Above: Daniel Meech and Cinca 3. Photo credit: Libby Law Photography.

It was the longest of waits, but for the first time in 13 years, showjumpers from New Zealand make a return to Olympic competition last night. Not since the 2008 Beijing Olympics have we had a team compete at this level, however, if we thought it was a long time for us to wait to watch, imagine how long it has felt for Bruce Goodin who was there competing in 2008.

After more than a week of watching the Dressage and then the Eventers, (where our team finished in fifth place) it was time for the Jumping to hold centre stage. A warm humid evening saw 73 of the best combinations in world jumping, from a total of 35 countries, line up in the qualifying round with all vying for a coveted spot in the top 30 who will return tonight for a shot at the medals.

As would be anticipated, the course was not for the feint-hearted and at first, clear rounds were few and far between, however, soon they started to flow. By the time our first combination, Daniel Meech and Cinca 3 hit the arena there had been 56 combinations tackle the course with 20 clear rounds, meaning that almost certainly a clear round would be required to guarantee a start in the final. While it might have been Cinca’s first Olympic experience, for Meech he was back in familiar territory, this being his third Olympics after Atlanta in where he represented as a 22-year-old and the 2004 Athens games, where his 12th place remains the highest ever Olympic finish for a New Zealand rider in individual Jumping.

The grey mare Cinca 3 and Meech had a fantastic clear round and despite giving one top rail a decent clip, they managed to complete their round with all the rails intact. Unfortunately, with a course time allowed of 89 seconds and a finish time of 93.87 seconds, they incurred two-time penalties, to slot into 26th place and so begin a very nervous wait.

It wasn’t long until we saw our second combination Uma O’Neill, making her Olympic debut, along with the 14-year-old grey stallion, Clockwise of Greenhill Z, ride for glory. O’Neill was originally named as the travelling reserve, but was promoted to the team when Sharn Wordley’s horse Verdini d’Houtveld Z succumbed to injury. Unfortunately for them, an early rail was followed later in the round by another two down which saw them finish well down the order and out of the competition.

Uma O’Neill and Clockwise of Greenhill Z. Photo credit: Libby Law Photography

One by one each combination came and went. Some did well which pushed Meech a place down the rankings and others not so well which did not impact his position.

In the end, when the last combination in the competition entered the arena, Meech and Cinca 3 were clinging to 30th place and no doubt nearly blue in the face from holding his breath. There was only one combination who could stop him making the final.

Having waited those thirteen years, the wait was drawn out even further when Bruce Goodin and Backatorps Danny V drew last place in the draw and came out after 72 other combinations. Goodin, in this, his 5th Olympic games and the 13-year-old Bay gelding knew exactly what they had to do to get into that top 30. Unfortunately, it would have to be at the expense of Meech. At least we knew there would be a New Zealander in tonight’s final.

Bruce Goodin and Backatorps Danny V. Photo credit: Libby Law Photography

Goodin started confidently and looked like he was going to snatch that spot in the top 30, but it wasn’t to be. The second half of their round was nothing like Goodin would have liked, taking three rails plus a time penalty to end up in 57th place, leaving Meech in 30th place and first out on course in tonight’s final.

In the end, there were 25 clear rounds which will all go through to tomorrow night’s final. These will be joined by four combinations who had a single time fault and Daniel Meech and Cinca 3 with the two time faults. In the end it turned out that any combination that took a rail missed out on qualifying for the final, however, those combinations that left all the rails in place, will be back for the final. We look forward to this evening to see how the competition pans out, when all the combinations start on an equal footing on a score of zero.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Jumping Individual Qualifier – Top 5 and New Zealand Combinations