EDDIE MACKEN, who made his debut on the Irish show jumping team 26 years ago, conjured up a supremely confident round from his second string horse, Schalkhaar, in yesterday's first individual qualifier to slot into joint 14th place with just one fence down.
Macken, who was second into the Olympic jumping arena yesterday morning, blamed himself for the mistake at a rustic oxer, nine strides after the water. "I was a bit off the water and decided to go for a long one," he said afterwards. "I thought we'd got over the oxer, but he just trailed it off behind. But when I saw the next 10 horses hit it I didn't feel quite so bad.
"He was good today," Macken said of the Dutch gelding, "but he's not as consistent as the mare. I can rely on her much more." Macken had to substitute Schalkhaar for the talented French bred mare Miss FAN, who injured her knee during St Gallen at the beginning of June.
The dazzling early morning sun caused problems for the first third of the field, with its rays streaming straight through the rustic oxer and making the back rail difficult to see. Twelve of the first 15 horses faulted here but, as the sun moved round, the white rails over a water ditch at five became the bogey fence.
Jessica Chesney and Diamond Exchange, the partnership that finished individual 10th in the World Games at the Hague two years ago, were unlucky to hit two in the last line. The powerful gelding, who fought for his head most of the way round the 14 fence track, looked certain to go clear. However, he was showing signs of tiring and took out the middle element of the combination and the top rail off the final water ditch. It gave Chesney an eight fault score and left her equal 41st.
New Irish cap Damien Gardiner came through the finish with a similar score after the 14 year old stallion Arthos lowered the front rail of five and also hit the second element of the double. Gardiner has also had to leave his top horse at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when Pinon Patriot damaged a tendon in a fall two months ago. The Irish export non Finnegan was also kept out of consideration as he is not in Irish ownership, so Gardiner is hoping for the best from Arthos.
Unfortunately, European champion Peter Charles has not had the best build up to the Games, with Benetton being kept on the easy list after standing on a nail last week. Obviously too fresh after four days in the stable the grey hit two in the first line and then took out the back rail of the rustic oxer after fighting with his rider all the way to the fence. The addition of 1.75 of a time fault meant Charles finished the day well down the field in 69th Peter's horse was a bit disappointing," chef d'equipe Colonel Campion said, "but he should bed better next time when not so fresh."
All 82 starters now go forward to Thursday's Nations' Cup style team decider and scores from that and yesterday's first qualifier will be added together to sort out the top 45 for Sunday's individual final. Only three riders from each of the 24 nations represented can go through to Sunday, with the top 20 winning through to the individual final.
"Our main objective is the team," Colonel Campion said, "and today doesn't count for that. If we get all four through for Sunday, I'll have to make a decision which other drop, but it's a decision I'd like to have to make."
Just seven finished yesterday's qualifier on zero scores, including defending Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum and the brilliant mare Ratina. Also clear were two of the American squad.
Leslie Burr Howard and Anne Kursinski much to the delight of the near capacity crowd.
Six others left all the fences standing, but fell foul of the tight time to collect minimal penalties. The position is expected to change dramatically, however, when the fence dimensions increase for Thursday's team competition. Course designer Linda Allen is bound to ask far more searching questions for that.
