LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Britain’s Piggy French retained her lead after the cross-country trial on day two of the Greenwich Park Olympic equestrian test event on Tuesday.
The course, a near-3 kilometre chase through the hills of the park and passing the Royal Observatory, is roughly half the distance of next year’s proposed Olympic course, and was lined by fans, press and hundreds of local school children.
“The most important test of course is from the competitors, because they are the ones we are putting through this and this has to work for them more than anyone else and they are extremely positive about everything,” Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), told Reuters.
“There’s the excitement of local people. It seems so many schools are here and this is what we were committed to inspire, which was bringing sport close to the local communities,” he said.
In the cross-country element of the three-day trial, riders swap their top hats and tails from the dressage event for short-sleeved shirts and helmets with their team colours and protective body armour and goggles.
The horses must tackle a course of fixed obstacles, including water jumps, that they must complete within a set time, often galloping flat out to avoid picking up penalty points.
French was one of just two riders out of 35 finishers to complete the course within the allotted time limit on the bay gelding DHI Topper W, following up her win in Monday’s dressage test.
“The terrain is very testing on both horses and riders, mentally and physically,” French said. “The park is spectacular and is wonderful to ride around, but it is going to be quite intense.”
Germany’s world champion Michael Jung, riding River of Joy, ranked third, having been first out on the course. “It was brilliant. There are lots of spectators to cheer you on and a super atmosphere. The optimum time (of 5 minutes and 5 seconds) is not so easy. I have a fast horse and you need to keep a good rhythm,” he said.
Local residents have voiced fierce opposition to the use of Greenwich Park, which dates back to 1433, as a venue for the range of Olympic equestrian events next year, particularly because of their concern over the potential damage to the park.
LOCOG’s Coe, himself a double Olympic Champion and 12-time world record holder in athletics, reiterated the organising committee’s commitment to working with local groups to ensure there was no damage to the park following next year’s Olympics.
“I don’t really feel we need to say anything more than what we have consistently said through the planning process and that’s been a three-year process and we are very, very conscious that we have a responsibility to protect a wonderful park and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
The course, a near-3 kilometre chase through the hills of the park and passing the Royal Observatory, is roughly half the distance of next year’s proposed Olympic course, and was lined by fans, press and hundreds of local school children.
“The most important test of course is from the competitors, because they are the ones we are putting through this and this has to work for them more than anyone else and they are extremely positive about everything,” Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), told Reuters.
“There’s the excitement of local people. It seems so many schools are here and this is what we were committed to inspire, which was bringing sport close to the local communities,” he said.
In the cross-country element of the three-day trial, riders swap their top hats and tails from the dressage event for short-sleeved shirts and helmets with their team colours and protective body armour and goggles.
The horses must tackle a course of fixed obstacles, including water jumps, that they must complete within a set time, often galloping flat out to avoid picking up penalty points.
French was one of just two riders out of 35 finishers to complete the course within the allotted time limit on the bay gelding DHI Topper W, following up her win in Monday’s dressage test.
“The terrain is very testing on both horses and riders, mentally and physically,” French said. “The park is spectacular and is wonderful to ride around, but it is going to be quite intense.”
Germany’s world champion Michael Jung, riding River of Joy, ranked third, having been first out on the course. “It was brilliant. There are lots of spectators to cheer you on and a super atmosphere. The optimum time (of 5 minutes and 5 seconds) is not so easy. I have a fast horse and you need to keep a good rhythm,” he said.
Local residents have voiced fierce opposition to the use of Greenwich Park, which dates back to 1433, as a venue for the range of Olympic equestrian events next year, particularly because of their concern over the potential damage to the park.
LOCOG’s Coe, himself a double Olympic Champion and 12-time world record holder in athletics, reiterated the organising committee’s commitment to working with local groups to ensure there was no damage to the park following next year’s Olympics.
“I don’t really feel we need to say anything more than what we have consistently said through the planning process and that’s been a three-year process and we are very, very conscious that we have a responsibility to protect a wonderful park and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire