The next phase of closures has begun in Greenwich Park as the cross country course for this July’s Olympic test event takes shape.
Most of the east side of the park will now be inaccessible until July 10th as dozens of jumps are placed around the course by course builders, London Eventing.
The cross country course for the Greenwich Park Eventing International will not be as difficult as next year’s Olympics but it will still be challenging for the “younger and less experienced” horses expected at the test event, says Eventing Manager, Alec Lochore.
They will be ridden by top class riders, however, and the best four in world are expected to be at the Test Event.
A variety of fence styles will be used around the course including tree trunk jumps, brush fences, flowerbed jumps and novelties such as oversized benches.
“We”ll make some more bespoke ones for the Games but for this it’s less about what the jumps look like and it’s more about the types of jump and it’s about the course designer, Sue Benson, being able to test out certain design concepts.” explains Tim Hadaway, the Equestrian Manager for London 2012..
I asked Sue Benson if there was a “gold standard” cross country track that those in the sport looked upon as being in the one they had to match.
“Well, after this, there’s going to be one.” she said.
“My dream is that when people go to Rio in five years time, in 2016, they will look at the course and say ‘well it’s good but not as good as London 2012′”
Pictured: Tim Hadaway
Sue Benson, “My dream is that when people go to Rio in five years time, in 2016, they will look at the course and say ‘well it’s good but not as good as London 2012′”
Dream on, MS Benson. In Hong Kong (2008 Olympics), they spent three years preparing the cross-country course, with the help of 90% humidity. It was as perfect as any human can manage.
London 2012 is going to be “the compromise Games”.
2008 olympics were not in Hong Kong!
Geography not one of your strong points Indigo!
No, Jim the Olympics weren’t but the eventing course was!
As Nico says.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Sports_Institute
I did an awful lot of reading up on how the x-country course was created in Hong Kong. That really set a very high standard, which the course in Greenwich Park does not come anywhere near. The Greenwich Park course is rankly amateur compared with the course in Hong Kong. And probably a bit too dangerous, for a number of reasons.
Go to Hong Kong then…sure Greenwich wont miss you!
Hope they leave those big chairs/benches behind. It will be the only bit of legacy for the park.
Scott is joking, I trust. Greenwich Park is – or was – the finest baroque landscape in England. “Baroque” means idealised – like scene out of Narnia – and I don’t remember Narnia being decorated with over-sized cr*p benches.
“Baroque” means idealised – like scene out of Narnia.. – er, no it doesn’t. Chambers says: “A bold , vigorous, exuberany style in architecture, decoration and art generally, that arose with the Counter Reformation and prevailed in Louis XIV’s time, degenerating into tasteless extravagance in ornament.”
Not Narnian, then…
Having seen the proposed X country fences on line… taking into acount the fact that these are static pictures and not “real life ” I find the fences rather in the vein of “seen one seen all” and a general impresion of rather flat &”emasculated”:I realise that this is a test event and as such has to be simpler in its vision… BUT cant the X country team be a little more original or dynamic with jump designs …it seems that a lot of the jumps are more suited to a show jumping ring or hunter classes than an OLYMPIC cross country , : My pony club days saw more visually scary jumps than these : This is after all an OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY test not the Hicksted Derby>
So Indigo, the worlds greatest riders are now saying the course and setting are amazing, even though only 19 fences are being used as opposed to the 40 next year these world beaters are saying this could be the most spectacular but hardest course ever….and guess what…it didnt take 3 years to sort out!
But hey, lm gald you enjoyed your Hong Kong olympics, l will enjoy Greenwich 2012!!!!
Jim spoke too soon.
“Greenwich Park sparks ground for complaint” – The Times, 7th July
“British Showjumpers criticise Greenwich arena after Olympic test” – The Guardian, 7th July
“British Trio Raise Surface Concerns” – Sporting Life.com
The cross-country terrain is steep, with riders such as Piggy French and William Fox-Pitt widely quoted in the media saying it is “intense,” and like “riding in a tumble-dryer.” Fox-Pitt hoped that one “punishing” slope can be modified. Cross-country course designer, Sue Benson, told the media that the terrain is “in your face.” Altering the course is not possible because of the Park’s limited available acreage and the presence of so many heritage features.
The stadium surface has also been criticised in the media by show jumpers and dressage riders, as a direct result of insufficient water being available, confirmed by venue manager Tim Hadaway. This critical issue of Thames Water not permitting access to the mains or sewers was long ago flagged up by NOGOE.
Fans of the cross country event next year will be disappointed because only 50,000 will get tickets, and their freedom of movement would be restricted by the tightness of the cross-country course layout, and the low canopy of the trees.
The comments about the arena surface are disappointing I must say, especially seeing as there were some very encouraging remarks from the riders in advance of the event but I guess that’s why the test event is such a critical part of the build up. Let’s hope the organisers can identify the main issues and make the required changes to improve it for the real thing.
I didn’t have you down as a Horse and Hound reader I must say Indigo. I think it might be worth including the quotes about the cross country course in their entirety rather than cherry picking individual words:
– “The course rode very well, but it does ride very quick,” said Piggy. “The terrain is testing for horses and riders both mentally and physically. It’s spectacular to ride around, but it is going to be quite intense.” (H&H)
– “This was our first view of the Olympic track, which riders alternately described as “like a BMX track”, or “like being in a tumbledryer”. It is tight, but no more so than many modern event courses.” (H&H)
– “There were very few problems on the track — a few run-outs and a couple of innocuous falls — and it is worth remembering that an Olympic course will look and feel quite different. But there is no doubt that the venue works, and the crowds of excited schoolchildren by the water jump serve as a reminder that nothing like this has ever been seen in London before.” (H&H)
– “Two feature jumps have been situated on hill-brows to maximise the backdrop of Canary Wharf – a reason for choosing the site. Fox-Pitt felt that one descent was “punishing” and hoped it could be modified, while admitting to getting “a real buzz from the wall of sound” created by the 5,000 spectators.” (Telegraph)
They don’t sound particularly negative to me.
I’ve got no horse in this race (ha!) but Indigo’s comments are completely misleading. The main criticisms quoted all relate to the raised arena – which is contained, and therefore easy to change. Not one of the criticisms in, for example, The Guardian article, relate to the use of the park itself.
Still Indigo, great that you finally seem to care about the equestrian types that you’ve been denigrating for the last year or five.
I was wondering if there are any x country jumps up in Greenwich Park now, I am volunteering at the Royal Artillery Barracks and so wanted to do the Equestrian, but as I am up doing venue training in April for half a day I thought I would go and have a look as I won’t get the chance during the Olympics, does anyone know please?
Just walked much of the park and have to agree the footing seems fairly hard. Anybody know if there are plans to improve the ‘track’ area at least? There are areas with fresh grass cordoned off, I assume to let it grow longer.
To Sarah’s question – I didn’t see any jumps, per se – the water jump is fairly built, but not the formal jump it appears.
Hi thanks for your reply.
It’s a shame as I was hoping to have a sneaky peek next month, only because I won’t get the chance when the Olympics are on, they might have guided tours before the games begin, now there’s a money spinner if ever I heard one, I’d pay lol.