For venue obstacle lovers, 2021 is a year full of surprises. Looking back at the biggest competition of the year, we witnessed not only the Olympic Games, but also the European Championships and the National Cup!
Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games
The long-awaited Tokyo Olympics have finally arrived in this year, and the Olympic track obstacle course is full of surprises. The final ranking was unexpected by many people. The race began with an individual medal event, with Sri Lanka, Israel and the Dominican Republic sending riders to the Olympic steeplechase for the first time.
On the first day of the competition, 75 pairs of centaurs participated, three of which were played after the Rio 2016 Olympics. In the end, 30 pairs of men and horses advanced from the first round of qualifiers. On the second day of the race, six pairs of centaurs entered the play-offs, and their results determined the individual medals.
British rider Ben Maher, team gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics, rode the Adventure W to win the race. Swedish rider Peder Fredricson partnered All In to win the silver medal. Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten won the bronze medal with Beauville Z.
Two days later, the team race was also full of suspense. 10 of the 19 teams advanced to the final round, but unfortunately the defending champions France were unable to qualify. At the end of the final day of the race, Sweden won the first Olympic track steeplechase team gold medal since 1924, with the winning team riders including the Peder Fredricson, Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Indiana. Fredrickson, as the last rider to play, cemented Sweden's victory in a score-tied play-off.
The U.S. team won the silver medal and included Laura Kraut with Balutinue, Jessica Springsteen with Don Juan van de Donkhoeve and McLain Ward with Contagious. Belgium won the bronze medal thanks to Pieter Devos partner Claire Z, Jerome Guery with Quel Homme de Hus and Gregory Wathelet with Nevado S.
It is worth mentioning that the Chinese track steeplechase team, composed of Li Zhenqiang, Li Yaofeng, Zhang Xingjia and Zhang You, competed in the Olympic Games for the first time after the Beijing Olympic Games, and won the twelfth place in the team, ranking first among all Asian countries.
FIMA Club Steeplechase European Championships
Just a few weeks after the Olympics, the FIMA Club Steeplechase European Championships were held in Riesenbeck, Germany. The tournament began in the team stage, with Swiss team members including Elian Baumann and Campari Z, Bryan Balsiger and AK's Courage, Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, as well as Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren's Maddox, who were in lead Michel Sörger (Michel Sorg) won the gold medal under his guidance. Germany and Belgium won silver and bronze respectively.
In the individual race, only 24 of the 60 pairs made it to the final day of the race. German rider Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria performed well and won the gold medal. Defending champion Swiss rider Martin Foss partnered With Leone Jei for silver, while Swedish rider Peder Fredricson was again on the podium and bronze, this time with Catch Me Not S.
FIMA National Cup in Venue Obstacles
A month later, the world's top track slalom athletes travelled from Riesenbeck, Germany, to Barcelona, Spain, to compete in the FIMA Confederation Nations Cup Finals at the Royal Polo Club.
On the second day of the tournament, the teams that are determined not to qualify for the final day of the Nations Cup finals fight for the Challenge Cup on this day. The British team, led by team leader Di Lampard, won the Challenge Cup, bringing home a €300,000 prize and a Longines watch. In the Challenge Cup, France finished second, Norway third and Switzerland fourth. Unfortunately, the fifth-placed Italian team will be relegated and next season they will compete in the Second Division of the Nations Cup.
On the third day of the tournament, the eight teams that advance to the finals will fight for the Nations Cup. The 2017 Nations Cup winners, the Netherlands, under the guidance of team leader Rob Ehrens, defeated the 2019 defending champions Ireland.
Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen partnered Con Quidam RB to excel on the first day of the race, leading the Dutch team to the final. Tokyo Olympic bronze medalists Michael van der Frentin and Beauville Z, Willem Greve and Carambole, as well as Harrie Smolders and Monaco, all ended the race with zero penalties before they celebrated with champagne on the championship podium.
FIMA Arena Steeplechase World Cup
The FIMA Steeplechase World Cup series reopened after a hiatus in 2020 and early 2021, and equestrian enthusiasts around the world rejoiced. Athletes from all over the world are competing for qualification for the finals in Leipzig next April.
The favourites are europa leagues and North American leagues, with Irish rider Denis Lynch currently at the top of the Western European league charts, which is led by Irish rider Conor Swail. The two riders' equestrian bases are in Europe and North America. However, the leaderboard will certainly change, with multiple upcoming stops ahead of a final seat being decided.
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