olympic winners and losers

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=sofiethewonderhorse;3369769]
:lol::lol:

sorry Snoop, too funny![/QUOTE]

What isn’t funny is sadly some do not know the difference. There is a difference between being british and being english. Ask the scots, the welsh, and anyone else who holds British citizenchip.

Back to topic.

You know, everyone makes some good points and I think these particular Games will be a hard call. I have thought about teams and individuals and it does not seem clear cut and am excited to see how it all pans out. I do agree that it really boils down to what they will face on the second day as all combinations have strenghts and weeknesses.

[pwynnnorman]

@Shrapnel;3369733

Ok folks here’s how it’s goin down…

Team results:

1. Australia
2. USA
3. New Zealand

Individual Results (Medals):

1. Lucinda Fredericks
2. Phillip Dutton
3. Clayton Fredericks

Some of you folks have REALLY underestimated this year’s U.S. team. We have as good a shot as anyone this year at the medals.

GO USA!!!

Shrapnel! How can you possibly, possibly leave the UK out of it? The Aussie’s may THINK they have a strong team, even without Matt and whatisname, but they haven’t even come close to coming up against what the Brits will throw at them.

And I’m with Eventer6 on Dutton’s dressage (on Connaught). Lovely mover, some sticky changes and not the highest level of self-carriage, comparatively speaking.

If I were to bet on long(er) shots, I’d put most of my money on MF, but I’d also reserve some for Becky (for individual medals)…and a sentimental few on Poggio, of course.

Does anyone else think we’ve got a team for a tough course (I think we have as many, if not more, four-star horses as any team entered, don’t we)? If it’s tough, we’ll be in there. If it’s a walk in the park, we’re more iffy.

[flyingchange]

Sorry! My predictions leave patriotism out of it. I wish the very best for Team USA, and who knows. They very well could pull it off. But I rather doubt it! If I were to place a bet with my money, it would not be on team USA. I think they are, as has been said, small fish in a big pond… Again, Sorry if that offends!

I agree with Snoopy that it is a tough call though. I do think the bigger horses are going to really struggle. The smaller/wiry ones (like the NZ and Ozzie ones are going to do better with the weather, I would think).

Lucretia - your pix are beautiful. Love the one with the 2 horses - you can’t see the rider’s heads/faces. Very rich picture.

[snoopy]

What makes these games more interesting, to me anyway, is that although with the modified format and phases a-c eliminated, enduance will play a bigger part on every horse as they face the challenges of an unhospitable climate. I believe it really comes down to whose horse copes the best and the mix of first timers in a team situation. Each country has lost some of their “A” combinations on the selection journey and sad as this is, it makes for a more interesting playing field. For me and with regards to the USA team they will either do very well or not well at all…no in between.
The last Olympics was a real eye opener…espercailly for the ones we would have expected to do well…both andrews came off, heidi who I thought would have finished in the medals fell as well. Nicholas lost it on the second showjumping round. Bettina who deserved to win on performance alone, she was the best but by virtue of a mistake allowed the places to change. I would say that the Athens course was not what people expected but luck (or lack there of) and judgement plays a big part of it. I do not think one can do the math on paper and come out with a confident result…this one is really up in the air. Lucinda gets the job done and that little horse has proven that she can play with the big boys and win. Whilst it is great to see Mark Todd back, my personal opinion is that he is weak on the first day. As Lucretia said, the US does well with the added second showjumping round. Every team excels in different phase but I am not confident, this year anyway, in any one team that excels in all three. As I said, it should be an exciting competition and one that keeps me away from the betting office. If I HAD to pick a team for gold it would be the germans…although they have lost Bettina, it should be noted that Athens was her best result ON PERFORMANCE in a team situation. In the past she has has trouble on XC. I think Chris and his programme have made the german team a serious contender for top honours. And I would keep an eye out on the french, they are a sneaky bunch.

[vineyridge]

How many horses from Athens will be at Hong Kong? I know the French have one; US has one; don’t know about the other “big six”.

Has anyone made a list of re-runners? If Fox-Pitt rides Tamarillo that will make one GeeBee.

[Maren]

vineridge,

Hinrich Romeike’s grey Marius was in Athens and will compete in Hong Kong. A horse that to this day, has not produced one single stop xc. Very strong team-type horse and his xc rounds are pretty inspirational.

http://www.toffi-images.de/var/storage/images-versioned/59863/1-eng-GB/0641d464romeikemariusjpg1_large.jpg

[lucretia]

thank you, flying change.
and as for large horse well if Nicholas touzaint ends up riding Galan (his preferd choice) he is one and he certainly didnt quite put in his mind blowing best in athens even before he went lame in the showjumping. i dont know about the home based Aussie horses i havent seen them but they dont really do ‘warm bloods’ do they. all the kiwi horses are light weight TBs. Andreas Dibowski’s horse didnt go well in the sunshine at badminton this year but i am not sure that the one he is taking.
and at the moment William is taking Parkmore Ed, unless an injury occurs who is a rather large horse and perhaps not best suited but William has been around so you would hope he would know.

[lucretia]

and as it happens i think the US will probably get a team medal because as a nation their showjumping is strong and i think they will be the team least botherd by the extra showjump round. in athens no one really knew what to expect so i dislike the result there being quoted because it was also the first one without the chase, but all the teams will be much better educated for this one.

