Son.
And let's
Julian Siemen on the Reverend Julian, who for four or five years has done so well here.
This is sunken red...
What a sub-assault!
Oh dear, oh dear.
And he bows out.
A fall like that can make a man lose his bottle, and it did.
Like quite a lot of event riders, the show jumping was not exactly my strong point.
But the seeing horses like Milton, Jappaloop and Gem Twist can really take your breath away.
It certainly is, because just how fast does John go now?
The first two have had a fence down, but he's got two very good horses and riders behind him.
He's got to win this from the front now, he's going to do.
From the long way there, that's interesting.
Oof.
You can do it.
John would have expected to jump a clear round on this one, and indeed we're about to see
a real exhibition of show jumping.
Well, eventing is a sport that has really taken a toll on me.
Eventing is a sport that has really taken off since I hung up my boots from this game.
There have been stars like Ginny Leng, Ian Stark and Mark Todd, and anyone who can get
on a horse just a week before badminton and give it a performance like this has got to
be an equestrian genius.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go. Good luck. Well it won't be the first time that Ginny Leng, Ian Stark
and Mark Todd have done battle. We've got a fascinating 12 minutes ahead of us.
Well there's Irishman just jumping the second. That's the Lamb Creep. Quite an inviting fence.
Certainly the first three good fences just to get you going, but there's enough ahead.
Well he's the last of the day, but still the spectators stay with us because they know
the real crux of this battle is in this next few minutes.
He's on 57.4 and Master Craftsman is on 57.8, so it's one second.
But if anyone can do it with one second to spare, it's this man.
And remember he sat on this horse for the very first time on Tuesday.
Now the quarry.
This is the sort of fence where you've got to know your horse.
It doesn't take long to get to know it, that's for certain.
Well he's the course virtually to himself. Mike Huber of course near the end.
Absolutely spot on.
A horse that's been expected an awful lot of. Just a little disappointed. Left a leg there, but it's quite safe.
I know Rodney thinks so much of him.
He's going for the deep water. No, look at that. Turns straight into the shallow water.
Whatever this man did, he would be an ace at it. I'm quite sure of that.
He can turn his hand and in the evening sunshine you get a marvellous picture of this lake.
It really is one of the best settings in the world.
He hasn't got a second to spare and he's trying. No he's not.
Well he's cutting as tight as anybody.
Of course he knows that Ginny did that.
What matters of course is clear.
There's the fence that's been causing so much trouble, but not for Irishman and Mark Todd.
That fence has been broken twice.
Well let's have a check on that time because that's what just a second remember only just blink of an eye.
7.41 but he's gone across the corner and that's been influential.
He needs to be at the water garden at 7.53 so he's on target Lucinda.
He is dead on target. This is the double girl medallist at his best.
He's riding a good horse for sure he is, but neither of them know each other.
And yet he's instilling such confidence in Irishman that he goes every bit as well as he goes when his owner rider for many years Rodney Powell rides him.
Well when we were watching the Olympics with Charisma we were checking his times through every part of the course and he was literally spot on every quarter marker.
And in fact he's just about four or five seconds up on our check time at the water garden.
The great thing the horse has got his ears pricked there absolutely as one.
Now what would he dare hear?
Playing self. What do you notice rather like Leslie Law he just doesn't waste a centimeter.
The other thing of course you'll notice that every time he jumps a fence as soon as he lands he's back into a rhythm back into a stride.
That is what this cross country riding is all about.
Right.
This competition is now really on he's got five fences left.
All against the clock.
He might just have to take a risk at the last if he's going to do it.
15 seconds left.
Jenny coming to the lake.
Great.
Okay.
The horse is in control.
Lovely piece of touch riding.
Just caught hold of Murphy at the right time.
Well he's still clear.
He's got a good start this time with Glenn Burney.
Oh.
To the quarry now.
He's got a good start.
Well if you thought that was impressive on the cross country course.
What about bareback puissants?
Well the fence is bigger than this.
Really Malaga?
He's got a good start.
He should jump it.
He's jumped two meters thirty seven foot seven.
And won three puissants competitions.
Oh easy.
Look at that.
Oh.
Oh so easy.
Top riders make fences like this look easy.
But it doesn't always go to plan.
Oh.
stride in where he shouldn't have done in the middle. Oh and he's hit the rail! Oh and
poor Rachel Bayliss. This is John Connothay from Scotland, Ontario. He's gone very well
but he's not now, he's down. Very unfortunate. Country dancer coming to the Vicarage V,
the corner caused troubles here and she's going for the corner. Oh and he doesn't get
high enough and really ejects Felicity Hill. We only have to come into this quite quickly.
Oh and just not quite quick enough, puts in a stride and leaves a leg and poor Claire
Vizier from Badminton Dirt.
Eric Duvanda had no chance of staying in the plate there but some major championships can
be won on stickability and just a little bit of luck.
He goes in and he just thinks twice about it. Now look at his front legs, they just don't
know where he's going. Oh where is he going? Well he's missed, I don't know what for Sarah
Gordon's got any say in this at all. Richard Mead it is, mainstay of the British team for
the Vicarage. Oh and he's in terrible trouble on office level, still all over the place.
Well we expect this in the circus ring but he's still there and he won't incur penalties.
Stavison with JJ Babu because he was ninth equal at the end of dressage. This is the
moment for him to push the pressure on and catch up. Oh that was sticky, he backed off
that and he very nearly got his hind legs in the ditch. Madeline Girden at her first
Badminton on the family favourite, the Dung Thing into the quarry. Oh a nasty moment but
beautifully recovered. Now that'll give her confidence.
Well Ian Stark going very nicely with himself. We
would hope that he's up to that option time.
Oh right on the corner on the buckle.
