Great Britain
GBR Equestrian Team throws out the challenge…
Posted on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 10:17 am.
Clayton Fredericks and BENDIGO in London Test Event - © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
… ahead of London 2012 Olympic Games
8.20 AM (AUS TIME) Greenwich Park, London, 6 July 2011: At the completion of the CIC** Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational as part
of the London 2012 Olympic Games Test Series, Great Britain has finished on top and have made it no secret they mean business come next year’s Game.
Winner of the Test Event Piggy French of Great Britain, riding DHI TOPPER W, held the lead throughout the three day competition, with a flawless final Show Jumping round to secure the gold and put her country on top of the podium with 34.70 penalty points. Her fellow team mate Pippa Funnell and BILLY SHANNON also recorded zero penalties in the final Show Jumping round to take out the bronze medal on 44.90, with Germany’s Michael Jung and RIVER OF JOY taking the silver on 41.80.
Australia’s Clayton Fredericks and BENDIGO narrowly missed out on the medal, but managed a faultless final Show Jumping round to finish on 46.10. His team mate Sam Griffiths and PAULANK BROCKAGH finished in 19th place.
Being the first of the Test Events being held as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games, there was a lot of buzz about the Greenwich Park venue which provided a spectacular backdrop to the competition and has put equestrian right in the thick of the Olympic Games action.
There were no secrets that there are improvements to be made ahead of the Games, but as Equestrian Competition Manager Tim Hadaway said, that is the purpose of this competition.
“There have been some comments from our riders and that has been great, that’s why we’re here.
“We’re going to work with the FEI, with specialities and with our contractor to ensure the conditions are spot on for next year.
“We go away from this, we learn from it and we will work to improve that for next year,” said Hadaway.
Aussie Clayton Fredericks admitted that after the Show Jumping rounds today on the world-first suspended main arena, there were certain areas he’d like to see worked on for 2012.
“I’d like to see it (the arena) a bit firmer, bit more spring off the ground – at the moment it’s not giving anything back and the horses can’t bounce off that.
“But this is a test event and that’s what it is all about, to learn from the competition and make the right changes. I’d certainly welcome changes in those areas,” he said.
The overall sentiment of the competition, from riders, support crew, officials and organisers was that the Test Event was a success and Griffiths said the experience will be beneficial should he make the team for next year’s Game.
Sam Griffiths and Paulink Brokagh London Test Event - © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
“To get a feel for the venue, where we’ll be staying and the terrain we’ll be racing the horses over, it has been an invaluable experience getting a feel for the venue. This is a one off venue – it’s a bit different to what we normally compete over,” said Griffiths.
For Griffiths and Fredericks, they will now head straight to Barbury Horsetrials, and then to Aachen in Germany next week for the CHIO, World Equestrian Festival.
Head of the Australian Eventing Program, Prue Barrett admitted competition for next year’s Olympics is looking red hot.
“Great Britain is really looking good there were no surprises there. The Germans are always going to be hard to beat along with the Americans – and New Zealand, well they’ve got that amazing balance of experienced riders on really nice horses and the young guns who are taking no prisoners. I think every nation is as strong as it’s ever been,” said Barrett.
“For us this event has been beneficial because it’s a really difficult park so to be here for this long and to walk around it a few times has been really helpful.
“This venue is really great – to have the Maritime Museum and Queens House as a backdrop you just know you’re in London,” she said.
For the Aussie Eventing Team they still must qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games which they hope to do come September this year.
“Our next qualification plan is to compete at the event in Blenheim in the second week of September, where we’ll have a team of five, plus some individual riders.
“We need to make sure Japan and New Zealand are there and it looks like South Africa will be there as well. Because New Zealand has already qualified, we essentially need to be beat Japan and South Africa at that event to qualify through to the Games next year,” said Barrett.
For further details on the London Prepare Series visit http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/equestrian
Attached are images of Sam Griffiths & Clayton Fredericks – © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
For official images from the London Prepares Series visit www.gettyimages.com
Top 10 results from the CIC** Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational
1. GBR French, Piggy; DHI TOPPER W; 34.70 penalty points
2. GER Jung, Michael; RIVER OF JOY; 41.80
3. GBR Funnell, Pippa; BILLY SHANNON; 44.90
4. AUS Fredericks, Clayton; BENDIGO; 46.10
5. SWE Algotsson Ostholt, Sara; MRS MEDICOTT; 46.60
6. BEL Caulier, Virginie; NEPAL DU SUNDRE; 50.80
7. ITA Panizzon, Vittoria; BOROUGH PENNYZ; 56.40
8. IRL Murphy, Joseph; CHUCKELBERRY; 58.60
9. FRA Schauly, Donatirn; PIVOINE DES TOUCHES; 60.00
10. GBR Fox-Pitt, William; GAUCHO; 60.30
Aussies give Greenwich Park the green light for London 2012
Posted on Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 7:53 pm.
