Post by Taxigirl on Aug 19, 2004 9:57:26 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/equestrian/3577172.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/equestrian/3578698.stm
Great Britain have confirmed they will contest the controversial results of the Olympic three-day eventing.
Britain emerged from a dramatic final day with team bronze and an individual silver for Leslie Law.
Bettina Hoy won individual gold and team gold with Germany but only after her team successfully appealed against a penalty of 12 time points.
If the German appeal had failed, Law would have won Team GB's first gold of Athens Games.
Pippa Funnell would also have won an individual bronze, while France would have taken gold in the team event, ahead of Britain and the USA.
British team manager Yogi Breisner confirmed that Britain, along with France and the USA, will launch an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"The rules are the rules. I mean if someone had gone the wrong side of the flag on cross country then they would have been disqualified," said Breisner.
French technical director Olivier Le Page told BBC Sport: "The appeal jury have contradicted the judges on the ground.
"We do not agree with the decision, and nor do the British or Americans."
Hoy jumped a clear round in Wednesday's first round of showjumping, but was later found to have circled the start area twice.
Rules state that riders are allowed 45 seconds after the bell rings to start their round but during that period Hoy went across the start line but did not start her round, making another circle instead.
Law described the confusion as "a bitter pill to swallow", adding: "It has all been a bit of a farce quite honestly, some of it. Some of the officials should be answerable."
France's Nicolas Touzaint had been leading the individual standings ahead of the second round of showjumping, but fell to ninth after incurring 19 penalty time points.
His team manager hinted that his performance may have been affected by the confusion surrounding Hoy's score.
Le Page said: "We are happy to have a silver medal (in the team event) but it troubled us not knowing what colour we have.
"It disturbs our athletes and it was difficult for them to deal with. It seems to be a lobbying decision and not a sporting one."
Law, meanwhile, was ecstatic with his silver medal.
"I was lying 10th going into the showjumping so to climb up from there is quite amazing. The horse was on fire tonight, and what a day to be on fire," said Law.
Britain went into the team showjumping phase in fourth place after they were hit by the injury to William Fox-Pitt's mount Tamarillo in the cross country, which cost the team 10 points.
First off, Jeanette Brakewell and Over to You knocked off only one pole, while Mary King had eight penalty points.
But Law went clear and then Funnell on Primmore's Pride produced a faultless display with the team's last ride.
America's last rider Julie Richards then needed to go clear to ensure bronze but incurred a penalty at the very last fence.
"I'm very relieved because we were just gutted on Tuesday night (after Fox-Pitt's withdrawal)," said Funnell after clinching the bronze.
"It feels great to have clawed our way back and are coming home with a medal around our necks rather than a noose because we were about to hang ourselves."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/equestrian/3578698.stm
Great Britain have confirmed they will contest the controversial results of the Olympic three-day eventing.
Britain emerged from a dramatic final day with team bronze and an individual silver for Leslie Law.
Bettina Hoy won individual gold and team gold with Germany but only after her team successfully appealed against a penalty of 12 time points.
If the German appeal had failed, Law would have won Team GB's first gold of Athens Games.
Pippa Funnell would also have won an individual bronze, while France would have taken gold in the team event, ahead of Britain and the USA.
British team manager Yogi Breisner confirmed that Britain, along with France and the USA, will launch an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"The rules are the rules. I mean if someone had gone the wrong side of the flag on cross country then they would have been disqualified," said Breisner.
French technical director Olivier Le Page told BBC Sport: "The appeal jury have contradicted the judges on the ground.
"We do not agree with the decision, and nor do the British or Americans."
Hoy jumped a clear round in Wednesday's first round of showjumping, but was later found to have circled the start area twice.
Rules state that riders are allowed 45 seconds after the bell rings to start their round but during that period Hoy went across the start line but did not start her round, making another circle instead.
Law described the confusion as "a bitter pill to swallow", adding: "It has all been a bit of a farce quite honestly, some of it. Some of the officials should be answerable."
France's Nicolas Touzaint had been leading the individual standings ahead of the second round of showjumping, but fell to ninth after incurring 19 penalty time points.
His team manager hinted that his performance may have been affected by the confusion surrounding Hoy's score.
Le Page said: "We are happy to have a silver medal (in the team event) but it troubled us not knowing what colour we have.
"It disturbs our athletes and it was difficult for them to deal with. It seems to be a lobbying decision and not a sporting one."
Law, meanwhile, was ecstatic with his silver medal.
"I was lying 10th going into the showjumping so to climb up from there is quite amazing. The horse was on fire tonight, and what a day to be on fire," said Law.
Britain went into the team showjumping phase in fourth place after they were hit by the injury to William Fox-Pitt's mount Tamarillo in the cross country, which cost the team 10 points.
First off, Jeanette Brakewell and Over to You knocked off only one pole, while Mary King had eight penalty points.
But Law went clear and then Funnell on Primmore's Pride produced a faultless display with the team's last ride.
America's last rider Julie Richards then needed to go clear to ensure bronze but incurred a penalty at the very last fence.
"I'm very relieved because we were just gutted on Tuesday night (after Fox-Pitt's withdrawal)," said Funnell after clinching the bronze.
"It feels great to have clawed our way back and are coming home with a medal around our necks rather than a noose because we were about to hang ourselves."