October November 2012
Aussie team, Chris was 16th. Lucinda, the last of the Australians
to go cross country, with no option to not complete or the team
was out, and only three riders after her husband, Clayton, had a
nasty fall. She dropped to 43rd from her 7th placing after dressage,
but came back up to 35th after the final showjumping, putting
Australia just out of the medals in 6th place for the team event.
Germany clinched the Gold medal, with Great Britain taking
Silver and our New Zealand neighbours on the podium for the
Bronze Medal.
Dressage
The Germans in particular, and
the Europeans in general, have
always dominated dressage in
international competitions, the
Olympics included. Australia has
had intermittent competitors at
Olympic events over the years but
with many of our top riders now
based in Europe and a strong finish
in 6th place for the team at Hong
Kong in 2008, there was hope for
great results in London.
The selection events that were
held in the weeks leading up to the
Olympics came and went, and the
controversey over the final team
members almost overshadowed the
excitement of Australia fielding a
very strong team.
The British weather showed its true
colors, with the heavens opening,
bucketing rain down during some of
the dressage tests.
Lyndal Oatley and Sandro Boy had
their first opportunity at an Olympic
event and produced outstanding
results, finishing 37th, with cousin
Kristy Oatley and Clive close behind
in 42nd. Mary Hanna, the third
member of the Australian team on
Sancette came in less than one point behind in 43rd place.
This put Australia into 9th position in the team results, not quite
what we were hoping for, but certainly nothing to be ashamed of.
The British, however, charged into the history books, taking the
Gold from the Germans and putting the Netherlands into Bronze
medal position.
Showjumping
The world's leading
female
showjumper,
winner of the 2011
Global Champions
Tour, Edwina Tops-
Alexander, again
currently leading the
2012 Global Champions
Tour, thankfully rides for
Australia.
In an unprecedented
move the Olympic
Selectors named Edwina
and Itot du Chateau on
the team early in May,
well ahead of the rest
of her team mates who
weren't
nominated
until Mid June after
the scheduled selection
events.
The combinations
of Julia Hargreaves
and Vedor and James
Paterson-Robinson
and Lanosso were the
top two performing
Australian combinations after two nomination events and as
such were automatically nominated to the AOC for a position
on the four member Jumping team.
The final member of the team was more difficult for the
selectors, without such clear cut guidelines as the first three team
Above and right Australian Mary Hanna and
Sancette. Bottom British Indervidual gold was
Charlotte Dujardin and Valergo.
The Australian showjumping contingent, with Australian coach Rod Brown on
the far right. Photo courtesy of Annabel Cowcher.
Edwina Tops-Alexander and the very talented Itot
du Chateau. Photo courtesy of Annabel Cowcher