All done and dusted; home at last

The last day of competition at the London 2012 Equestrian Venue was another successful day for the British; Sophie Christiansen once again demonstrated her domination of 1a with Gold whilst Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells rode their hearts out for 2 more Silvers. So the final medal haul for the GBR Para-Equestrian team was 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze. More medals than in Hong Kong, same number of Gold; but achieved with less athletes. Will some have wanted a different colour to their medal? Maybe but we have once again shown that GBR sits very at the head of affairs in this sport. It is a first for GBR and I suspect a first for the sport that one Nation won medals in each of the 5 Grades in both the Individual and Freestyle medals: This is what we set out to do and so I feel it is “job well done”. 





The Paralympic Equestrian Medal Table

These Games have seen a cataclysmic leap forward for the sport of Para-Equestrian Dressage. 10 Nations won medals and the quality of the horses, athletes and the standard of performances seen was demonstrated by the high marks awarded by the judges; the score that is now needed to win medals is far higher than ever in the past. 

I admit that there were a few glasses of happy juice consumed on Tuesday evening but it was still an early start on Wednesday to strip out the stables and pack all the kit in to Sarah’s horsebox for the journey back to Bedfordshire and the storage that Sarah kindly provides at home. There are also going to be some very very happy chickens at Sarah’s as they are going to have some of the netting seen at many of the venues to provide them with shade and shelter them from the wind & rain; happy chickens.

The horses, most grooms and Rod Fisher were collected by Mark Perry. Mark is a hot contender for the “going beyond the call of duty” award. On Monday he drove up to London......to clean a certain rider’s boots...said certain rider being very very superstitious. How dare you doubt me? 

Most of the staff departed Wednesday morning although Michelle Tipper has handed in her grooming kit and moved in to the Paralympic Village to help the athletes who will stay in London (enjoying a range of social events, media commitments as well as supporting other sports).

I returned to the hotel, changed and headed up to Russell Square for a meeting with UK Sport to discuss.....the Rio 2016 funding submission. No rest for the wicked! I am home now and all unpacked. ENDEX!

The Olympic Equestrian Medal Table

 

 At the Olympics, 8 Nations won medals and GBR was top of the Medal Table for Equestrian. GBR Equestrian won 7.69% of the Team GB Olympic medals with 2.40% of the Team GB athletes. 10.35% of the Gold medals won by Team GB were won by Equestrian athletes.

An iconic Venue where historic architecture met modern facilities design. An equestrian venue that can be used as a benchmark for future Games and that demonstrated how a predominately “temporary” venue can have the feel of a permanent venue. A venue, that combined with the LOCOG staff, volunteers, military and officials left me very very proud to be British. Add to this the success Team GB and Paralympics GB had means I must now hunt for a different word to that of amazing. I do not think the whole experience has really sunk in. We set out to achieve more medals across more disciplines / grades combined with assisting Greenwich be the “best ever” equestrian venue. I think we achieved that and I hope that we now have a base on which we can build; united, focused and without discord. I fear the last of these hopes will only be party achieved.



Views from the top of the West Stand

One of my abiding memories will be standing right at the top of the West Stand watching a Medal Ceremony where GBR had won Gold; looking around, able to see across to the Olympic Stadium or across to the Millennium wheel it struck me just how privileged I have been to be part of a truly historic moment in history for the sport of equestrian in Great Britain.

To sum it all up;

 Farewell for now.

A day of two halves

First Half.  Golden Girl Natasha did it again; she blew the opposition away and landed a Gold medal winning 82.800%, over 5% ahead of the Silver medallist.  Natasha has had a Games to remember, her first Paralympics and well deserved by someone who has taken advantage of all the support on offer through World Class and has a dedicated and talented Team around her.  Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Second Half.  Lee Pearson used all his talents to produce a Test in quality that would have been well beyond what most riders could have achieved on a horse that was not at the top of his game.  That is what 3 of the 5 judges thought placing him in Silver, one Judge had Lee in 5^th and one had him in 11^th.  Overall that put Lee in Bronze on 74.200% with Silver going to Finland with a score of 74.250%.  As I have said before, if you do not like being judged, do not do Dressage; I am not sure how much I liked Dressage this afternoon – I think that is all I will say on that subject.  Pepo Puch (AUT) thoroughly deserved Gold and heads home with two medals, a wonderful achievement and thoroughly deserved.

I think I will sign off now.

