The Back Rail
Australian showjumping news and information from around the globe.
The Back Rail
The Back Rail - Episode 1 The History of the World Championships
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Stephen Lamb and Rod McQueen give a brief history of the World Championships of Showjumping, and looks at some of Australia's best performances over the years.
Hey, welcome everyone to the very first podcast episode of The Background. I'm joined by the current voice of the stranger jumping Rod McQueen. Junior, hello.
SPEAKER_01Lammy, thanks for having me on.
SPEAKER_00That's a big call. Looking very excited to be doing this with you. Yeah, so the format's going to be fairly casual and as you say, probably weekly in the lead up, and then once the world championships starts, particularly once the jumping starts, daily updates. But we're going to start today with a bit of history. Um and a bit of background knowledge about the world championships and the world equestrian games and the difference. And just try and get people to um come on board with us for the journey along the way.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. So, in terms of the history, Lamy, you've been hard at work, done a lot more than me, good on you. But just to give those who don't maybe know the history of the world championships, uh, you know, explain to us when it started, how it kicked off, and why originally it was sort of called the Weg. I know it's a couple of questions in one, but Right Act.
SPEAKER_00So the world championships of show jumping, first time they were held was in Paris in 1953. Now, one thing that happened from the get-go was that they used this final four rotation system of getting down to a final four horses and riders, and then on the final, for the final competition, having them all ride each other's horses. And that that part of the that formula stayed in place all the way through from there until Normandy. So there are actually 18 world championships where that final four rotation system was used before it was decided in 2016 that they'd no longer use that system.
SPEAKER_01So for try-on 2018, it wasn't that format. Now, again, just just to brush up on that that final four, it was pretty exciting that final four at some point, back in, you know, for for some, but 1960, during the final four, legendary US rider Bill Steinkraus had a fall from David Broome's horse, Sunslave, at the water jump of all jumps, and Bill actually broke his collarbone.
SPEAKER_00Yep. So he was he was eliminated and so he finished fourth. So there's obviously there's always been a bit of controversy around it. I I know that back in 2006, um, at that stage, if your horse was in the top four, the FEI insured them all for uh a million euro each. So, you know, who knows how much they'd have to insure them for today. And like there's other things like on the in the modern version of it, like it's again, I go back to 2006, day before, in the class the day before, all the horses had their bridles and their boots photographed, so they had to come out in the same bridles and boots the next day. The way the rotation worked, you got to literally sit on the horse for I can't actually remember if it was two minutes or three minutes, right? A couple of practice fences and then go in. And when they made the change, part of the reason for making the change was it was felt that to crown a world champion for the next four years based on sitting on a strange horse for a few minutes, when really the sport's all about partnerships and that, that maybe wasn't wasn't the best way. So that was why that part of the system changed. But if again, if we go back to the very early days, before they got to the Final Four competition, in those very early world championships, there was, you know, different classes on each day, and one of those was a puissance.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, wow. So was that Paris 1953, if I look back, and then that puissance, how big did they jump?
SPEAKER_00And for the next few, well, there was there are reports um actually in Paris of them jumping, uh the wall got to a metre ninety, and the water jump was out to five metres. So that's a big water jump. No, no, no, no, you're still on your own horse. They didn't do this was earlier on, this is before they got to the final four. So no, they weren't stopping for that.
SPEAKER_01So yeah.
SPEAKER_00So then then the other thing that sort of changed, I suppose, over time is this thing of the difference between a world championships and a weg. So the first Weg was held in 1990 in Stockholm. So that was when all the FUI disciplines, of which there were seven at the time, so the three Olympic disciplines, dress arch, jumping, show jumping, dress arch, jumping, eventing, and then we had driving, raining, vaulting, and endurance. And so that we had we had Wegs there for um few years, because it was, again, back in the 60s was when it was decided, because for the first few years they had a world championship every year, and then in the 60s, in about 1966, they decided, no, no, we'll we'll go every four years, a world championship, every four years, offset to the Olympic Games. So then once we got to 1990, then for the next um half a dozen, we had Weg, so all those disciplines in together. But the last one was a World Championships because it was Herning and the jumping was in Herning, the eventing was um In Pretone.
SPEAKER_01We were talking about this the other day. Italy. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00That's right. Yeah, and so this time now we have Para as part of the um the group, but reigning has is no longer under FEI control, so it's out. But for Arkan, we have nearly everything. The only thing that's missing is endurance. So my understanding is that's why it gets back referred to as a world championship and not a wig.
SPEAKER_01Right. Okay, so hopefully that gives us gives everyone a little bit of insight into the history of it, going back a bit. And no doubt throughout this whole podcast through the episodes we'll do, we'll probably brush up on something like that in terms of you know, whether it's a historical moment or you know, if it could be exciting for some of our listeners. Now, in terms of the format, coming into so it's a this world championships, it's not the first time it's been at Arkansas, second, no, no, it's the last time 20 years ago, 2006.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, but this is actually this will be the sixth world championships there. So, but before we even before we even get to this one, it's probably worth just going back a bit again, looking at the history about the first time that there was a a world championships outside of Europe. And that was in and when we were there, 1966 in Buenos Aires. And to look at how the the sports growing and evolved. So, how many horses were you saying there? That you were talking about this again the other day.