[pwynnnorman]

@Maren;3371143

vineridge,

Hinrich Romeike’s grey Marius was in Athens and will compete in Hong Kong. A horse that to this day, has not produced one single stop xc. Very strong team-type horse and his xc rounds are pretty inspirational.

Is that the really sweet-looking grey and is he the dentist? If so, I LOVE that horse. And the partnership. It’s like the horse steps in when the rider stutters and vice versa.

[Maryalden]

I think his name is Something-Something Logistik (how’s that for being definitive?). He’s FABULOUS!!! If you get a chance, watch the AAchen World Championships '06 Eventing DVD. He’s amazing!!!:yes:

[vineyridge]

Did the Germans have three grays at Athens? For some reason, I forgot Marius.

The weather in Hong Kong doesn’t look so very dreadful to me. I’ve gone to Accuweather for the forecast through August 1 and to a NOAA temperature converter, and the top temperature looks to be about 92 F in the daytime and low 80’s at night. Heat Index is 105 max. How is that so very different from Atlanta?

I live in Mississippi, and the HK temperatures would be low here for this time of the year. Probably are for Virginia and points South as well.

From that, I wonder if the air conditioned stables are such a good idea.

[pwynnnorman]

Oh, I remember now: Marius Vogt Logistik! Yeah, I watched those vids, too. Kind of round you could watch again and again: sometimes it was all horse, sometimes rider, sometimes perfect partnering. They are a neat story.

[JER]

[QUOTE=pwynnnorman;3371365]
Oh, I remember now: Marius Vogt Logistik! Yeah, I watched those vids, too. Kind of round you could watch again and again: sometimes it was all horse, sometimes rider, sometimes perfect partnering. They are a neat story.[/QUOTE]

Just to clarify: the horse’s name is Marius. Voigt-Logistik is a shipping company who sponsors the horse.

Neat horse.

[spotted_mustang]

I don’t know enough about the ins and outs to make a prediction; I just hope there isn’t going to be another clusterf*ck like last time, with silly errors and protests and disqualifications.

So…godspeed to Bettina Hoy, may she land soundly in the medals this time

and that tall guy from NZ

and Karen O’ Connor, even without her Teddy

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=spotted mustang;3371670]
I don’t know enough about the ins and outs to make a prediction; I just hope there isn’t going to be another clusterf*ck like last time, with silly errors and protests and disqualifications.

So…godspeed to Bettina Hoy, may she land soundly in the medals this time

and that tall guy from NZ

and Karen O’ Connor, even without her Teddy[/QUOTE]

Bettina is not competing.

[spotted_mustang]

whoops - shows you what I know

well, Ingrid Klimke, then. I admire her, or any rider that competes at the highest level in more than one discipline. May she take the cake. Hurrah, here’s to you, Ingrid !

[NRB]

[QUOTE=spotted mustang;3371670]
I don’t know enough about the ins and outs to make a prediction; I just hope there isn’t going to be another clusterf*ck like last time, with silly errors and protests and disqualifications.

So…godspeed to Bettina Hoy, may she land soundly in the medals this time

and that tall guy from NZ

and Karen O’ Connor, even without her Teddy[/QUOTE]

Bettina not compeating and apparently neither is Karen O C. Check out the Times post

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1824409,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

[Shrapnel]

[QUOTE=pwynnnorman;3370373]
Shrapnel! How can you possibly, possibly leave the UK out of it? The Aussie’s may THINK they have a strong team, even without Matt and whatisname, but they haven’t even come close to coming up against what the Brits will throw at them.

And I’m with Eventer6 on Dutton’s dressage (on Connaught). Lovely mover, some sticky changes and not the highest level of self-carriage, comparatively speaking.

If I were to bet on long(er) shots, I’d put most of my money on MF, but I’d also reserve some for Becky (for individual medals)…and a sentimental few on Poggio, of course.

Does anyone else think we’ve got a team for a tough course (I think we have as many, if not more, four-star horses as any team entered, don’t we)? If it’s tough, we’ll be in there. If it’s a walk in the park, we’re more iffy.[/QUOTE]

Sorry pwynnnorman. How can I leave the Brits out? Its easy – I don’t think this will be “their” Olympics. Period. Yes, they have talent on there team, but after loosing Zara Phillips and Lucy Wiegersma to injuries/lameness, I think there chance has slipped away. Yes, they have “depth” and all, but there are other teams that are better. End of story.

And I honestly can’t believe you think the Aussies don’t have a huge shot at gold. I mean, COME ON – The Fredericks are on fire. Their horses can’t be beat. Shane Rose’s horse is incredible. And so is Megan Jones’ Kirby Park Irish Jester.

Also, I think the U.S. team has a good shot at the silver. All of our team horses/riders are strong, and are as good as any.

And, finally, this will be Mark Todd’s return to the Olympics – how can you not predict the kiwi’s will win a medal.

GO USA!!!

[CookiePony]

The complete list as of 7/31:
http://www.fei.org/olympics/References/Qualifications/Documents/Eventing%20Final%20Entries-31July08.pdf

[Carol_Ames]

agreed, but!

placings, unless the xc is a real 4 star, I think the team medals will be Germany, UK and France. Sorry US but I just don’t think it is likely we will do it but who knows? I do think there might be an individual US medal- either Philip or Amy would be the ones I think most likely (Poggio’s dressage at Rolex last year was not even recognizable from what it was 4 years ago and we know the horse can jump). don’tforget to factor in th e footing,:mad: tumidity,:eek: heat and air quality; i hope they all come through safely:yes:!