Olympics: Sluggish start for showjumpers

Switzerland's showjumpers have made a disappointing start to the individual qualifying round. Markus Fuchs was the only Swiss rider to make it into the top 15 during the first day of jumping.

The Olympic showjumping competition involved four qualifying sections to determine which riders will compete in the individual final on Sunday. Following Monday’s appetiser, though, the Swiss riders may struggle to complete the main course.

Fuchs jumped best among the Swiss team, riding Tinka’s Boy into 13th position with 5.25 penalty points. Lesley McNaught and her horse Dulf were six places behind with six penalty points.

The difficult Horsley Park course brought greater difficulties for Beat Mändli and the Atlanta silver medallist Willi Melliger. Mändli’s horse Pozitano knocked down two barriers and crossed the finish line outside of the time limit, to end the day in 32nd place with 9.75 penalty points.

Melliger and Calvaro, meanwhile, were well off the Olympic standard which they set themselves four years ago. With 18 penalty points, the silver medallist and his giant grey finished the first round 57th among a total field of 74.

The Swiss team will be looking to improve drastically in time for Thursday when the individual qualifying competition resumes.

swissinfo with agencies