Equestrian at the 1900 Summer Olympics – High jump

The high jump was one of five equestrian competitions held in late May and early June 1900 at the International Horse Show in Paris. The event was part of the Exposition Universelle, and later classified as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics. It is the only Olympic Games to date to feature an equestrian high jump competition. Nineteen competitors entered the high jump competition (similar to the modern puissance), although not all details have been discovered.[1]

Equestrian high jump
at the Games of the II Olympiad
Dominique Gardères during equestrian high jump competition
Venue7th arrondissement of Paris
Date2 June
Competitors19 from 5 nations
Winning height1.85 metres
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Dominique Gardères
 France
1st place, gold medalist(s) Gian Giorgio Trissino
 Italy
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Georges Van Der Poele
 Belgium

Rain earlier on the day of the competition made the ground heavy and slippery, and the competition was close. Gian Giorgio Trissino and Dominique Gardères[a] were joint winners after both cleared 1.85 metres (6 ft 1 in). Competitors were allowed to enter more than once, and Trissino also came fourth on another horse; he also came second in the long jump competition. Georges Van Der Poele, who had finished second in the show jumping competition a few days earlier, was third.[b]

Background

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No equestrian events were held at the first modern Olympics in 1896. Five events, including this one, were featured in 1900. Only the show jumping competition would ever be held again after that; this was the only appearance of the high jump.[4]

Competition format

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Much like the human high jump, competitors received three attempts at each successive height. The bar started at 1.20 metres and increased by 10 centimetres at a time initially, at some point changing to 5 centimetres. Riders could compete more than once on different horses.[4]

Schedule

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Date Time Round
Saturday, 2 June 1900 16:30 Final

Results

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Little is known of detailed results, though all of the competitors cleared 1.50 metres.[4]

Rank Rider Nation Horse Height
  Dominique Gardères[a]   France Canéla 1.85
Gian Giorgio Trissino   Italy Oreste 1.85
  Georges Van Der Poele[b]   Belgium Ludlow 1.70
4 Gian Giorgio Trissino   Italy Mélopo 1.70
5–8 Paul Haëntjens   France Nell 1.70
Henri Leclerc   France Mahomet 1.70
Napoléon Murat   France Arcadius 1.70
Wignolle   France Sunrise 1.70
9–19
Napoléon Murat   France Bayard Unknown
Hubert Dutech   France Unknown Unknown
Charles van Langhendonck   Belgium Black Fly Unknown
Constant van Langhendonck   Belgium Roxanne Unknown
Gian Giorgio Trissino   Italy Montebello Unknown
Hermann Mandl   Austria Unknown Unknown
5 unknown combinations Unknown

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Alternative research suggests the rider was Alfred Gardère.[2][3]
  2. ^ a b Some sources list the rider as André Moreau.

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Equestrianism at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Mixed High Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. ^ Houdaille, Roland (5 January 2024). "Alfred Gardère, du Houga, unique Gersois médaille d'or olympique". Le journal de Gers (in French). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  3. ^ ""Ça bouleverse toute l'histoire olympique de l'équitation" : un champion gersois réhabilité 124 ans après". La Depeche (in French). 31 December 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "High Jump, Open". Olympedia. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

Sources

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