First out of the blocks as far as the equestrian disciplines are concerned are the eventers. The eventing discipline starts on the 28th July and finishes on the 31st July. For Eventing both the Individual and Team Gold Medal deciders are on the 31st July.
The Australian Team for eventing is:
- Andrew Hoy (53 yo) on Rutherglen. This is Andrew’s 7th Olympic Games and I do believe this is a world record
- Chris Burton (30 yo) on Holstein Park Leilani. Chris has had the most magnificent lead up and we all hope his winning touch extends on into the Olympic
- Clayton Fredericks (44 yo) on Bendigo. Clayton originally came from Western Australia and has won some really big events in the last few years
- Lucinda Fredericks (46 yo) on Flying Finish. Lucinda is the wife of Clayton and both Lucinda and Clayton were also members of the Australian Olympic Team in Beijing 2008
- Shane Rose (39 yo) on Taurus. The ultimate competitor who will attack right from the first step into the dressage arena.
- Top to bottom: Clayton Fredericks and Bendigo (photo by Arie de Vroet), Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish (photo by Julia Rau) and Shane Rose and Taurus (photo by Julie Wilson) and below, Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen (photo by Scarlett Richardson) and Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani (photo by Roz Neave).
The next equestrian team to compete at London will be the Dressage Team. The dressage discipline competes on 2nd and 3rd August. The Team medals are decided on the 7th August and the Individual medals are decided on 9th August.
The Australian Team for dressage is:
- Lyndal Oatley (32 yo) on Sandro Boy. Lyndal was the top scoring combination through all of the trials and this is her first Olympics
- Kristy Oatley (34 yo) on Clive. Kristy and Lyndal are cousins and I think this is Kristy’s third Olympics
- Mary Hanna (57 yo) on Sancette. This is Mary’s fourth Olympics and she has on six separate occasions been the Australian Grand Prix Champion.
L-R: Lyndal Oatley, Kristy Oatley and Mary Hanna
Lastly, the Showjumping Team starts on the 4th August and goes through to the 6th August; one day off and then again on the 8th August. The Team medals are decided on 6th August and the Individual medals are decided on 8th August.
The Australian Team for showjumping is:
- Julia Hargreaves (26 yo) on Vedor. Julia is the youngest of all the Australian equestrians
- James Paterson-Robinson (33 yo) on Lanosso. James will be making his Olympic debut in London after pulling off a perfect round in the final nomination event in France
- Matt Williams (27 yo) on Watch Me VD Mangelaar. Matt is a natural and capable of pulling out a huge performance.
- Edwina Tops-Alexander (38 yo) on Cevo Itot du Chateau. Edwina has been the top-ranked female showjump rider in the world for over two years.
Cheers, Heath
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No Heath, not a world record. Not even close. Both Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson are attending their seventh Olympics in London. And Canadian show jumper Ian Millar actually IS setting a world record at this, his 10th Olympic Games.