Disclaimer: This post will interest no one but me.
On the last day of the Showjumping at the World Equestrian Games, four riders emerged at the top of the pack to compete in the Rolex Top Four- a format unique to these Games.
The Rolex challenges these four riders to ride each of the four horses over a course. The rider with the most clean rounds wins (fewest poles knocked down). Each rider has 3 minutes and two jumps to get used to their horse before their round.
"You're looking for the best rider and horse in the world," said three-time Olympian Jim Wofford, commentator for NBC.
The Riders:
*Canadian Eric Lamaze, who won individual gold at the Beijing Olympics, is riding his famous horse, Hickstead.
*Rodrigo Pessoa, the European-based rider who competes for Brazil, has won the World Cup title three times.
*Abdullah Al Sharbatly of Saudi Arabia, a star in the Arab equestrian world, is trying to lift his country to international show jumping prominence.
* And the winner, Belgian Phillipe Le Jeune has ridden in four Games, and was part of the bronze medal team at the Games in Jerez in 2002 and here.
***One of the best moments happens at 8:55
**Kentucky.com