2002 World Equestrian Games

Team Jubilation and Personal Disappointment - USA wins team gold, but finishes just out of the individual medals

By Karen Robinson

In an upset of the kind that seemed to color every phase of the WEG three day event, the USA lost its chances at two individual medals while holding firmly onto its team gold. A demanding and unpredictable cross country course took its toll on many of the world's top riders and horses, and a number of favored competitors fell out of contention on course. In the show jumping phase, some surprisingly poor performances resulted in still more shuffles in placings all the way up to the gold medal.

After the dressage phase, the US team sat in a curious symmetry: John Williams and Carrick tied for fourth place with teammate David O'Connor and Giltedge, on a score of 34.20. The other two US team members, Kimberly Vinoski on Winsome Andante and Amy Tryon on Poggio II were tied for 24th with 43.40 points each. The dressage phase was dominated by German rider Bettina Hoy, wife of Australian team member Andrew Hoy. On Woodsides Ashby, Hoy put in an almost flawless test, posting an incredible score of just 20.80 penalty points. She was followed by Great Britain's Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock, with 28.60; third position was occupied by Australian Phillip Dutton and House Doctor. Competing as an individual, and not on the Australian team, Dutton surprised even himself with his 33.60 dressage score.