Hunter rides to bronze

Eighteen-year-old Jake Hunter has put on a show for Australia on For the Star to win the bronze Individual Jumping medal at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

“I’m so proud and so happy to have got a medal. I can’t describe it,” a beaming Hunter said with the bronze medal around his neck.

“I couldn’t be happier, it’s great.”

In an intense medal jump-off after four riders held clear sheets from two days of competition, Hunter hit one rail to attract four penalties.

That was enough to take the bronze behind two clear jump-off rides. New Zealand rider Emily Fraser won gold on Exilio (39.75s) and Argentinean Martina Campi took silver on Darina (39.95s).

It was a big finish to a thrilling two days of competition on horses the riders were allotted upon arriving at the YOG in Nanjing, China.

“My horse jumped fantastic and I couldn’t ask for any more,” Hunter said of For the Star.

“She’s only a young horse, and to come out and make the jump-off over a really tough track is fantastic. I’d really love to be riding her in a few more years.”

As for the one knocked rail in the jump-off, Hunter was still proud of his young, inexperienced charger.

“She just got a bit tired being a young horse, but she still gave everything that she’s got and you can’t ask for anything more.”

After riding clear in Round A yesterday, Hunter was under pressure to deliver again in Round B today. So too were the other eight riders who also carried over a clean sheet into competition today- eventual medallists Fraser and Campi among them. 

On a course designed by Australian John Vallance, Round B featured more fences at the maximum 130cm height which tested the earlier riders on course. But the nine riders most likely to stand on the podium were the last to jump in the final, knowing a single penalty could cost them a Youth Olympic Games medal.

So difficult was this track, Fraser- the 21st to ride- was the first to go clear. Rivera Meza (ESA) on Con-Zero matched that feat, as did Campi, with Hunter the only male to go clear and enter the jump-off for medals.

In the jump-off, these top four riders attacked a reduced course. This time it was not just penalties that would determine the medallists, but also their times.

Fraser opened the jump-off in superb fashion, clearing all rails in 39.75s. Rivera Meza was next to jump but hit two rails in the pressure-cooker ring. Campi came out next and was also unchallenged with a clear round and a time of 39.95s.

Hunter entered the ring needing to ride clear and beat 39.75 for gold and 39.95 for silver. The Aussie teenager knocked one rail and finished with the bronze.

“I just went out and rode my own ride,” Hunter said, acknowledging he did not know what score he had to beat. “It was unbelievable.”

Hunter’s medal follows Aussie Tom McDermott’s silver medal at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. McDermott went on to win the FEI Young Rider of the Year Award and this young Australian also has a bright future ahead.

“I’ve got the Australian Championships as soon as we get home in Melbourne, and then I’m looking to move to Europe to fly the Australian flag over there and hopefully make a career out of riding.”

Hunter, who learnt to ride before he could walk and is coached by his mum, Gail, finishes school in October.