London 2012 Olympic Games - Eventing

Mary King walks the distance between 3ab, The Bandstand Rails. The difficult with this fence is the acute three stride angle on the direct route. Australian Coach, Prue Barrett considers the first part of the course, "very intense, rather like a CIC".

Fence 23, "The Cricket Ball Basket'" is indicative of the beautifully made and themed fences. The basked was woven by craftsman in Somerset around a steel frame. This fence is adjacent to the Greenwich Park cricket pitch.

Every team has their time out and here the German Team horses are being given a pick of grass appropriately on the Picnic Ground that tomorrow will have a big screen and be crowded with people watching the cross country action mid course.

The view from the top of Observatory Hill, the start of the cross country, looking down over the arena towards The Queens House. This gives some indication of the height of the hill the horses have to climb twice on cross country day.

Japanese rider, Atsushi Negishi opened the action on a brilliantly sunny second morning of Eventing dressage riding the eleven year old mare, 'Pretty Darling'.

Cameras at the ready to record the action.

Needless to say there was much media attention directed towards Zara Phillips and her 'High Kingdom', another Irish gelding by Master. They enjoyed the early sunshine and produced a good test for a score of 46.10.

New Zealand Team member, Caroline Powell is pictured aboard the rising 20 year old sensational Irish gelding, 'Lenamore' by Sea Crest. It is early days yet for this experienced pair who earned 52.20.

US based Thai Individual rider, Nina Ligon produced a good test riding German, Andreas Dibowski, former Team horse, 'Butts Leon', another classy horse by the Thoroughbred registered Hanoverian stallion, Heraldik. They earned 53.90.

US Team rider, William Coleman is pictured riding the Argentinus gelding, 'Twizzel' for a good score of 46.30.

Australian Team Member, Lucinda Fredericks acknowledges the great reception she and 'Flying Finish' received after their , elegant, accurate and beautifully ridden test. The nine year old gelding by Candillo holds equal sixth place individually.

The many Australian fans in the crowd enjoyed Lucinda's test.

Proceedings were halted whilst the awning on judge Gil Rolton's box was removed. The occasionally wild weather in the afternoon made conditions difficult for some riders, whilst others rode in sunshine.

Japanese team rider, Kenki Sato produced a very good test and the Buddhist monk is clearly pleased with his 'Clippieh' that scored, 42.20. Kenki replied when asked about being a Buddhist monk and rider; "it is really special; I am sure I am the first monk to be an Olympic rider, but I am not so perfect a monk and not so perfect a rider. Every morning I close my eyes and think of getting better".

Brazilian Team rider, Marcelo Tosi is pictured riding the Mexican bred, 'Eleda All Black' for a score of 58.00.

Australian International Dressage judge, Mary Seefried is the Dressage member of the Competition Appeals Committee and like everyone today was trying to shelter from the rain. Mary is pictured with Jumping member of the Committee, Yolanda Matallana from Colombia.

Former European Individual and Team Champ[ions, Kristina Cook and 'Miners Frolic' , also Beijing Team and Individual Bronze Medallists copped the worst of the weather, but none the less produced a good test for 42.00 and 14th place Individually after the dressage phase. The British Team hold third place going in to the cross country tomorrow.

This bank at the top of Observatory Hill at 20ab looks worse from the top than the side. The two meter drop is followed, If all goes well, by four strides to a narrow Village Flower Trough. It would be very easy to peck on landing here and miss the skinny.

A view from the top of the hill, which has to be climbed twice, down to The Main Water Jump at number 17, The Inland Waterway, with the Maritime Museum in the near background and London in the background.

Italian Individual, Stefano Brecciaroli really turned heads at the Kentucky WEG with the beautiful Polidiktus van de Helle gelding, 'Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve'. The Italian combination did not disappoint their many admirers and produced a beautiful, soft and flowing test for 38.50 and second place overall after the dressage phase.

Phillip Dutton is pictured aboard the Australian bred, (by Heath Ryan), 'Mystery Whisper' riding for Team USA in the dressage phase of the Olympic Eventing competition. They produced a good test for 44.30 and 19th place overall.

The attention is all on Clayton Fredericks with L-R Eventing Team Chef d'Equipe, Rob Hanna, Coach, Prue Barrett, Team Member, Lucinda Fredericks and Bendigo's groom, Lisa Baker.

Australian Team Member, Clayton Fredericks produced a super test with the McAuley's 12 year old Contender gelding,'Bendigo'. They finished in 10th place with 40.40. "I am very pl;eased indeed; there is still a lot to play for in this competition" commented Clayton. Regarding going last of the five Team riders, Clayton added, "it's a tough call going after four riders who have done such a bloody good job. I went in there aiming to do Australia proud and hopefully, that's exactly what I did".

Experienced French Team rider, Nicholas Touzaint is pictured riding his 2008 Badminton Winner, "For the Olympics, experience counts" commented Touzaint of his 17 year old Selle Francais gelding. They produced a good test for 47.60 and 27th position.

The much anticipated appearance of Michael Jung and his World and European Champion mount, 'Sam' fell just a tad short of expectations. Their test was a little flat for 11th place with 40.60. But "this is not a dressage competition and tomorrow we start from zero again". Less than two penalties separate the top seven riders.

Kentucky Team Bronze Medal winner, Rebecca Howard is pictured riding her Canadian Sport Horse, 'Riddle Master' by Rodero.for 50 .60 and 34th place after the two days of Eventing dressage.

Belgian Team rider, Karen Donckers rode the wonderful Swiss bred mare, and Beijing veteran, 'Gazelle de la Brasserie' by Karacondo. They produced a lovely test for 40.00 and equal seventh place.

German based Japanese rider, Yoshiaki Oiwa surprised even himself by producing the best dressage performance of the Eventing competition. Oiwa is trained by German Team member, Dirk Schrade. "I cannot believe it" commented Oiwa, "Nobody was expecting my result, there are not many Japanese media here". He rode the Selle Francais mare, "Noonday De Conde" by Fidji Du Fleury for a score of 38.10.

The very tall, William Fox -Pitt produced a good team test for Great Britain riding the Lancer II Holsteiner gelding, 'Lionheart'. They are in 17th place with 44.10 going in to the cross country tomorrow. After the dressage phase, Germany are in the lead with 119.10, Australia are second on 122.10 with scores from Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks and Andrew Hoy counting as best three and Great Britain are third.

Eventing Rider of the 20th Century, Mark Todd is off to a great start to claiming the title for the 21st Century after posting a 39.10 dressage test riding Peter and Pamela Vela's, Contendro gelding,'Campino'. Todd holds third place, with the New Zealand Team equal fourth after the two days of dressage.