinda? Am I reading the leaderboard correctly and she has all those time faults? I thought all the Aussies were bragging she had individual gold locked up but it looks as though she is several slots down the ladder now, or am I just not reading it correctly?[/QUOTE]
No bragging here. There’s still a lot of rails before medals are decided. She said the course didn’t favour her mare and rode better for a bigger striding horse.
[QUOTE=BAC;3434315]
I thought all the Aussies were bragging she had individual gold locked up but it looks as though she is several slots down the ladder now, or am I just not reading it correctly?[/QUOTE]
Ah no…Aussies don’t tend to be braggers, but even if we were, we know too much about the tenuous nature of eventing to start bragging just after the dressage, there was/is a looong way to go. We know that as well as anyone. Who are these Aussies to whom you refer anyway. No one IN Australia was bragging I can assure you.
PS I reckon the Germans will win fairly easily. Race for silver between Aussies and British and the individual predicting germans one and two with maybe Donckers or an Aussie third.
Australian lucinda is to be seriously congratulated for realising that the team was where her duty lies. She sacrificed her first place at the cost of getting around safely, and went two…if not three of the long routes. Kudos to her.
