Strong Start for U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team in First Individual Qualifier Of the 75 starters in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition, 32 jumped clear rounds. Of those, two belonged to American riders Rich Fellers and McLain Ward
News-Sports.net - Aug 04,2012 - Clear rounds were the order of the day in the First Individual Qualifier for Jumping in the main arena at Greenwich Park. Of the 75 starters in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition, 32 jumped clear rounds. Of those, two belonged to American riders Rich Fellers and McLain Ward. Reed Kessler added just one time fault at her first Olympic Games meaning the USA heads to the Team Competition with a strong start. Team Competition begins Sunday, August 5.
Chef d'Equipe George Morris commandeered another solid effort out of his squad, he retires from this role at the end of the year.
McLain Ward and Antares F (Shannon Brinkman)
McLain Ward and Antares F (Shannon Brinkman)
Ward (Brewster, NY) proved he is back on form after shattering his kneecap in January. He rode Antares F to a textbook clear over Bob Ellis' track to start the U.S.'s effort off right. The 12-year-old Baden Wurtenburger gelding, owned by Grant Road Partners, made light work of the track. Always stylish, the nearly white gelding remained beautifully rideable between the fences for Ward. Ward won Team Gold twice with the mighty Sapphire (at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games) jumping in the first spot on the team. He has no problem leading off the American effort.
"This is George's team and Beezie and I have bookened it for years," said Ward. "I like to go early. It doesn't bother me."
It has been a team effort to get Ward back to the top of his game since the injury, and he takes his responsibility to his support crew seriously.
"We want to do well for our country and for all the people behind us," said Ward. "There is always a lot of pressure."
Ward also feels the added sense of occasion with Morris' retirement.
"Especially for Beezie (Madden) and I, we've had a great decade with George and I think we'd like to finish with a medal for him," he said.
The team's second clear was jumped by the diminutive Irish Sport Horse stallion Flexible with Rich Fellers (Sherwood, OR) on board. Unorthodox in his approach, Flexible attacked the course with the same enthusiasm with which he claimed the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title in April. Never in danger of having a rail, Flexible has a radar for the fences.
"It was great," said Fellers. "It was a nice feeling to just get going because we've been preparing for this for a long time. Everything is just absolutely first class."
Owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman, the 16-year-old veteran has been on an incredible winning streak. Fellers said he still feels as good as he did when that streak started in April.
"He felt good, he was a little bit on the fresh side but I prefer that for a long week," said Fellers.
The youngest rider in the history of the U.S. Equestrian Team wasn't far off the pace of the two veterans. Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY) and Cylana soared to a