The Brits take to the arena

I hope you all stayed up to hear the head Orator of the GBR Para-Equestrian Dressage Team, David Hunter, take the Oath on behalf of coaches and Team staff.  David’s fame in Norfolk is now assured through the pages of the Norfolk Evening News although the aforementioned media outlet did report that he took the Oath on behalf of the Judges; which seeing we are a sport that relies on the clear eyes and straight brains of Judges....is kinda interesting! 

Only David and Lee Pearson / Daniel Kinson (Lee’s Carer) attended the Opening Ceremony and we held a buffet in the hotel for the staff and some owners to watch the Ceremony – there was much whooping and cheering when the Orator took the stage, dressed in a manner that will have brought pride to his former Officer Cavalry colleagues.

The Green light was pushed for competition to begin at Greenwich. First on the Piste for GBR; a first time Paralympian but reigning European Grade II Champions – what can I say – wow.  We could not have asked for a better start; 76.095%, some 3.5% ahead of her closest rival.  Natasha is not in the Team so this score did not count towards the Team score but the perfect way for Natasha to say “Cabral & I have arrived; TAKE NOTE”.

The weather continued to laugh in the face of the GBR Team (many a RH Mears Riding Jacket has had to hold out against attack from above). As Lee Pearson warmed up the skies darkened, the wind became stronger and the temperature dropped. Autumn arrived accompanied by a round of applause as Lee entered the arena. Another winning test was delivered although the rain did get in to the sat nav at one point and caused a temporary glitch.  A great start for the Team with a score of 74.682%. Pepo Puch (who many will remember from his eventing days) was snapping at Lee’s heals on 73.636%.

Autumn has definitely arrived – the workload is building as attention turns to Rule revisions and most importantly the preparation and delivery to UK Sport of the “Rio 2016 Plan”. I am sure all involved with Team GB at the Olympics and ParalympicsGB at the Paralympics will readily acknowledge the value of the support we get from UK Sport; the funding (Lottery / Exchequer) is epicentral to the success that was delivered during the Olympics and I hope will be delivered during the Paralympics. Making sure the Plan (and hence the funding bid) is as detailed and understandable as possible will be my core Mission through to early October. It is then that I will be able to relax a little and have a real think about my future.

It's nearly underway.......

The pressure is beginning to crank up. All horses passed the Horse Inspection and as I “blog” the draws are being done to determine the order of starting. Trays full of ping pong balls were spotted earlier in the week....high tech stuff these draws.  

The Team of four has been announced; Sophie Christiansen, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells. They will compete for Team and Individual honours and of course Natasha Baker will be aiming to land medals in the Individual competitions. I am sure Natasha would love to be in the Team – there cannot be many countries that can leave a reigning European Champion out of the Team. The Team carry a heavy burden; undefeated since equestrian entered the Paralympic Games in 1996. I wonder what other undefeated Teams there are in the UK; eek that’s pressure!

I thought I would have one last wander around areas I will not be able to access during competition; or perhaps should not access at all!

·         

The BOSS of the Field of Play, Simon Wingnut Garrett

Angie Murray with one of her creations

It is a shame that not all the Para-Equestrian Dressage will be shown live on TV; I guess cost is the driver. The compound that housed all of the broadcast trucks during the Olympics is nearly empty and much of the miles and miles of TV cabling that hung on the fence has now gone.

The Opening Ceremony is tonight; only one athlete going but there is a starring role for a certain member of the equestrian team – I am not sure when this will be loaded on to the web so I am sworn to secrecy.....but watch!

Competition starts tomorrow and I am off to organise a little get together in the hotel for all of us that are not going to the Ceremony. It is difficult to define how I feel; it is very challenging to try to assess what other Nations have in their arsenal – there are not many International Para-Equestrian Dressage competitions and so we do not see all of the Teams together very often. Watching horses training there is certainly a number of very classy horses ready to take to the Field of Play. I am of course aware that there are huge expectations and I suspect the margins between success and disappointment will be very very small. We have an outstanding group of athletes and horses supported by talented and dedicated staff and grooms. I guess....I feel like....let battle begin!

Technology, training and the 'field of dreams'.......

No entry yesterday as the wigglyamps disconnected me from my email; well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. There is a relaxed but focused atmosphere in the camp and that is good. It would be all too easy to wind the tension stakes up too early.

