At the completion of the CIC**  Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games Test Series, Great Britain has finished on top and have made it no secret they mean business come next year’s Games.

Winner of the Test Event Piggy French of Great Britain, riding DHI TOPPER W, held the lead throughout the three day competition, with a flawless final Show Jumping round to secure the gold and put her country on top of the podium with 34.70 penalty points.

Her fellow team mate Pippa Funnell and BILLY SHANNON also recorded zero penalties in the final Show Jumping round to take out the bronze medal on 44.90, with Germany’s Michael Jung and RIVER OF JOY taking the silver on 41.80.

Australia’s Clayton Fredericks and BENDIGO narrowly missed out on the medal, but managed a faultless final Show Jumping round to finish on 46.10. His team mate Sam Griffiths and PAULANK BROCKAGH finished in 19th place.

Being the first of the Test Events being held as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games, there was a lot of buzz about the Greenwich Park venue which provided a spectacular backdrop to the competition and has put equestrian right in the thick of the Olympic Games action.

There were no secrets that there are improvements to be made ahead of the Games, but as Equestrian Competition Manager Tim Hadaway said, that is the purpose of this competition.

“There have been some comments from our riders and that has been great, that’s why we’re here.

“We’re going to work with the FEI, with specialities and with our contractor to ensure the conditions are spot on for next year.

“We go away from this, we learn from it and we will work to improve that for next year,” said Hadaway.

Aussie Clayton Fredericks admitted that after the Show Jumping rounds today on the world-first suspended main arena, there were certain areas he’d like to see worked on for 2012.

“I’d like to see it (the arena) a bit firmer, bit more spring off the ground – at the moment it’s not giving anything back and the horses can’t bounce off that.

“But this is a test event and that’s what it is all about, to learn from the competition and make the right changes.  I’d certainly welcome changes in those areas,” he said.

The overall sentiment of the competition, from riders, support crew, officials and organisers was that the Test Event was a success and Griffiths said the experience will be beneficial should he make the team for next year’s Game.

“To get a feel for the venue, where we’ll be staying and the terrain we’ll be racing the horses over, it has been an invaluable experience getting a feel for the venue.  This is a one off venue - it’s a bit different to what we normally compete over,” said Griffiths.

For Griffiths and Fredericks, they will now head straight to Barbury Horsetrials, and then to Aachen in Germany next week for the CHIO, World Equestrian Festival.

Head of the Australian Eventing Program, Prue Barrett admitted competition for next year’s Olympics is looking red hot.
“Great Britain is really looking good there were no surprises there.  The Germans are always going to be hard to beat along with the Americans - and New Zealand, well they’ve got that amazing balance of experienced riders on really nice horses and the young guns who are taking no prisoners. I think every nation is as strong as it’s ever been,” said Barrett.

“For us this event has been beneficial because it’s a really difficult park so to be here for this long and to walk around it a few times has been really helpful.

“This venue is really great - to have the Maritime Museum and Queens House as a backdrop you just know you’re in London,” she said.

For the Aussie Eventing Team they still must qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games which they hope to do come September this year.

“Our next qualification plan is to compete at the event in Blenheim in the second week of September, where we’ll have a team of five, plus some individual riders.

“We need to make sure Japan and New Zealand are there and it looks like South Africa will be there as well.  Because New Zealand has already qualified, we essentially need to be beat Japan and South Africa at that event to qualify through to the Games next year,” said Barrett.

Equestrian Australia