All About the London Olympic Test Event


[via Uptown Eventing]

The London 2012 equestrian Olympic Test Event is being held at Greenwich Park from July 4th to July 10th.   If you’re not familiar with the test event, a country that hosts an event as big as the Olympics or World Equestrian Games, they typically hold a test event to check the preparations, train personnel, get the public excited, and make sure everything is falling into place.  The London test event will feature around 40 horses in a CIC2* eventing competition as well as 50 horses in a modern pentathlon competition.  The eventing competition is from July 4th to 6th

20 nations will be represented in the eventing test event.  The 6 countries who have already qualified for the eventing Olympics are sending up to three riders–Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, USA, and Great Britain.  Countries that competed teams at the 2010 World Equestrian Games are sending up to two–France, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, and Australia are sending two riders each.  Countries that had an individual at the WEGs can send one. 

Draw order for the Test Event:

1. Michael Jung, Weidezaunprofi’s River of Joy (Germany)
2. Karin Donckers, Lamicell Unique (Belgium)
3. Mark Todd, NZB Campino (New Zealand)
4. Renan Guerreiro, Rongotai (Brazil)
5. Julian Stiller, Gunstone Wallstreet (United States)
6. William Fox-Pitt, Gaucho (Great Britain)
7. Lindsay Pearce, Saniki (Canada)
8. Clayton Fredericks, Bendigo (Australia)
9. Denis Mesples, Olipper Schervil (France)
10. Jayne Doherty, The Only One (Ireland)
11. Giovanni Ugolotti, Coco Ocean (Italy)
12. Dag Albert, Jedi Dancer (Sweden)
13. Lukasz Kazmierczak, Branco (Poland)
14. Benoit Johner, Lit-il Peccau CH (Switzerland)
15. Andreas Riedl, Jabadaba Doo (Austria)
16. Jaroslav Hatla, Killossery Harvey (Czech Republic)
17. Frank Ostholt, Sir Medicott (Germany)
18. Joris Van Springel, Limestone (Belgium)
19. Andrew Nicholson, Qwanza (New Zealand)
20. Logan Rawlings, Jaybee Star Celebrity (United States)
21. Pippa Funnell, Billy Shannon (Great Britain)
22. Waylon Roberts, Blockbuster III (Canada)
23. Samantha Albert, Squirt (Jamaica)
24. Nina Ligon, Jazz King (Thailand)
25. Raf Kooremans, So Special (Netherlands)
26. Paul Hart, Carlow Miller (South Africa)
27. Brian Nunez-Hughes, Libro Archie (Colombia)
28. Alex Hua Tian, Furst Love (China)
29. Takayuki Yumira, Hooligan (Japan)
30. Sandra Auffarth, Parancs (Germany)
31. Virginie Caulier, Nepal Du Sudre (Belgium)
32. Jonelle Richards, Reminiscent (New Zealand)
33. Ruy Fonseca, Idaho D’Argonne (Brazil)
34. Will Faudree, DHI Colour Candy (United States)
35. Piggy French, DHI Topper W (Great Britain)
36. Kathryn Robinson, Let It Bee (Canada)
37. Sam Griffiths, Paulank Brockagh (Australia)
38. Donatien Schauly, Pivoine Des Touches (France)
39. Joseph Murphy, Chuckelberry (Ireland)
40. Vittoria Panizzon, Borough Pennyz (Italy)
41. Sara Algotsson Ostholt, Mrs. Medicott (Sweden)

[Test Event Homepage]

The US, as well as many other countries, is sending over potential Olympic athletes and USEF personnel to observe the event. Only eventing and pentathlon are running test events, but the other disciplines are sending observers as well.

The eventers who are being sent to observe by the USEF:

Tiana Coudray
Michael Pollard
Will Coleman
Sinead Halpin
Clark Montgomery

The list is meaningful in that it shows the USEF is very interested in the riders as candidates for the London Olympics, although some riders who might have been sent had scheduling conflicts.  Boyd Martin was originally asked to go, but he will be traveling to Australia instead to visit his father, who was injured in a cycling accident. 

The cross-country course is designed by Sue Benson, who also is designing the Olympic course.  The word from riders who have seen the venue is that the track will be long and uphill, requiring top fitness.  It will be interesting to see if that plays out over the test event, although the course will be completely different.

The ground jury for the test event is Nick Burton (Great Britain), Anne-Mette Binder (Denmark) and Gillian Rolton (Australia).

Go eventing.

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