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sambaggilbert

Listed below are comments made by sambaggilbert between Monday, 18th August 2008 and Friday, 22nd August 2008.

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Drug shame hangs over equestrianism again 09:53am on 22 Aug 2008 Very disappointing for Ben (and us!) after his other rounds were so faultless - it does make me wonder whether that first round last Friday was really necessary. It does seem a lot to ask a horse to do in that humidity and over Olympic tracks, although I know they are all super-fit.

On a different note, was anybody else horrified by the pentathlon showjumping yesterday? The clips I saw on the Beeb highlights looked tantamount to cruelty! If it was just a case of riders falling off - well, that's quite funny, we've all been there; but horses crashing through poles, falling over backwards and having their back teeth yanked out was just horrible to watch.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 4:51pm on 19 Aug 2008 Doc_Kev: old codger? That's rather stereotypical of you, isn't it? Just because I can spell!
I'm 28.
I can think of other sports where hideous amounts are spent on building stadiums, ticket prices are extortionate and a player's weekly salary would wipe out the national debt of a small African country.
I know it's not in the Olympics - it's worse than that. It's the 'national' sport.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 4:14pm on 19 Aug 2008 I know I said I wouldn't comment again, but I have one burning question......
Doc_Kev: What's equestion?
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 2:26pm on 19 Aug 2008 With that comment, moutarde, you have just helped me decide that I will not be visiting any of these forums again.

I hadn't been on any before these Olympics, and am so fed up with the ignorance and facile comments that I've read that I won't be coming back. It's not good for my blood pressure!

Ignorance will indeed be bliss for me too.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 1:58pm on 19 Aug 2008 Once again, Monsieur Moutarde, why do you come on this forum if you're not a fan of dressage?
You seem to spend your time writing inflammatory comments on a sport which you detest. Why? I hate football, which is precisely why I would pull out my toenails with my teeth rather than go on a forum of football fans.
You must really be pushed for things to do......
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 12:32pm on 19 Aug 2008 Lynn 1975 - you're correct that the 4th member of the team doesn't have to jump if the other 3 have gone clear as he can't improve their score.
However, Nick had had an unfortunate 13 fault-round, and would most probably have been the discard score if John had jumped and had less faults. I still think Peppermill would not have jumped a clear though as he was unfit.
The other countries undoubtedly objected because John's horse had effectively had a rest day when theirs had all jumped, not because they were intimidated by John! As good as he is, his Olympic record isn't brilliant (I think he won a indivdual medal once on Ryan's Son years ago) so I doubt they would play that game.
Peppermill had already been in the arena and jumped a round of 5 faults on Friday, so was well used to the arena and its sights.
On another note, I agree with some previous comments that showjumping could do with a fresh voice in the commentary box. Tim Stockdale would be ideal - he's knowledgeable but also understands that not everyone watching is an expert. Sometimes I think Mike Tucker can get a little stuck in his rut, and much as I enjoy Steve Hadley's commentary, if you'd never showjumped you wouldn't have a clue what he was on about.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 11:24am on 19 Aug 2008 Aside from anything else, if John's horse wasn't feeling 100% and he had jumped, he would have been unlikely to go clear, so we wouldn't have got in the medals anyway.
Horses are not machines, so it's a pointless argument.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 11:10am on 19 Aug 2008 Going back to post 6 by levdavidovich - are you suggesting that John Whitaker is an 'independantly wealthy amateur'??
What planet are you on?!! As you clearly know nothing about British showjumping, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself!
John has been one of the best professional riders in the world for over 30 years, overcoming a brain haemorrage about 3 years ago to retain his position in the top 20 world riders.
As someone who has competed in showjumping as an amateur for a good few years, I can assure you it would be nigh on impossible for an amateur to compete at showjumping at the Games, as you have to travel the world to compete and have a string of horses in order to gain results against the professionals.
I am extremely annoyed on John's behalf that you interprete his decision not to jump Peppermill as 'pompous' and 'a bit of fun'. It probably cost him thousands of pounds, and was without doubt a team decision to preserve the horse for another day.
That horse, and the rest of John's string of horses, are his lifeline and his pay packet - without them, he doesn't earn a living. So, no - a gold medal isn't worth risking that.
GB show jumpers rue bad luck 09:46am on 19 Aug 2008 I don't think anyone could accuse John Whitaker of being 'wet', Forthview!!
I think it's called putting the horse first. Even to warm up over those size fences would have put tremendous strain on Peppermill and could've damamged him permanently, not to mention the pyschological effects of being purposely pulled up at the first fence - how confusing is that for the horse?!
Well done to Ben Maher for 3 fabulous rounds jumped so far - I hope he gets some reward for his consistency in the individual.
A taste of home in Hong Kong 12:48pm on 18 Aug 2008 Enjoyed the blog today, Lizzie - thanks!

On a different note, can I urge any dressage fans to read the article online that was printed in Saturday's Guardian entitled 'Olympics: Ballroom Dancing For Horses Is So Out Of Step' (the title being the least offensive thing contained in the article).

I have never read anything so poorly researched, one-eyed and biased. The journalist blatantly accuses the sport of being cruel and portrays the horses competing as being like 'the dancing bears in those charity ads'.

If you feel as strongly as I did, please email the paper and complain!

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