The Greenwich Olympic Equestrian site
Situated south east of central London on the banks of the River Thames, Greenwich is a World Heritage Site providing “a chance to take a closer look at the stars, the sea, ships and time itself”. Renamed Royal Museums Greenwich, the brand incorporates The National Maritime Museum, adjoining the Thames, the nearby Queen’s House where a great collection of fine art is showcased while the Royal Observatory is situated closer to the top of Greenwich Park.
Most important for equestrian enthusiasts, however, is the Control Tent right at the top of the Park where the Cross Country course will start!
The Maritime Museum
Ship in a bottle
Despite many conversations with Greenwich cross country course designer, Britain’s Sue Benson, during which she detailed exactly where the course ran (almost down to the last tree and blade of grass!) I stayed true to my abysmal navigational form struggling to find the track except where it was really obvious!
The photo above gives an aerial view of the venue though it still doesn’t give a real topographical perception of how steep those hills are!
Unfortunately, there weren’t any cross country fences up yet for me to check out. though the pond for the first water is in place. The Park closed on Sunday July 8, not leaving the course builders much time to get it all up. Sue knows that they will be under the pump having to build twice as many fences as for last year’s test event in the same time! The word is that it is expected to be difficult to achieve the optimum time given the inherent terrain of the venue and the twisting nature of the course (necessary to find the 5800m that produces a course of just over 10 minutes).
Commenting on some controversial selector decisions where the expected dressage phase performance seems to have been prioritised, Sue asked “Do they expect it to be a Dressage test?!” I have a wager going with one of David Doel’s primary owners about the relative influence of the cross country course - I believe it will be significant both directly i.e. how many penalties most combinations will add and how few, if any, will achieve the optimum time and indirectly i.e. there will be tired horses for those all important jumping rounds the next day! Sue expects the Greenwich track to be similar to the Hong Kong track at the Beijing Olympics where horses that could be ridden in a consistent rhythm on a tight line excelled.
The Control Tent where it all begins!
From the Control Tent, competitors begin on a right handed loop over relatively flat going, jumping approximately 6 fences before the serious terrain test begins.
More tents - perhaps for the media?!
Competitors will leave these on their right as they head back towards the start before turning left around the band stand before heading downhill, past the Royal Observatory, for the first time.
Part of the initial right-handed loop at the start of the course...looking similar to the Australian 3DE in Adelaide through the City parklands!
The downhill run begins!
A side view where horses travel from right to left through the water
Looking up at the Royal Observatory from the site of the first water jump
Looking down from the lip above the first water over the VIP tents surrounding the main arena with grandstands either side
From the first water the course heads down to the main arena where difficult combinations can be expected such as at Luhmuhlen, Burghley and Blenheim. I lost the track here as that is well barricaded now as much construction is happening!
I believe the course then comes back uphill before heading down again to come back up again - two pulls up this hill will no doubt take its toll on horses. This could have an impact on cross country day itself, the next day’s Final Veterinary inspection in the morning, the Team Jumping Round or, for those in the top 25, the Individual Jumping round! Earlier in the year, Australia’s Paul Tapner arranged a presentation by expert Equine Exercise Physiologist, David Marlin who expressed his concern at the extreme physiological effort required of the horses on this course, especially if conditions were hot and humid such as in Atlanta in 1996. There have been provisions for a shortening of the course if necessary, similar to those made at the Adelaide International CCI4* in November 2009 when 40 degree temperatures persisted for many days prior to and the duration of the event. That course, which was reduced to 7 min 15 seconds, then became impossible to make time on though!
Apparently the last third of the course is the easiest terrain-wise so riders will need some ‘petrol left in the tank’ to take advantage of this chance to gain back some valuable time.
Greenwich is definitely a unique venue with so much history...July 28 -31 is sure to provide a new aspect to this with the use of the Park in such a new way. The whole equestrian schedule of events which conclude on August 9 with the Grand Prix Kur will be unique but none more so than the Cross Country!
Massive construction!
Water tankers in & out!
Artist’s impression from the Jumping at last year’s test event...many riders will be happy to get this far come July 31!
Even the squirrels are an attraction!
The Greenwich Tavern, some 100m from the base of the Park is sure to be an important meeting point
Thanks to Wendy for providing this article and photos. You can also follow Wendy's eventing life on An Eventful Life blog
