Junior News
RICHARD NEAL
J
Richard Neal Wins the 1.40 Meter Final Four at Spruce Meadows
U
N
ExcitEMENt aNd EMotioNS dEFiNE thE claSS.
I
O
When the end of the 1.40 meter Final Four Competition
R
finally came, Richard Neal stood at the top of the Gold Medal
N
podium, against some pretty astounding odds. Coming back from
E elimination on the first round of that class, he rode all other horses
W
to clear rounds and the final fault number of 21 put him in the lead.
S
The class started off with the top faults. Not a terrific start for this top the same way and when Fernando
caliber 1.40 riders, at the Spruce competition. Beltranena took a shot at the ride on
Meadows Skyliner show, competing The rules for the Final Four specify Larina, everything went a bit haywire
for the coveted Gold. Richard Neal that in this situation, the eliminated again, he ended up with 25 faults for
riding Larina for the USA, Karl the round. Last to go on Larina
Cook riding Notories Utopia for was Karl Cook who navigated a
the USA, Fernando Beltranena pretty decent round with one stop
riding Naomi for Guatemala and to end with 19 faults on her.
Callie Bass riding Zorro Preci- “I can’t believe what just hap-
sion for the USA. All four riders pened!” said Richard after the
were to ride their own horse first, class. “It all happened so fast and
then trade off throughout the the emotions, at times, were over-
class till they had ridden all four whelming. My mood swings were
horses in the competition. The incredible out there. Knowing it
winner at the end would have the was my fault was hard to swal-
lowest total fault score. low.”
Fernando started the class and “I knew that #3 to #4 was either
had 1 time fault on his horse, a bit steady 6 or a move up for
Callie Bass on her own horse was 5, and I decided on the five way
clear. Nothing remarkable about too late. I was a bit snug at the
those rounds but time would be a oxer coming in and then needed
factor and it was obvious that the to move up right away, which
course was really challenging. I didn’t! She thought I wanted
Richard entered the ring, another stride and I wasn’t very
jumped #1, turned right for #2 clear. I take responsibility for that
and turned left for the first line; error and feel bad about it for all
oxer at #3 to a half stride dis- of us, especially the mare.”
tance and a vertical at #4. Jump- “I was in tears; it was the hardest
ing in a little deep, then late on thing I have ever done. I caused it
the move up, Larina simply said, and I felt just awful. She then just
“What the heck!” and came to a slide rider adds 20 points to the highest tried her best but with the confusion,
stop into the vertical and went down fault score for that round; in this case she took advantage of every rider and
on a hip as she turned to recover her the total for Richard was 21 faults. had problems. In one of the rounds
footing. The rest of the way was very The next round was more present- she went through an oxer, pulled a
difficult and she finally stopped at able and then Callie Bass rode Larina shoe and cut herself a little so when
another jump, causing Richard to be (Richard’s horse), giving the mare a she came out her leg was covered
eliminated for that round. Karl came soft, but decent ride, to end up with with blood. It was hard to watch her
back on his own horse and had no 16 faults. The next round went about struggle because of me.”
14
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84