4 July 2011
Greenwich Park, London: In the heart of London, the heritage listed Greenwich Park provided a stunning
backdrop as some the world’s best equestrian riders gathered to compete in the CIC** Eventing Invitational as
part of the London 2012 Olympic Games Test Series.
The home of the equestrian competition for next year’s Olympic Games, Greenwich Park underwent a major
overhaul which included a world-first temporary raised arena, 70×80 metres and held off the ground by 2100 pillars so to preserve the world renowned grounds and park.
Australian representatives, Clayton Fredericks and Sam Griffiths, both agreed that the venue was unique and ideal of the Games, with equestrian competition for the first time located in the heart of all the Olympic Games action.
It was a success start for the Aussies on day one of competition, with Fredericks and BENDIGO leading for most of the day after Dressage competition on 40.9 penalty points.
Pulling ahead of heavy favourites William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) ranked second on the World Rider Rankings and 2011 Badminton Champion Mark Todd (New Zealand), Fredericks, a silver medallist from Beijing Olympic Games, has set himself up nicely ahead of tomorrow’s cross country course.
As the day drew to a close it was local rider Piggy French and DHI TOPPER W who came out and owned the arena, finishing in first place on 34.70 penalty points and pushing Fredericks into second. The crowd erupted as their Olympic hopeful gave them a taste of what they hope can be repeated for Great Britain in 12 months’ time.
Michael Jung and RIVER OF JOY finished in third place for Germany on 41.40 penalty points, with Aussie Sam Griffiths and PAULANK BROCKAGH currently sitting 22nd on the ladder with 56.40.
While competitors are using the invitational event to gage what can be expected at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Fredericks admitted that as an athlete you always have that competitive streak in you.
“I’m a competitor so I like to win. But I did come into this competition using it as a stepping stone to get him (Bendigo) back into competition after Saumur,” said Fredericks.
“We’ve started in a fairly good position – which isn’t a total surprise as he is a good horse and he does a good test.
“I think the competition arena is pretty amazing. It doesn’t give you any different feeling to that of other arenas other than the fact that than you can see the London skyline, which is nice.
“I deliberately bought a horse that could be in contention for next year to have a little practice. It’s always much easier coming back a second time to a venue and I’m enjoying what we’ve learned so far,” he said.
For Griffiths, he took a different approach competing with a lesser experience horse PAULANK BROCKAGH.
“My horse is not as experienced as the others out there but I was happy with how she went – she handled the atmosphere really well,” said Griffiths.
With his eyes firmly set on making his first ever Olympic Games team, Griffiths is soaking up all he can from the test event.
“I’ve been a reserve for the Olympic team for a few years but I’ve never made the team. Hopefully I not only get in the team but also give it a good crack.
“I’m loving being involved in the Test event – I feel very lucky to be involved. It’s great for us to be able to work with our coaches and them getting to see how we work.
“My horse I’m hoping to take to the Games (Happy Times) is in good form and he’s got a few bigger events coming up in the European Autumn,” he said.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 11.00am (local time) with the cross country.
For further details on the London Prepare Series visit http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/equestrian
Top ten results from Dressage:
1. GBR French, Piggy; DHI TOPPER W; 34.70 penalty points
2. AUS Fredericks, Clayton; BENDIGO; 40.90
3. GER Jung, Michael; RIVER OF JOY; 41.40
4. SWE Algotsson Ostholt, Sara; MRS MEDICOTT; 41.60
5. GBR Funnell, Pippa; BILLY SHANNON; 44.10
6. GER Auffarth, Sandra; PARANCS; 69.66
7. GER Ostholt, Frank; SIR MEDICOTT; 45.70
8. BEL Vanspringel, Joris; LIMESTONE; 46.50
9. GBR Fox-Pitt, William; GAUCHO; 46.70
10. BEL Caulier, Virginie; NEPAL DU SUNDRE; 48.80
