"You've got to stay positive" Edwina told reporters yesterday after the jumping team final.
We start the day with the good news that there are two Australian riders in the individual jumping final at Greenwich this Wednesday, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Julia Hargreaves. All current penalty points are ‘zero’d’ to give riders a clean sheet.
Edwina told reporters she had allowed herself to think about the prospect of a medal. "You've got to stay positive, you've got to have your focus on getting a medal - that's what we're all here for, at the end of the day,” she said.
However, that’s still 24 hours away – today is Grand Prix Special dressage day, although sadly our Aussie riders have not qualified. There are 32 riders competing today, with the best seven teams and the best 11 individuals having progressed to the Special.
“The Team event medals are decided by the total of the scores in the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special,” the London 2012 website explains, for those of us confused about which day of the week it is, let alone which discipline!
After today, the best 18 individuals go through to the Grand Prix Freestyle on Thursday – the highlight of the competition for many people (OK, for me!!!!!). The freestyle determines the medals in the individual event. I can only imagine how disappointing it must be for riders to have spent so long perfecting their dressage to music, only to be pipped at the post today, and not making it through to the Kur.
We will report back as today’s action progresses – the hot favourites to take the team title are Britain and Germany - but of course, anything can happen in this sport, and there are plenty of riders who may pull something exciting out of the bag.
