WEG: Outstanding performances for our Aussie boys on Day One
Day One of the jumping at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 (WEG) provided us with some thrilling action, as 124 competitors in turn tackled the challenging course during the first class. With speed the key, combinations could afford to have a rail, as long as they were fast enough.
The first Australian combination out, 23rd on the start list, was Jamie Kermond and Yandoo Oaks Constellation. Kermond, appearing at his third WEG, performed superbly. The combination raced around the course in an impressive time of 83.39 seconds without incurring a penalty, which placed them provisionally in 5th place.
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Next out for Australia was Scott Keach and Fedor, 55th on the start list. Keach and Fedor also flew around the course, again going clear, in a time of 84.78 seconds which put them in 17th place out of the 55 combinations who had ridden beforehand.
The third Australian to tackle the course was Queenslander, Billy Raymont, and the 13 year old gelding Oaks Constellation. Coming out after the lunch break , 87th on the start list, Raymont had a lightning fast ride with an unfortunate rail down. His raw time of 79.29 seconds would have seen him in 5th place, however, the addition of 4 penalty seconds gave him a total of 83.29 seconds, slotting him into 20th at this stage of the day and leading the Australian team.
Last of the Australians was our highest ranked rider at the Games, Rowan Willis and his mare, Blue Movie. Willis rode a brilliant round. He and Blue Movie absolutely flew around the course, going clear in 76.95 seconds to provisionally hold second place. With only 9 combinations to follow him, he was unlucky to be bumped down to third by the penultimate combination of the day.
A great day for the Australians finishing 5th in the Team competition. Out of a massive field of 124 combinations, all 4 Australians are placed in the top 50, with Rowan Willis and Blue Movie currently lying third, just 0.62 seconds off first place.
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Final Placings for the Australian Team after Day 1:
3rd Rowan Willis and Blue Movie
34th Billy Raymont and Oaks Redwood
35th Jamie Kermond and Yandoo Oaks Constellation
43rd Scott Keach and Fedor
It is all set up for a great day of jumping tomorrow.