Oh Lorna. Yes he had a lucky moment there didn't he but you've got to have a
bit of luck in this game or we'd never get round any of us.
It's just time to take a stride it's a very long bounce in between the fences.
It's four and a bit yards and he takes a little tiny stride and has enough room
to get his front legs out in time. Ian sensibly lets him have his head and
let's get on with it. From New Zealand Mark Todd and a oh he's so nearly down
he jumps right across that footbridge which is really impressive when you see
it on feet and he got away with it and going a great gallop on this sudden
comfort that he only bought three months ago. What a great effort and this is only
the third time that he's ever ridden in a three-day event. Hugh Suffolk on
Madrigal for Ireland. He's already had one refusal and he very nearly had a
ducking and he's still in trouble but he is taking the easy way out of the lake
the left-handed way over the upturned boat and oh he's gone.
No no it's 60 falls if he touches the ground will he get back. Yes he's made it.
Cheers for the crowd as Hugh Suffolk regays his seat.
On cross-country day it's the water complex which normally gathers the
greatest crowd and they really get their money's worth.
Helen Ogden and she fell here last time and she's going to again.
Well that's two duckings in a day here she comes we're gonna see her through
again she comes in looks absolutely right for it
and then jumps too big and then down she goes.
Well poor Helen Ogden. Let's see what the pole can do with it the second Polish
horse Lagar. Yes no oh well that was that the clea
nearly stood up with him still on board no possibility of a refusal but that's
two poles out of two down in the water and Woden from Belgium
Willy Schneiers the Belgians not having a great time and that has really put the
seal on their day. Well there's no doubt that this European
Championship has proved an absolute triumph for
English bred horses and this is another now in the hands of the Dutch Rider whoops
and it's a ducking for the Dutch Rider. Here then is Johnny McIrvin at the water.
Oh and yes he's gone that of course is just what the crowd are here for. I hope
Johnny's all right he's certainly got his arm trodden on.
I think he is going to be all right. Oh dear now where is Hamlet going?
Well Hamlet right out in the deep water in the middle of the lake.
No sign of oh they they're enjoying the view at any rate.
There in fact comes Johnny McIrvin.
A kind supporter the catch hold of him well Johnny will be absolutely soaked to
the skin. Hamlet's perfectly happy having a very
nice gentle march off through the water.
Well brave chap I don't suppose he's all that keen.
All right can she just gather him together and then let him stride on she
certainly anchored him. Has she anchored him too much?
Dropped his undercarriage too late almost looked as if he caught a leg
and sadly nothing to land on and there is a very very wet Princess Anne and
Stevie B. Just Henry gone clear so far jumps in and
drops his head and I'm afraid out goes Andrew Scots.
Well that is very disappointing watch it again notice how he just the horse just
drops his head on landing. Andrew's sitting forward and I'm afraid just
continues on.
Coming to the lake still a huge crowd waiting for the end of this marvellous
day's sport.
Oh right up in the air. Richard had absolutely no hope.
Don't think he's hurt but he's absolutely drenched.
He must be pretty chilly and Andy Guy I think has disappeared.
Richard yes I think he just about sees the funny side of it.
Well where where is Andy Guy? Richard's going out to the big lake.
No he's still he's still in sight. Richard's I think he might get him by
the tail with any luck.
Oh Eric Winter there's nothing worse than soggy
breeches. But it's good to know that even the very best can sometimes get it
wrong. Now Olympic champion Mark Todd. I think
he's been very kind here. The railing's not too big the slopes
not too bad the ditch is small and the out's okay.
I think I think we've been lucky. So fairly straightforward easy
obstacle. Mark Todd coming to the coffin on any chance
clear and if he goes fast enough he could give Rachel Hunter run for his
money. Goes in nicely. Oh he catches a leg.
All sorts of horses and Mark Todd is in trouble. How
ironic that Mark Todd stands at the coffin
says he feels there's a trap somewhere although this looks quite easy
and he's in trouble on two occasions. Now the lake for nightcap.
Oh top international riders beautifully balanced.
That's all right. Oh no. My goodness that was a nasty one. I
don't think Ginny's hurt at all. Ian Stark Oxford Blue Olympic team member
at the stone wall
and just left a leg on it and what bad luck right early on in the course.
Now Mike you've caused to know what this lake is like haven't you?
Yes I think it was actually somewhere down about there at the time.
Never a very easy fence to get in over. Come on Mike.
The time's very good at this stage jumps in well.
Oh and Mike unfortunately is catapulted out of the saddle
and look at that smile that's what the sportsmanship is all about.
Climbing on with very very wet bridges indeed.
It certainly is wet and heavy as you can see from Paula Cinder. She comes down to
the lake having successfully jumped horses.
Leslie pops in here sitting tight to Cinder get hold of the reins.
Whoa she's gonna go. Hang on.
Is she going to be outside the 57? Well the crowd unfortunately are loving
this. I don't think Lucinda is she's going to
try and get some help for the reins and Shanna like a good horse as he is stands
there for her. Can she wriggle back? Remember she's already
very wet and very slippery. She's going I think any minute one boot
nearly on the floor and she's down but she could be outside the penalty zone.
Well there's no doubt Lucinda anchored willy b turned off the Deer Park fence
with no problem and then just too much and the unusual
sight of the former world champion on the floor.
Very nice and steady well in control.
Oh no and he's done exactly what willy b did with Lucinda.
Well what a shame because they really haven't put a foot wrong at the moment
but it's that par. Sadly it comes just at the wrong moment.
Look where he lands. Ginny given an enormous boot up the pants
and she really has no hope.
Well this isn't something I've done for a long time but if you're out on the
course and you have a really bad day I'm afraid you're in it.
you