Everyone was excited and ready for the spectacle we saw in the Alltech Indoor Arena. The competition started at 1 pm but people were marching to take their seats in the arena a good hour before the start. The order of go is in the reverse order of the individual finish from the team competition and the top 5 riders from the second qualifier on Tuesday 28th. Great Britain did well in the second qualifier putting forward Doug Allen and Lee Rutter to the final.
The arena seats 7,000 and it was a packed house to see the total of 21 horses competing in the individual finals made up of 15 from the team competition and the top 5, including ties, from the second qualifier. Doug Allen riding Don Julio Whiz was draw 4 and set the standard of 218. Shawna Sapergia on This Chics on Top was draw 8 and as she ran into the arena to start pattern 10 everyone knew she could take the lead.
"Dolly's" slide was long and correct. The back up straight and fast. This time the spins were fast correct with a perfect shut off in both directions. The noise from the fans was deafening as Shawna and Dolly started their large fast circles. They slowed instantly at the centre and the lead change to the next small slow circle was right on. One small error in the roll back cost the pair but they still ended with a score of 218.5 giving them the lead.
This score stood for four runs, then they started getting higher. Draw 16 was Duane Latimer and Dun Playing Tag. How "Jake" manages to keep his feet on those long slides that he practically sits down in, I don't know. He is such a big, strong, gelding. Duane knew what he had to do. He knew riders would be following him in the ring that had already gotten higher scores. He had to lay down a perfect pattern using all his skill and the gelding's strength.
Wow! Just how exciting could this competition get. Jake spun like a top. Swift and smooth with perfect shut offs. The circles were great with the transitions very noticeable and right on the mark with smooth perfect lead changes. The noise in the arena got louder and louder. However Duane managed to get Jake to hear his "whoa" I shall never know but he did and again performed the long slides he is capable of.
The arena fell silent. What would the score be? Yes. The arena erupted the highest score so far. Canadian flags waved and whoops and hollers were deafening.
The score did not hold for long. The next horse in Mister Montana Nic ridden by Craig Schmersal got half a point more. The Tom McCutcheon on Gunners Special Nite who was bought by Turnabout Farm strictly for the World Equestrian Games ran a 228. Duane was now is third place with Shawn Flarida still to show.
Yellow Jersey riden by Stefano Massignan had some troubles and scored a 213. Duane was still third.
Shawn Flarida and RC Fancy Step entered the ring at a full gallop culminating in a long sliding stop. All Canadians held their breath. If he continues at this rate, Duane would not make the top three and US would sweep the medals. Shawn's circles were fast and the slow down was instant but..... What did Shawn do? What happened? Everyone looked from one to the other. Duane and Vern looked at each other then at me. A 5 point penalty from each judge for holding the saddle. Nobody dare believe it. Whatever made Shawn do such a thing? The run was finished in typical Shawn Flarida fashion and the score confirmed there was a serious problem - 207.5. Shawn was picking up pieces of equipment.
Duane and Jake had made the podium. A bronze medal for Canada. Shawna finished 8th.
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