Horses and riders had their first experience of riding in the Main Arena yesterday; the Field of Play to give it its correct title – I rather like to refer to it as the “Field of Dreams” as perhaps that is where dreams are realised or broken. LOCOG have been very generous (and very sensible), riders will be able to ride on the Field of Play on a daily basis from now until competition starts.  It is very important that the horses get as acclimatised as possible to the arena; some para-equestrian dressage riders have limited ability to “stay on board” if a horse becomes spooked or too excitable. This poses another challenge for LOCOG and that is how they “educate” the spectators – nobody wants a silent Games with no applause but it would be terrible if the applause caused a horse to spook and a rider to fall; discussions ongoing!! 

Training was followed by a trip up to ParalympicsGB House for a Press Conference.  ParalympicsGB House (was Team GB House during the Olympics) is situated in part of the Westfield Centre and fills a number of functions: 1) It is a place where sponsors and key personnel can be entertained, 2) it provides a venue for non-accredited media to work from and meet athletes, 3) it is where ParalympicsGB staff work from who do not have access to the Village and (very importantly) 4) it is where athletes can meet up with their 'Nearest & Dearest' in a relaxed and private environment. So the “House” is a busy place!

The Press Conference lasted about 45 minutes and that will be that for press commitments until after competition; less of course for the Mixed Zone. All athletes must go through the Mixed Zone once they have competed, almost immediately after exciting the Field of Play. They must go through the Mixed Zone although they do not have to speak to the media – you will have seen the pictures of athletes being grabbed for TV interviews immediately after a race / competition.

A fun evening in Cafe Rouge then followed; grooms, staff and British Dressage staff who are working at the Paralympics. BD is well represented here and it is great to see so many friendly faces each day. 

More training today and a very important meeting between David Hunter, Sarah Armstrong and myself; how everyone is going to get home! The planning for the departure has to start early and with horses / grooms / staff / kit to get back to the riders’ yards and the stables to strip out, the plan needs to be watertight!  The athletes will stay in London until the Closing Ceremony on 9^th September and the Team GB / ParalympicsGB Parade in London on 10^th September.

Yes, the place to be on 10^th September is London; big party!

I spent the afternoon catching up on some admin but also made a quick visit to Westfield to buy some trainers....with specially moulded insoles – how techno modern is that?

Update from Greenwich

Horses have arrived (by horsebox), Stewards have arrived (55 seater bus), squirrels are omnipresent. All is well in Greenwich.

Horses unloading at Greenwich Park

Akilles and Cabral say hello in the stables

The para-equestrian dressage team have arrived earlier than the Olympic Teams; normally we would hold a Squad Training session before a Games or Championships and then move directly to the competition from the Squad Training. Usually, of course, the Games / Championships are abroad. It was felt this time that it would be an added level of disruption to move twice, so the decision was made to go directly into Greenwich. This will give the opportunity for horses, athletes and staff to settle in, relax and then build up to the crescendo of competition. That is the plan....

What is it about "pins"? These little critters cause me more hassle than anything else. Each Country will have a "pin" for the Games and these become a currency at the Games with "swops" or just outright begging for a pin being the order of the day. We worked our way through 3000 for the Olympics and tried very hard to make sure as many of the "back of house" volunteers as possible received one as a thank you. Please note we have none left from the Olympics and we do not have 3000 for the Paralympics!!

Whinge of the day....I have to move rooms in the hotel....again. Long story, full of intrigue, innocent mistakes and teddy throwing by a certain person from a certain international organisation that should know better. It is a pain in the posterior but if it keeps the peace then so be it.......

New trend at Greenwich...group photos by our union flag at the entrance to our Stables; venue vet team and venue logistics team so far today. This is our "sitting out area" so heaven help any group that arrives for their David Bailey moment if I am having a siesta.

I would have liked to have been at the Endurance World Championships which take place today near Newmarket. The Non-Olympic Disciplines do not have the benefit of Lottery / Exchequer funding through UK Sport and so it is a struggle for them to develop and fund Programmes that support the elite end of their sports. It has always been an aim of mine to try to find more funding. We have some outstanding athletes; for example the Eccles clan from Scotland who have taken the Vaulting world by storm. Joanne Eccles is the reigning World and European Champion and, I believe, undefeated for four years. With her sister, Hannah, they are now winning medals in the Pas de Deux; a fantastic achievement under the guidance of their father John. 

So good luck to the Endurance Team. I must rush now as the heavens have opened and I need to deliver umbrellas to various training areas!