Switzerland and the United States topped the second round of the team-jumping competition yesterday, with both teams getting just 12 penalty points.

But hot on their tails is Team Sweden, followed by Great Britain and Canada.

Like his team, the United States' Mclain Ward, atop Sapphire, found himself tied in the individual standings. He and Canadian Eric Lamaze are the only two who have received zero penalty points since the first qualifier on Friday.

"It's very good," Ward said. "I expected it, and I'm trying to win."

The course featured 13 numbered jumps, but one jump had two fences and another had three, resulting in 16 total.

All 13 jumps had to be made within 90 seconds to avoid a penalty. The fences are up to 1.6 meters tall.

Disqualifications resulted from falls or if a horse refused to jump twice.

The most difficult jump, called Bamboo Water, had a 4.2-meter spread. Jump 11, called Character and Fans, was the second-most challenging, as it had the three fences.

"The water jump was difficult as well as the triple combination," Ward said. "You have to come in slow and trust the horse."

The United States is right where it was four years ago when it won gold in Athens. Sweden took the silver then, and Germany the bronze.

Germany sat in eighth place yesterday with 20 points. It's top rider, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, on Shutterfly, got just four penalty points yesterday but was still in 26th place individually with 10 total penalty points.

She said her solid run wasn't good enough to save the team's hopes, as its other riders got between eight and 12 penalty points last night.

"The team did not have a better result," she said. "I am the best with four penalty points, but that is definitely not good enough."

There was a scare yesterday as Azerbaijan rider Jamal Rahimov fell off horse Ionesco De Brekka and was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin. But he was soon discharged.

Brazil's hope of getting a team medal was also dashed after rider Pedro Vennis fell off of Un Blanc De Blancs. Neither were injured.

"I feel sad," Vennis said. "This is my bad day."

But Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa, who won the individual jumping silver in Athens, still has a chance to medal, as he has scored just one penalty point atop horse Rufus since Friday.

"He (Rufus) has ups and downs, but he is always progressing," Pessoa said.

British jumper John Whitaker decided to withdraw from competition, as horse Peppermill had a stiff back.

Nine teams will compete today in the team jumping final, and the top-50 riders will go through the third qualifying round.

(HK Edition 08/18/2008 page1)