When I got the call about going to the Olympic Test event I had mixed feelings. My first thought, on a selfish level, was excitement. I certainly was dying to see the venue. But my next thought was, “Is that the best use of USET dollars?” I know we need information about the venue as far as terrain and logistics, but isn’t this why we have our coaches, directors and managers go to the event?
There’s obviously a list of riders qualified with hopes of going to the Olympics, but soooo much can happen in a year. I would love to think the group of us that headed over to watch are next year’s team, but with only five spots, and at least two or three of those spots going to much more senior riders, I think those of us with less experience will be working until the bitter end to earn a place on the squad. So again, is sending mostly riders with no team experience to observe the test event the best use of USET funds?
We were instructed to land at Heathrow and figure out how to get to Greenwich Park by way of trains and the Underground. I was pleasantly greeted upon landing at 7 a.m. by someone selling me tickets to Paddington on the Heathrow Express. I thought, I’ll be at the park by 8 a.m.—what a breeze!”
Three hours later I was finally getting the hang of the “Tube” but was still 30 minutes from my final destination. The underground is a whirlwind of people and maps that could be confused with the inner workings of a high-tech computer. As a naive American I just assumed there would be a large sign with Olympic Rings guiding me, but most people I asked about Greenwich Park had no idea where I was talking about.
Eventually I bought what is called an Oyster Card, which is like a phone card. You can top it up with money, and it allows you to get on most trains and the Tube. (Basically this allowed me to get on the wrong trains without the penalty of having to buy a new ticket every time.) I did, however, manage to get to my hotel around 10 a.m.
When I got to the hotel, all I wanted was a shower and a toothbrush, but the rooms weren’t ready. Out of the lounge area walked Clark Montgomery. I was so happy to see a familiar face and to hear he had the same adventure I had in the public transportation of London.
After a quick change in the hotel lobby, Clark, Michael Pollard and I headed off to meet Sara Ike to get our credentials at the park. Although I felt as if it was already dinner time, the jog for the CIC had not even happened yet. We wandered through the venue and found Will Faudree, Jules Stiller, Logan Rawlins, Nat V-C and the rest of the American contingent and headed out with the Captain to check out the biggest challenge of next year, the cross-country.
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We set off chatting and catching up, and we were soon just trying to catch our breath. We climbed the massive hill that we will be galloping up and down twice next year. For some reason I pictured a park much like Central Park in New York—a semi-flat area with trees, running paths and good visibility. Greenwich Park is not like this at all. Will Coleman described it best in saying it’s like Red Hills (Fla.) with a massive hill in the middle.
There are tight galloping lanes curving in and around trees, jumps coming up on you with little warning, and with it being a completely new venue, it was difficult to keep your bearings. As we walked, it became quite clear that the horse needed to tackle this track is going to have to be sharp, fit, brave enough to jump whatever comes in his path quickly, and most of all, attentive at all times without being too cautious. A strong, pulling horse is not going to be easy to navigate around this track.
Throughout the rest of the first day the other troops filtered in, and we all settled into familiar company. Will C., Will F., Michael, Clark and I have actually all filtered through the system together since we were all under 20. We amazingly all pretty much started with the same coaches and direction but have traveled much different paths in the time since. As we reunited, we all, I think, realized how special it was as individuals to be standing together now a decade later focusing on next year’s Olympic Team.
As I was reunited with my friends, I was so amazed and in a weird way proud of how everyone had grown up. The kids I knew growing up had turned into intelligent, engaging professionals, and I appreciated how time and experience in this sport really does breed confidence.
Over the next three days we discussed everything from how we run and manage our individual businesses to ways to improve and grow eventing for the future. Those conversations were of course littered with hilarious references to our pasts and even more hilarious memories we were making. I can honestly say I have not laughed that much in a long time, and the “team feeling” was becoming evident.
As I watched Great Britain in their team swag, going about their systematic fact finding approach to the competition, I thought, “OK, we’re not there yet, but we’re on that path.” And then I watched the camaraderie and the comfort of the Aussie and New Zealand teams and thought, “That’s what comes with a good team and experience; we’ll get that.”
We are at a strange time in our sport. Mark is stepping down in a year, the younger group is stepping up the ranks, and it became very clear to me at the test event that the other teams just simply have stronger roots than us right now. That doesn’t mean we aren’t good enough; it just means we’re growing.
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When I originally thought that the management should be going to the test event and relaying information to us riders, I think I was wrong. Our team has lost its luster and a bit of faith. This trip showed me we need to stop blaming people in management roles and take responsibility for our decisions.
This hasn’t come from us deflecting the responsibility, but from lack of support and confidence. The strength and direction of the team needs to come from the people to which success is most important, and that group is ultimately our next generation of riders.
This trip showed me the ideal horse needed for the Olympics, but it also showed me the type of people I want to be on teams, for London and years to come. It was the start of conversations that will hopefully begin to shape and strengthen our next team. These chats had more depth to them than someone taking responsibility for a rail or a run-out—they were about our responsibility to build our business and decision-making skills, and ultimately about developing roots that make us sustainable at the top levels.
I’m excited about our future in the sport of eventing. I wish all my peers genuine luck over the next year with the pursuit of Olympic medals in London, and I thank the USET for sending us to London. We have the horses, and we have the riders, and after this trip I feel like we might have the vision of a team.
Sinead
