Championship 1998

Rome 1998
Rome Italy

Presentation

Rome was a great success even though the Italians only had a year in which to prepare after the Dublin bid fell through due to bad luck and organisational problems. For a second time, the original successful bidder had failed to live up to the hype despite promising initial plans.

A total of 42 nations competed in all disciplines and 86 riders took part in the show jumping championships which were staged in the slightly jaded, but nevertheless practical, Flaminio football stadium in the city. The weather gods were not helpful and torrential rain left the arena under water on the show jumping championship warm-up day, but the excellent footing recovered superbly.

The Germans took team gold for the second time in succession but were denied a second double of victories when Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa became the youngest-ever winner of the individual title at the age of 25. With a narrow lead after the first three competitions, Pessoa was joined in the change-horse final by defending team and individual champion Franke Sloothaak from Germany, Willi Melliger from Switzerland whose big, graceful grey Calvaro was the revelation of the show jumping event and Frenchman Thierry Pomel.

Another sensation of Rome 1998 was Nelson Pessoa, father of Rodrigo, who had finished fourth in Buenos Aires way back in 1966 and fifth individually at The Hague just four years earlier and who showed that, at the age of 62, he had lost none of his sparkle when slotting into third in the opening speed leg, eventually finishing in 11th place with Baloubet du Rouet.

Key figures

Dressage : 84 Participants started (29 countries)
Jumping : 86 Participants started (28 countries)
Eventing : 91 participants – 75 completed (23 countries)
Driving : 46 participants – 38 completed (15 countries)
Endurance Conducted in Abu Dhabi
Vaulting : 75 participants (19 countries)

A Total of 42 Countries participated in the 1998 World Equestrian Games.

Photos

Results

Medals

Rank Nationalities Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Germany Germany
4
2
4
10
2 New zealand New zealand
2
1
3
2 United states United states
2
1
3
4 Netherlands Netherlands
1
2
1
4
5 Brazil Brazil
1
1

See all medals

Prize list

Jumping

Individual Rider Horse
France FR Rodrigo Pessoa Gandini Lianos
France FR Thierry Pomel Thor des Chaines
France FR Franke Sloothaak San Patrignano Joly
Team Rider Horse
Germany DE
Lars NiebergLoro Piana Esprit FRH
Markus BeerbaumLady Weingard
Franke SloothaakSan Patrignano Joly
Ludger BeerbaumP.S. Priamos
France FR
Alexandra LedermannRochet M
Roger-Yves BostAirborne Montecillo
Eric NavetAtout d’Isigny
Thierry PomelThor des Chaines
Great Britain GB
Diane LampardAbbervail Dream
Geoff BillingtonVirtual Village It’s Otto
Nick SkeltonVirtual Village Hopes are H
John WhitakerVirtual Village Heyman

Dressage

Individual Rider Horse
Germany DE Isabell Werth Nossan Gigolo Frh
Netherlands NL Anky Van Grunsven Gestion Bonfire
Germany DE Ulla Salzgeber Rusty
Team Rider Horse
Germany DE
Isablle WerthNissan Gigolo FRH
Karin RehbeinDonnerhall
Nadine CapellmannGracioso
Ulla SalzgeberRusty
Netherlands NL
Anky van GrunsvenGestion Bonfire
Coby van BaalenOlympic Ferry
Ellen BontjeOlympic Gestion Silvano N
Gonnelien RothenbergerOlympic Dondolo
Sweden SE
Louise NathhorstLRF Walk on Top
Ulla HakansonFlyinge Bobby
Annette SolmellFlyinge Strauss 689
Jan BrinkBjorsell’s Fontana

Eventing

Individual Rider Horse
New zealand NZ Blyth Tait Ready Teddy
New zealand NZ Mark Todd Broadcast News
Sweden SE Paula Tornquist SAS Monaghan
Team Rider Horse
New zealand NZ
Blyth TAITReady Teddy
Mark TODDBroadcast News
Vaughn JEFFERISBounce
Sally CLARK Squirrel Hill
France FR
Marie-Christine DUROYSummer Song
Rodolphe SCHERERBambi de Briѐre
Jean Lou BIGOTTwist de la Beige HN
Philippe MULLViens du Frêne ENE HN
Great Britain GB
Polly PHILLIPPSCoral Cover
Gary PARSONAGEMagic Rogue
Nigel TAYLORThe Frenchmann II
Karen DIXON Too Smart

Driving

Individual Rider Horse
Switzerland CH Ulrich Werner
Germany DE Michael FREUND
Netherlands NL Ton MONHEMIUS
Team Rider Horse
Netherlands NL
Ton MONHEMIUS
Ijsbrand CHARDON
Harry de RUYTER
Germany DE
Michael FREUND
Christoph SANDMANN
Helmet ROLFES
Sweden SE
Jan-Erik PAHLSSON
Fredrik PERSSON
Tomas ERIKSSON

Vaulting

Individual Rider Horse
Germany DE Nadia Zülow Rainbow 32
United states US Kerrith Lemon Pasio 1
Germany DE Janine Oswald Rainbow 32
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