Olympic Dressage Team Medal Finals Schedules
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
LONDON, Aug. 4–The schedule of the Olympic dressage team medal finals was drawn up Saturday and the top four from the first phase will go in the final group of the Grand Prix Special to be held Tuesday in the innovative format that has succeeded in creating unprecedented excitement.
The Grand Prix Special starts at 10 a.m. local time (1100 Central European Time/5 a.m. US Eastern Time) Tuesday with a mix of individual combinations as well as seven teams each with three riders that advanced from the Grand Prix–with Great Britain in the lead followed by Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, United States, Spain and Sweden.
Jan Ebeling and Rafalca, the focus of media attention from around the world because the horse is part-owned by Ann Romney, wife of U.S. Presidential candidiate Mitt Romney, is the first team rider at 10.45 a.m.
The top four riders after the Grand Prix and in the final group of the Special are Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro of Great Britain; Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival of the Netherlands; Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill and Kristina Sprehe and Deserados of Germany.
All of the top team riders were reported taking it easy Saturday, before returning to training Sunday at scenic Greenwich Park which has become one of the most popular competition stadiums at these Games and featured on television, newspapers and magazines, and digital media around the world.
Will Connell, Team GB Equestrian leader, said: “The next three days will be about relaxing and then building back up again.”
German coach Jonny Hilberath told his riders to take it easy Saturday. Helen Langehanenberg, who dosen’t like city life, traveled to the coast with her husband to get away for the day.
Sjef Janssen, the Dutch coach, decreed Saturday a day off and a return to training Sunday.
Steffen Peters of the U.S. who is in sixth place, walked and grazed Ravel. On return to training Sunday the pair will practice the passage canter transition to the right lead and walk-piaffe transitions.
The complete Grand Prix Special schedule: