Olympic eventing dressage – Tom McEwen impresses

Tom McEwen, the primary rider for the British crew to finish their Olympic eventing dressage take a look at on the Paris Video games, impressed the judges to attain 25.8 and go into the lead this morning (27 July).

Driving James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, Tom rode a just about fault-free take a look at, which was peppered with scores principally ranging between 7 and eight.5.

“‘Dubs’ was superior and wonderful – he loves an environment,” defined Tom of the 13-year-old.

The bottom jury of Xavier Le Sauce (FRA) at E, Christina Klingspor (SWE) at C and Robert Stevenson (USA) at M notably loved JL Dublin’s prolonged stroll, whereas the decide at M awarded a ten for the mid-test halt.

The one place the place Tom and JL Dublin dropped vital marks was for the primary flying-change, the place the gelding turned slightly tense, which resulted in fours throughout the board from the judges.

“He actually lit up within the trot – slightly bit greater than I used to be anticipating, after which was really super-relaxed within the stroll, which then caught me out for the primary change,” stated Tom. “I used to be anticipating possibly to have slightly bit extra electrical energy beneath me after I picked up the canter, however really he was like Dubs at all times is – very relaxed and really pleased – so we sadly missed that first change.

“However then after that, we picked proper again up the place we left off and hopefully we’ve put Nice Britain in a terrific, robust beginning place, which is our major objective. My goal now’s to help my teammates and end on that rating.”

The Olympic eventing dressage take a look at is a condensed model of what we’d usually anticipate, with actions developing in a short time all through.

“This take a look at is so totally different to a standard take a look at – it’s intense,” said Tom. “Dubs has acquired a improbable stroll, however you’ve solely acquired a cut up second to indicate it off earlier than it’s gone on this take a look at.”

JL Dublin is a former trip of Nicola Wilson, with whom he turned European champion in 2021.

“It’s taken me a very good, robust 12 months to get to know a really good, relaxed, straightforward particular person, and truly type of make him a bit extra mine,” defined Tom of what it has been like taking on the trip from Nicola following her fall.

Talking of what it’s like to return into these Olympics as a member of the British crew, who’re favourites to take crew gold, Tom stated “it comes with a distinct however enjoyable stress”.

“We all know we’re in all probability one of many strongest groups right here and it’s clearly a optimistic stress figuring out that we’re a terrific crew.”

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H&H options, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an skilled journalist, having been a part of the H&H crew since 2014, who’s keen about all equestrian sports activities, together with racing and point-to-pointing. She has loved driving out for prime trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took half in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting skills have taken her to quite a few five-star occasions round Britain and Europe, in addition to European championships.