After WEG victory, British eventers on top of the world – Ireland right behind

After dressage and cross-country, the show jumping phase of the eventing competition at the Games had been delayed from Sunday due to rain from Hurricane Florence. And in the end, it was Canter and Allstar B’s clutch double clear round at the U.S. Trust Arena which secured the pair the Individual gold medal (and $54,000 first place prize) as well as giving Great Britain the Team title, to go along with their victory last year at the Longines FEI European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“There were quite a few tears which really isn’t very normal for me. It’s absolutely incredible,” said Canter afterwards. “In the back of my mind I did know [that her team was not far ahead of their European rivals] but I was just focused on my horse and my warm-up. You have to try and block that out.”

Second in the standings behind Germany’s Ingrid Klimke after Saturday’s cross-country competition on Captain Mark Phillips’ course at Tryon, Canter was second-last in the order of go Monday and knew she and her 13-year-old gelding would have to avoid errors in order to maintain their slight lead over McCarthy (on the 13-year-old gelding Mr Chunky) and the Irish, as well as Klimke (SAP Hale Bob OLD). And in the wake of her win, Canter, who was on the European gold-medal winning squad in 2017, was quick to credit British coach Bartle, noting that the 66-year old has made her “less intense” since he took over the team at the end of 2016 (after successfully coaching Germany). 

For his part, McCarthy, who also picked up $30,000 in addition to his silver, said: “In a previous life I used to be a show jumper, so it gave me a lot of confidence. I have dreamt about it for the last six months, at least. With a horse like this you have to dream big.” And Klimke, who herself looked headed for victory until she and her partner grazed down a rail at the end, was philosophical about the result, which still brought her a prize package of $22,000 in addition to the bronze: “If somebody had told me before I would come here and get individual bronze I would have been very happy,” said the rider, who won a Team gold with Germany at the last WEG in 2014 in Normany, France. “It was very close, last fence, last rail – for sure the first moment I was disappointed but it was the only mistake that we did on the whole weekend.”

France, who won the Team gold at the Olympics in Rio in 2016, captured the bronze at the Tryon Games, although Lieutenant Colonel Thibaut Vallette and Astier Nicolas both took down a pole to stop them from getting on the Individual podium. For its part, 2020 host Japan had a fantastic result, finishing fourth, as Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand all stamped their tickets for the next Olympic Games (with New Zealand making it in via Tryon as the Japanese were already automatically qualified). 

Four other disciplines will swing into action during the second week of the 2018 WEG: jumping, para-dressage, vaulting and driving. The full Games schedule is here.