Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro Photo: Kit Houghton
The result in the eventing may have put a little dampener on the Olympics at Greenwich Park for Australian fans (and certainly the officials) but they were soon out in force again for the dressage and show jumping. There was a time when the world of international Dressage was all too predictable, but how much that has changed. Since the last Olympic Games in 2008 this sport has experienced an extraordinary make-over which, despite the reticence of the purists, has ensured that the buzz ahead of London 2012 could hardly have been more electrifying.
The British crowds really got behind their teams and it was gold all the way for their heroes in the dressage and rightly so. Charlotte Dujardin was breathtaking in her harmony with the super talented Valegro and even the occasional soggy bottom sitting in the stands in the warm rain couldn’t tear me away from the action.
CLICK HERE for our Olympic dressage coverage
Australian Julia Hargreaves impressed in the early rounds of the showjumping and although her mentor Edwina Alexander and the diminutive Itot were not on their top form, again it was a joy to watch all of the top show jumpers in the world, particularly the gold winning British team and the Roger Federer lookalike individual Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (above)
CLICK HERE for our Olympic showjumping coverage
Photo: Liz Gregg/FEI
The Australian anthem finally played at Greenwich Park after Victorian para-equestrian rider Joann Formosa (above) won the gold medal in the grade Ib individual championship test at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Joann and her horse Worldwide PB created quite a commotion when winning gold ahead of Lee Pearson, Paralympic champion since 2000.
CLICK HERE for our Para-equestrian Olympic showjumping coverage
While accredited British journalist Kathy Carter covered the official stuff at Greenwich Park writing for AEL, Debbie Higgs spent a few happy weeks on her home turf in the UK soaking up the English sun and rain at Greenwich Park. Debbie and a group of other Aussie supporters pitched camp in a large house and Lewisham and had their own unique London 2012 experience
For Debbie Higgs’ Olympic blog CLICK HERE
Michael Jung and Halunke Photo: Pauline Chevalier
After all the excitement of the Olympics in London, the action moved to France and so did we. The eventing life is almost a nomadic existence and the Olympians were all soon on the road to Normandy, home of the next World Equestrian Games in 2014. Michael Jung had just won gold in London and it was a pleasure not only to watch him also win Le Grand Complet CIC 3* at le Pin but also interview him afterwards. With young horses like Halunke FBW and Rocana FST, Michael is looking strong for a few years to come. Clayton Fredericks also had a better result here than in London winning the CIC 2*although it looks as if it will be his swansong in France for a while (unless coaching the Canadian team here counts)
For our full coverage of the CIC-W at le Pin au Haras CLICK HERE
Whilst in Normandy we met members of the 2014 Alltech World Equestrian Games organising committee and had a chance to visit the host city of Caen and some of the WEG venues. We can’t wait to go back in 2013 and for the big event in 2014 .
CLICK HERE to find out more about the Alltech WEG 2014 venues
John Twomey and Highly Recommended Photo: ESJ Photo
Meanwhile in Australia the eventing season was starting up again with an impressive new event at AELEC in Tamworth where John Lechner reported on John Twomey’s impressive victory under the bright blue skies Down Under
CLICK HERE for our coverage of Tamworth International Eventing
To relive photo memories from all events in 2012 CLICK HERE
Coming up; The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is one of the highlights of the year and thankfully is not washed out. There plenty of Australian riders to cheer on at Burghley and Blenheim while the Australian eventing season picks up speed at Berrima