SPEAKER_01You mentioned Buenos Aires, there was only 14 horses at this first time out of Europe. Eight nations took part in that world championships.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Whereas the next time it was outside of Europe was when we went to uh Lexington in Kentucky in 2010. And at that stage, then there was 120 jumping horses from over 40 nations. So huge, obviously huge growth in the sport. Absolutely. So so what else? The format I was just gonna say the format's also, regardless of the final four, the format that's generally used today, and we'll certainly we'll look at the format in a bit more detail probably in the next episode, but it's again it's worth mentioning that the the basic format of a table C on the first day, um, nations cup on the second day, top 20 or 30 individuals the following day, and then the final, that's been in place since about uh the late seven. Whereas and it's a cumulative championship. So what happens on day one sort of carries through all the way. Whereas the way the Olympic format has evolved now, it's very different.
SPEAKER_01They go clean slate.
SPEAKER_00So we have that, yeah, yeah. Um that clean slate. So you you have a qualifier and then you move into a final. So the the team qualifier, then the team final, then a couple of days off, then the individual qualifier, then the individual final. So what happens at the Olympics now is a bit more like a track and field or a swimming race, where there's heat and then a final. So the the advantage you get in track and field or or in track, say, or swimming, is if you win your heat or you're the fastest qualifier, you get the middle lane. So probably the closest thing we can relate that to with the jumping at an Olympics now is the although you go into the next day all on zero, it's a reverse seated draw, so you have the sit in the draw.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so that's sort of a yeah, as we know, an advantage in in jumping. So again, back to the history a little bit. Some notable performances from some Aussies. There's a s a number of them. So first ever Aussi team was in Dublin. That was back in 1982, and the Australian team finished 10th out of 12 teams, and their team was Kevin Burke, Kevin Bacon, and Jeff McVean. And then Arca 1986, Jeff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we didn't have a team then, but again, we had Jeff McVean and he finished 12th at that one. So again, very, very credible performance. But it was that first wig in 1990 that um we really saw the really, really strong performance, and that was when Vicky Roycroft on Mickey Mouse finished 10th individually in the top, so she was in the top 10.
SPEAKER_01Leading lady rider.
SPEAKER_00That's right, and participants of the uh trivia night at the uh showcase show jumping will remember that that's right, that was on that occasion Vicky was the highest placed lady rider.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Fast forward to 16 years, sick Arkin, 2006. You're obviously heavily involved. She was the Australian chef to keep. You were out involved in the final four. We'll hear more about that very soon. But Edwina on Pia Lotta, top four, very exciting for Australia in not only individually but as a nation.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was an incredible, incredible performance by her. And she went into the day before, I think Weenie was about 20th first in current standings. And uh so that was that class was the Saturday, then the sorry, then the next class, the final class was the Saturday, the final four was then on the Sunday. So Weenie actually on the Saturday morning checked out of the hotel, but then that Saturday class she won. She was I think getting up equal first, and that rocketed her up the point scale enough to make it into the top four. So, and in that top four, there was Jos Lansick on Kamano, BZ Madden on Authentic, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum and Shutterfly and Weenie on Pia Lotta. And and it was a it was an interesting final in that there was very few faults. I think actually, from memory, maybe only Weenie's fault on Shutterfly, I think was the only fault. The others all had to jump off again. So unfortunately, Weenie drew Shutterfly, the way the rotation worked was last. And Shutterfly being super hot, sensitive horse anyway, and with a big German contingent in the crowd, he just got hotter and hotter as the day went on. And I remember when they were legging, even when they were legging Jos Lanc onto him, he nearly shot out from underneath him. And yeah, as sort of is fairly well known, we had a fair bit of a struggle to get the saddle on, even to get and then get Weanie on. It was um it was quite difficult. But Pia Lotta, she jumped clear for everyone. She was an absolute superstar, and it was a really nice touch on that final where they invited Weenie up onto the podium with the other three riders. Um, it was a very um yeah, it was a special day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. Very, very impressive. So just quickly, shutter fly, hardest horse you've ever had to saddle up in your life.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, certainly um I've never had that big audience watching me try and saddle up a horse and um 40,000 people. Yeah, it was yeah, and look, my my German's not great, but at one stage when Marcus Bierbaum was there over my shoulder, sort of participating, and I'm pretty sure he wasn't saying, geez, you're a great bloke and I love the work that you're doing. Um so but yeah, it was um it was an amazing, amazing experience. And yeah, certainly Edwina was um just sensational that day. As she was at several weeks.
