EQUESTRIAN: Australian Jake Hunter had a clear ride to start the Jumping Individual competition at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
The equestrian athlete was one of eight riders to go clear in round one, with points carrying over to the second and final day tomorrow when medals are decided.
Hunter was singing the praises of his horse, For the Star after their flawless ride.
“She was awesome, she was amazing,” he said deservedly.
“She jumped so much better today. I think having a couple of days off and getting her in the ring before has done her the world of good and she was fantastic.”
Hunter and the other 29 riders had the Team competition earlier in the week. It was a great chance to test their horses- which they only became acquainted with upon arriving in Nanjing.
"I was really happy with her. I wish I could take her back to Australia," Hunter said of For the Star.
In a team that finished fifth, Hunter hit one fence on each of the two days, and was determined to make a mends in the Individual.
“The two four-fault rounds in the Team competition were a bit frustrating, but to get a clear on the first day of Individual is great.”
Despite jumping over higher fences today- with a maximum height of 130cm compared to 120cm for the Team event, Hunter and his young, slightly inexperienced horse were not fazed.
“I think she was maybe even a little bit better over the bigger fences. It made her concentrate a little bit more and she was fantastic- she jumped super.
“She was a lot more focused today than she was in the Team competition and that’s a good thing- that she brought her A-game today and we capitalised on that and had a clear round.”
If Hunter can wipe that smile off his face tonight, hopefully he will get some sleep ahead of the second round.
“I’m looking really forward to tomorrow. There’s one more round, and then if there are people on equal faults there’s a jump-off and hopefully we get into that- that’d be fantastic!”
The third round, or the jump-off, sees any riders in medal contention on the same score enter the ring again which is against the clock. “So that’s pretty much just the fastest and clearer round,” Hunter explained.
The field will be seeded to start tomorrow, with the riders possessing clear rounds towards the end of the field including Yaofeng Li (CHN), Michael Duffy (IRL), Emily Fraser (NZL), Lennard Chiang (HKG), Maria Gabriela Brugal (DOM), Sabrina Rivera Meza (ESA) and Mohabed Hatab (EGY) as well as Hunter.
Duffy, Fraser, Rivera Meza and Hatab all rode two clear rounds in the Team event.
When the medal ceremony takes place, AOC President John Coates will be handing out the medals. No doubt he is banking on seeing Hunter’s smiling face on that podium.
Taya Conomos
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
