July 2011
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UNDER clear skies, the Olympic Equestrian test event
(4-6 July) at Greenwich Park saw 39 competitors
contesting for places in the Eventing Invitational as well
as playing a crucial role in road-testing the Olympic
venue before the London Games kick off next July. The
19 jump, 2.8km long cross-country course was the first
time horses have jumped competitively across country
in Greenwich Park, and EHOA Chair Judy Skinner was
among the 5,000 strong crowd:
"There is no doubt that the backdrop to the site is
stunning visually with the Queen's House directly behind
an enormous arena. Combine this with London's skyline
beyond, and it is a setting rarely enjoyed by the
eventing fraternity. Undoubtedly, it has the `wow' factor.
"Compared to our usual CCI****, the site feels small,
and you are immediately aware that this is going to be
Greenwich has `wow' factor
What the riders said:
Winner Piggy French:
"It's surreal: all the same faces
as if we were in a muddy field like last week, but
you look to the right and there's the City of London.
I hope it will bring more public interest and help
people see what a fabulous sport this is."
William Fox-Pitt:
"It has an Olympic feel already, and
this is just a test event."
a very different competition from the norm. It will
produce an exciting event: not a big galloping course,
instead it will be tight and twisty. Add to that the tricky
terrain of a very steep hill that the horses will have to
travel up and down twice, and extraordinarily accurate
riding will be required. For this reason alone it has all
the makings of a real Olympic track. The riders who
participated may have to revise their thoughts on the
type of horse that will be suitable, providing, of course,
they have more than one contender in the stables.
It's a sell out
"My concern is for the ticket holders: 50,000 tickets
have been sold ten times our number and that is
going to make it difficult to move around the course.
You can only see one fence at a time, partly because
it is so twisty and partly due to an abundance of trees
whose lower branches cannot be trimmed. Whatever
the result, I suspect it will provoke lots of discussion
in the eventing world."
G
Ian Dennis of Incentevents currently has 20 people
signed up for our all-inclusive trip to the European
Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany (25-28 August).
To join in the action, visit: www.incentevents.co.uk
where you'll find a booking form and full details.
Pippa Funnell on Billy Shannon faces up to Canary Wharf at fence 5