SPEAKER_01Lexington. Yeah, Lexington, Kentucky, 2010, the next. Australia is a team doing very well, Lamy, I believe. Top ten finish.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it was yeah, 10th of 2017, so a huge amount of teams there. Edwina on um Toddy was 13th, Chuggy on Vivant was 21st, JPR on Niac Dilabray was 57th, and then Maddie Williams was 67th. But yeah, that was um quite a strong team performance, but was surpassed by the try-on team of 2018, where the boys finished 6th out of 25, and that was actually qualified our team spot for Tokyo. And again, individually that day that week, Rowan Willis and Blue Murphy finished 12th, and then there was Billy on Oaks Redwood, Billy Raymond, 25th, Kerm on Napa, and do Oaks Constellation, 29th, and Scott Keish on Fator on Fedora finished 36th. So that was a really strong performance from that team.
SPEAKER_01And of course, trial in 2018. Yeah, absolutely. Our good friend Todd Hind, head honcho at the FEI now. It'll be great to hear from him throughout the World Championships. He was at the helm for that as chef to keep. Uh yes, he was. But that was a that I I remember watching that that World Championships, you know, we when we saw Billy with Oaks Redwood here, as we did see Kermo with Napa, so we saw those horses come through the sport here in this country, uh, like we did back in Lexington 2010 with Chuggy and Vivant. Uh just a kid, you know, really back in those days. But yeah, very, very exciting. So now if we look to towards Arkham, as we said, it's the sixth time at Arkham.
SPEAKER_00Which just yeah, which you know, rams home the point that Arkansas the spiritual well, I mean, I know it's a it's got you know six other disciplines there, but it is the spiritual home of show jumping, you know, just as what what Wimbledon is to tennis, you know, Augusta to golf. A whole heap of examples. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01MCG to the AFL grand final.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, what what uh Hogwarts is to Quidditch. Yeah, I you're not wrong. You're not wrong. Yep, yep. Yeah. I like it. I like it. What Cambridge University, what Cambridge University No idea. Enlighten me. Oh, it is. It's the spiritual home of Chiliwinks.
SPEAKER_01What it is, sorry, yeah, right.
SPEAKER_00Okay. So one of the things about Arkansas, obviously, it's a huge grass arena. Measurements about 120 by 150 metres. So to put that into perspective, the SCG, which is obviously it's a much more of an oval shape, whereas Arkansas's a big, round-edged sort of round edge, doesn't it? Yeah. So the SCG is 125 by 155. But probably what puts it into perspective best is if you think of the main arena at SIAC, which is currently being resurfaced, and how exciting is that? But it's 120 by 180. So if you had two of those side by side, that's about the size of the main arena at Arkan. But the stat that I came across in uh doing some some preparation work for this podcast, um, and look, it's an easy enough stat to find if you went looking for it, but I don't know why anyone would go looking for it.
SPEAKER_01Except Stephen Lamb.
SPEAKER_00And I certainly wasn't I wasn't looking for this particular stat, but it it took my attention when it says on, and this is officially from Arkin, number of blades of grass on that arena. Blades of grass.
SPEAKER_01Is that all?
SPEAKER_00So that's all.
SPEAKER_01That's a lot of mowing.
SPEAKER_00It is. Well, yeah. So yeah, one thing we can be assured of is that the jumping will be sensational.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00I think in the next episode we'll look a bit more at the format um and exactly what's going to happen day by day, how that all works. And um, yeah, along the way we'll look at um a few other things. We might look at um some of the teams as they're selected. Certainly, you know, some interesting things already with the Germans having the current reigning Olympic gold medalist as their second reserve.
SPEAKER_01Not bad to have that as just strong as well.
SPEAKER_00Current world number one, Kent Farrington declaring himself unavailable for the US team and choosing instead to focus on the the build-up to LA. So um, yeah, it's very interesting. And hopefully soon we'll we'll have an Australian team announced in the next week or so.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exciting. Shouldn't be too far away to hear that, and then we can elaborate on that. And then also, in terms of the the uh jumping arena, watching the arc, the ChiO arc, and recently I did notice when we watched the they have actually in terms of your blades of grass, this would be interesting to find out, and you're the man. In the middle of the arena, they have actually installed the dressage arena. Now, whether that was for Cheo only or whether that is staying for the world championships, I'm not sure. But uh we'll be able to get we'll get some course plans and we might even be able to upload them for people to view. Yeah, so they can see the shape of the arena. That'll be great.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, no, they had the they had the dressage arena in the middle of it back in 2006 as well. And then sort of removed it all and that Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Looking very excited.
SPEAKER_00That's it for episode one.
SPEAKER_01I think so. Yeah. Looking forward to it. All right. Looking forward to it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00All right, we'll um get this out on um socials. I don't know, that's what we do, isn't it?
SPEAKER_01It'll go viral, won't it? Hopefully. No doubt. No doubt.
SPEAKER_00Hopefully we can edit that bit out where you dropped out and I was sitting by myself doing nothing for three minutes.
SPEAKER_01You were looking up about Hogwarts, weren't you?
SPEAKER_00I knew that. I knew that shit. Okay, so always great fun, Lammy.
SPEAKER_01Thanks for again. Looking forward to episode two. Good stuff. See ya, mate. See ya.