CCI World Championship Eventing at WEG Germany’s Michael Jung claimed the individual Gold Medal Jumping clean in Stadium Jumping at the Rolex Stadium October 3rd, the final phase of the Three-Day World Championship, Germany’s Michael Jung claimed the individual Gold Medal, finishing with his winning dressage score (33.0 or 78%), as Great Britain (139.4) took the team Gold Medal. Canada jumped to the team Silver Medal (151.5), just ahead of New Zealand (154.8) in the Bronze Medal position. The United States finished fourth (160.3). Richard Jeffery’s show jumping course consisted of 16 elements, to be completed within the time allowed of 90 seconds. Great Britain’s team consisted of William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain, Mary King on Imperial Cavalier, Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz, and Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic. The Canadian team members were Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch on Port Authority, Selena O'Hanlon on Colombo, Hawley Bennett-Awad on Gin & Juice, and Kyle Carter on Madison Park. The New Zealand team riders were Andrew Nicholson on Nereo, Mark Todd on Grass Valley, Caroline Powell on Mac MacDonald, and Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express. The American team was composed of Boyd Martin on Neville Bardos, Phillip Dutton on Woodburn, Karen O'Connor on Mandiba, Bruce Davidson Jr. on BallyNoe Castle RM. The German team of Michael Jung aboard La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, Ingrid Klimke on FRH Butts Abraxxas, Andreas Dibowski on Eurofidings Butts Leon, Dirk Schrade on Gadget de la Cere finished in fifth place. Complete team results are available at http://www.alltechfeigames.com/ftp-pdf/EVE_RT_3.pdf. William-Fox-Pitt led the British team on Cool Mountain, claiming the individual Silver Medal (42.0), while Andrew Nicholson led the New Zealand team on Nereo, claiming the individual Bronze Medal (43.5). Karin Donckers of Belgium finished fourth (44.4). Individual results are at http://www.alltechfeigames.com/ftp-pdf/EVE_R_3.pdf. “It’s very hard to pinpoint one thing to mark our success,” said Fox-Pitt. “I think we're very lucky back home to have fantastic support. And we have a good team here; we’ve been on lots of teams together now. We get on and have a lot of fun. We’re also riding fantastic horses, and we had luck on our side. Tina Cook didn’t have the luck on her side on cross-country, so the pressure was very much on the other three of us, and we were very lucky today.” The Canadian riders said that they owed much of their success to coach David O’Connor, who won the team gold medal on the U.S. team at the 2002 World Games. “He is responsible for putting together the program that created these results,” said team member Kyle Carter. “Four years ago the WEG was a real disappointment for us, and since then it’s gotten stronger and stronger, and it has everything to do with him. Everybody he’s brought in is just excellent and top-notch. He’s brought another level to it.” The Canadians also praised O’Connor for helping with their mental game. “He encouraged us with positive reinforcement mentally, so it’s not just about the riding,” said team member Selena O’Hanlon. “It’s about what you do at home, how you think about it, and how you visualize it. I think that’s really big part of it, because in every other sport I can think of, you have to read books to make sure you are mentally fit as well.” Nicholson said he’d hoped New Zealand could earn a medal for the first time since winning the team gold at the 1998 World Games. “I was hoping to have a chance to get an individual medal,” said Nicholson. “I obviously have a lot of confidence and faith in Nereo. He’s very consistent in all three phases, and as a team we’ve come along through this year and gotten a bit more together and a bit stronger. I was thinking if we could get in the top four or five as team, so to get a medal as a team is a great bonus.” Teammate Mark Todd, 54, competed in the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park before winning the individual gold medal in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He retired from Eventing after the 2000 Olympics, but decided to make a comeback two years ago. His top horse Gandalf died unexpectedly last winter, and he wasn’t sure Grass Valley would be ready for these World Games until a few months ago. But now he has a new wind in his sails. “It’s just like starting over really,” said Todd. “I’m really enjoying being back in the sport. I’ve got a nice team of young horses coming along. I’ve got a great bunch of team members here. This team has been fantastic to be involved with, and I think we can only get better from here on in. The sport changed a lot, obviously, even since I gave up. It’s taken a wee while to adjust to this, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.” Jung remained atop the leader board throughout this championship on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, finishing on their dressage score of just 33.00. Jung credits his success to the time he spends with the horse. “I have trained him to do everything, and I’ve been with him almost daily,” said Jung. “That’s why he trusts me. We’re very good working together because of our longstanding working and training together. Over the last few years we’ve grown together so much, and I really hope that we can do this in London [the 2012 Olympics].” The U.S.’s only individual combination, Becky Holder and Courageous Comet, stood third overall after the cross-country phase, but Holder withdrew in the holding box at the third horse inspection. Courageous Comet lost a front shoe on the early part of the cross country course and is thought to have over-compensated in the opposite leg. Three horses suffered injuries on the cross country course. Juan Carlos Garcia's (ITA) horse, Iman du Golfe, was injured in a fall at fence 20. On-site veterinarians attended to the horse immediately, stabilized him at the fence, and transported him by horse ambulance to the nearby Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Iman du Golfe was treated for a deep laceration over the left elbow region. Radiographs (X rays) showed no major fracture, although there was a small bone chip near the elbow. The laceration was sutured, and Rood & Riddle attending veterinarians predicted the horse will make a full recovery. The rider, Juan Carlos Garcia, was taken to the hospital and was released after treatment for minor injuries. Fernhill Clover Mist, ridden by Patricia Ryan (IRL), incurred an injury to the left hock while he was galloping between fences. He was transported to the on-site veterinary clinic, where he was examined and medicated before being returned to his own stall. Inonothing, ridden by Paul Tapner (AUS), was injured at Fence 13b. Diagnostic X-rays performed at the on-site Veterinary Clinic showed a fracture of the horse's left hind patella (knee cap). The prognosis is favorable for the horse’s recovery.