Jodie Hall McAteer hits form to make a flying start in Rome
Friday 26 May 2023
A super-fast round from young British star Jodie Hall McAteer and Kimosa van het Kritahof landed the feature class to bring the opening day of the 90th edition of CSIO Rome - Piazza di Siena 2023 to a thrilling close.
Jodie, 23, on her first visit to Rome, had almost made it a double, beaten only by Brazil’s Pedro Veniss in an exciting jump-off class.
Sixty-seven riders contended the evening major class, the ENI Speed over a 12-fence 1.50m track designed by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani with twists and turns, daring competitors to brave tighter and tighter lines.
Game of two halves
This competition was literally a game of two halves, however, with biblical rain changing the grass footing which held up superbly but was very different to the dry going experienced by the first tranche of riders.
A storm arrived just as a 10-minute arena maintenance break began after the first 34 of the 67 competitors had taken their turn. By then, Jodie had set a fast target on the Chatman x Weros Platiere 13-year-old mare Kimosa and held to the lead despite several challenges. It could not be beaten. Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts and Dhalida Diamant VD Krekebeke Z, who were fifth-last to go before the break, came the closest 1.62 seconds in arrears.
Thunder and lightning rolled in, but the early riders in the second half still took their turn before rain completely stopped play. However, even when the sky cleared and a more peaceful climate returned, it just wasn’t possible to match the pace set in the first half, although Ben Maher gave it his best shot.
The reigning Olympic champion, still building himself up to full fitness following a nasty fall and broken shoulder three months ago, has clearly lost none of his focus. He set out at a determined pace with the San Remo x Ferro 14-year-old gelding Exit Remo, only hampered in his bid to oust the two ahead of him by a slip on the turn to the Loro Piana vertical at fence six, dropping into third 0.22 seconds behind Nicola.
It was quite a day for Jodie, but this cool character took it all in her stride. “It can’t get better,” she said before climbing onboard for her second prizegiving ceremony.
Earlier in the day, Jodie claimed second in the 5* 1.45m on Catoki.
In quite a crowded jump-off – 22 of the original 40 riders qualified for round two over the 13-fence course – Brazil’s Pedro Veniss emerged triumphant. He rode Cadum de Champloue to pin Jodie and the Kannan 11-year-old into the runner-up spot by 0.55 seconds. John Whitaker also posted a double clear for fifth on Paul Barker’s 11-year-old Luidam stallion Green Grass.
Image credit - Sport e Salute/Simone Ferraro
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