Proper rain as we left the hotel at 6.30 am today and although Jonelle got pretty lucky and managed to do her test in drizzle as opposed to the drenching stuff many riders did not fare so well!
Jonelle was in the first group of team riders and Hiarado (Jools) warmed up looking on song. When you leave the final warm up you go up a shute and then turn lefthand to go down a fairly narrow track into the main arena and Jonelle said that it was quite simply the most electric arena that she has ever ridden into with the atmosphere absolutely peaking as you cantered down the centre line. It’s fair to say that Jonelle has been in Championship arenas for 20 years now so that is quite some statement.
Lovely trot work with a super rhythm, good square halts and an uphill frame and then, after a fabulous extended walk a few jog steps towards the end. As Jonelle turned into the medium walk Jools decided to do a poo which was not really very princess like behaviour at all but it did slow the walk down!
Four clean changes which was a perfect time to do so and a score of 30.8 is something than Jonelle can be very proud of at Jools first championship. For sure it would have been in the 20’s without the jog in the walk and she not only has a great walk, she has been walking consistently well in her test practice rides but if that was really the only sign of her youth and inexperience then I think we should take that! They ended the day in 27th out of 64 so certainly a great team score.
Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park (Jacko) went in wetter weather with lots of umbrellas around after lunch and they produced a seriously classy test for 25.7 which was much appreciated by the Kiwi team. They finished up in 9th which is so impressive with the quality of the field.
Tim rode Falco twice before his pre test ride and by 5.33 everyone was pretty damp and cold but the rain had eased off a little, or perhaps better to say it wasn’t a total downpour, more a sort of October type general autumnal feel. Falco warmed up looking good, if a little sharp at times and Tim did well to keep him focused on him and not on the surroundings and the cheers from the arena could be heard as Laura Collett and London 52 broke the Olympic record with a quite incredible 17.5.
Up the ramp and down the shute they went and Falco tried his best to gawp at the main arena which now had allot of people in it compared to the familiarisation! There were allot of empty seats as well as quite understandably the crowd had got fed up of sitting in the rain but there were plenty left to create the atmosphere Jonelle had described in the morning. Falco entered for a 10 and a brief trend of 80% plus was looking unreal before a few tiny spooks crept in which were managed exceptionally well by his very experienced rider. Tim said afterwards he thought it the best ride of his career to keep Falco focussed, to keep the amazing bits amazing, to guide him through the sudden ducking and diving that Falco does when he is Oh So On It and the eventual score of 26.5 was good enough for 12th. Falco is a dude and the more he matures, the cheekier he becomes. It’s that spook that makes him such an exceptional jumper for sure, and you don’t get that technique without a payoff but he is a World individual bronze medallist now and boy, does he know it! He is a unique blend of bravery and yet has an innate sense of trepidation which is what makes hm so special and I don’t doubt that his and Tim’s bond is really something they have forged throughout the years of training. Falco only exudes this kind of saucy acts when he really is on his best form so I think it’s a great positive for tomorrow.
Talking of which New Zealand now lie in 4th, just a few points off the French in Bronze with the Germans and the Brits in Silver and Gold. It is a true championship track that awaits the teams tomorrow with a tight time, a fabulously built track and plenty of points where 20 faults is just so easy to come. The sun is due to make an appearance so fingers crossed he puts his hat on and comes out to play!