Hey Eventing Nation, it’s ESJ writing from Australia. As you read this post, two of the world’s most successful Eventing nations are on the hunt for a new National Coach. Both Australia and the USA have had long standing team coaches.
Wayne Roycroft took over coaching Australia in 1988. He achieved successive team gold medals in 1992, 1996 & 2000, and the Australian team took silver in 2008. That alone is an impressive record, 5 games 1992-2008, 3 team gold, 1 individual gold (Matt Ryan 1992), 1 team silver 2008 and 1 individual silver (Andrew Hoy 2000).
On the WEG side of things Australia has had very limited luck in all six WEG’s under Wayne’s leadership. Our best year was 2006 in Aachen where we achieved individual Silver (Clayton Fredericks) and Team Bronze.
By comparison Captain Mark Phillips took over the US reins in 1993. At the Olympics, under his leadership the USA has achieved 1 team silver 1996 and two team bronzes 2000 & 2004, individual gold (David O’Connor 2000), 2 silvers (Kim Severson 2004 & Gina Miles 2008) and a bronze (Kerry Millikan 1996). The USA like Australia has not had huge success at WEG, however in 2002 at Jerez the USA won team gold.
Interestingly both Mark & Wayne rode internationally for their home countries and retired from international competition soon after the Seoul Olympics. Both are experts with many years of horsemanship under their belts–these guys are old school. Wayne comes from Australian Eventing Royalty; Wayne with his brothers Barry (a member of the Australian Eventing selection committee) and Clarke are former Olympians.
In fact in 1976, with their legendary father Bill, Wayne & Barry competed for Australia in Montreal, with Bill and Wayne part of the bronze medal winning Australian team. If you have never heard the legend of Bill Roycroft before, you need to check this out, certainly wouldn’t happen today. Bill competed in 5 consecutive Olympic Games for Australia in Eventing from 1960 – 1976.
Mark Phillips married into the British Royal Family in 1973 by marrying Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s daughter. His daughter Zara was world champion of Eventing in 2006. As an equestrian Mark has individual results that are rivaled by few. Badminton 1st (1971, 1972, 1974, 1981), 3rd 1976 and 4th in 1968. Burghley 1st 1973, 2nd 1975 and 4th 1967. Mark also achieved 7th at Rolex in 1986 and was part of the silver medal winning British team in Seoul 1988.
In short, both men are legends in their own right and have achieved fantastic results both as a competitor and as a coach. Both are also not without their critics, people who don’t like their style and in some cases can’t wait to see them gone. Both Mark and Wayne have left a fantastic legacy for their replacements to put a personal stamp on.
So each nation has a selection process, a position description, goals and a budget. They will go about selecting replacements for these legends. What are the key characteristics of these individuals who will step into big shoes?
This is my list:
- Outstanding horseman who has represented their own country at the highest levels for a number of years, a pocket containing gold, silver or bronze would be expected.
- Is highly respected by the current crop of riders; both Australia & USA have long-term Olympians at the top, they must respect the new guy (or girl).
- Be a successful and well respected coach and mentor
- Have thick skin and be prepared to butt heads with administrators and bean counters
- Finally, if they are a current rider, they should be prepared to never wear the stars and stripes or green and gold in the Olympics & WEG again, or any other national team colors.
So where does this leave us, with the short lists?
Lets start with Australia.
This is my personal short list. While I have asked people for their opinions, none were prepared to give me their thoughts. I look forward to being challenged.
In no particular order at this stage:
1) Former Olympian and dual gold medalist Gill Rolton. Gill is a national selector for Australia and is both a coach and mentor to riders past and present. Gill is a tough competitor, and is remembered for having broken her collarbone on cross country in Atlanta, remounting and finishing to allow Australia to win a second consecutive team gold. Gill is also the director of the Adelaide – Australian International Three Day Event, our four star event.
2) Olympian (Dressage 2008) and horseman, Heath Ryan. Heath is highly successful in both Eventing and Dressage having competed in both disciplines concurrently since the dawn of time. Heath is a highly successful trainer of both horses and competitors, the most famous of which in the USA is Boyd Martin. To this day, Boyd retains his ties with Heath, and most of Boyd’s Aussie bred youngsters spend some time in Heath’s yard working with Gordon Bishop, before being shipped to the USA. Heath has twice been assistant coach to Wayne Roycroft at Olympic Games.
3) Stuart Tinney, Olympic gold medalist (Sydney 2000), Stuart is a master horseman who is fantastic to watch on cross country. Stuart has represented Australia at both the WEG and Olympic level since 1998. Stuart is also a successful coach working with riders at all levels. My biggest doubt about Stuart is whether he might be prepared to give up wearing the Green and Gold again. Personally I see that Stuart could make a successful transition from competitor to coach, just like Wayne.
And finally, the Dark Horse:
4) Lucinda Green, six time Badminton Champion and the only rider to hold this honour. I hear you say, ‘but she is English’ (or a Pom as we say down under). Lucinda has long ties with Australia after marrying Australian Eventer David Green in 1981. Lucinda and David have since divorced but Lucinda’s ties in Australia remain strong. In addition to her ties in Australia, Lucinda is based in the UK. This is a key base for Australian Eventing so whoever the new coach is, they will spend time between both countries.
What about the other side of the Pacific? I hear you saying, “the Aussies are good fun, but what you really want to know is who will be the US team coach after London.”
1) The first choice I will mention was made easier last week when he formally gave notice that he will be applying for the job, Phillip Dutton. Phillip is without doubt a master horseman and he is a Dual Olympic gold medalist (1996 & 2000 for Australia). Phillip has since joined the US team and he has been the most consistent competitor in the USA for many years, closely rivaled by his protégé Boyd Martin. Phillip, whilst an import, is now very much a part of the US Eventing scene and calls Pennsylvania home. Phillip will be applying for the coaching position in coordination with Bobby Costello, who is applying for the role of Chef.
2) The other obvious choice, in my mind, is David O’Connor. David, of course, was the individual gold medalist from Sydney 2000. Recently it has been interesting watching him successfully coach the Canadian team to WEG silver whilst maintaining his strong ties to the USEF and USEA. To many people David may be a natural successor to Mark.
3) Finally, another dark horse, and another Brit. Recently there has been chat that William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt plans to retire after London. I will never forget seeing William in Hong Kong, literally wrapping his long legs around his mount in Hong Kong (Beijing) after a stumble and pick the horse up three strides from the fence. I think there may be 3 or 4 riders in the world, perhaps those mentioned earlier in this post, who could have pulled off that save. William is well credentialed and has a lot to offer US Eventing. That said, while he may be in the running, I can’t see the US team taking on another visiting coach from overseas.
So here it goes, who will be the new Australian and US team coaches?
In my opinion, two Aussie blokes from the country, team members from the successful Australian gold medal winning Eventing team in Sydney 2000.
Stuart Tinney – Australia
Phillip Dutton – USA
Now let the arguments begin.
Yours in Eventing from Australia,
~ESJ
