I know there are plenty of people in New Zealand who are looking a bit bleary-eyed after putting in some hours watching their televisions, and that this situation will be even worse tonight/tomorrow morning for you, as you’ll be getting up in the early hours to watch even more!
If it is any consolation, there’s not much sleep going on here either – except hopefully for the riders and horses! There’s also not much sleep going on in H&P editor Rowan’s house as she watches the event on her television, helps me get stories out, attends to the social media, and gets the next issue of our magazine to the printers!
I’ve lost track of what time I went to bed last night; it was at least midnight and here I am wide awake and back at my computer at 4:30am. Libby, of course, was still doing things to photos, Di has just got up to talk about schedules for today, and how we could possibly make it to New Zealand House after the event has finished. It’s definitely not do-able for me, mainly as it is over an hour’s drive to get there, and then of course back again, and there is so much work for us to do after the event finishes. I’ll just have to find some other way of celebrating the end of the Olympic eventing competition (and hopefully something else!).
Finding something to celebrate with is also a challenge. We are definitely not leading the way when it comes to healthy eating. Last night’s dinner didn’t happen; we were all hard out getting work done. I had some crostini-type cracker things and one glass of vermouth, Libby had popcorn and coke, Di had instant noodles and a vodka, Debbie I think had chocolate and beer. The shop is fine if you like chips, crackers, instant noodles, Nugget (black or brown – after all, we in a military zone), chocolate biscuits, whiskey and vodka. They have gone all out and got some microwave frozen dinners in recently. If you prefer fresh fruit, vegetables and anything healthy, tough. We have talked and talked and talked about getting to the supermarket, which we think is about four kilometres from the equestrian venue, but in the other direction from the Village. We would have to use taxis and have a spare hour or two… Maybe after the two days of dressage we might get time, but by then those covering just the eventing will be gone anyway!
We do have a bottle of wine in the apartment; the little shop here finally got a few bottles of affordable red in. The only trouble is it has a cork, and while we have access to Jenni’s corkscrew, it was mortally injured a couple of nights ago. I did have to laugh at a French journalist who has spent some time trying to find someone here who can help her open her bottle – but it, too, remains unopened.
I’m not sure how anyone will be able to celebrate victories tonight here at the Deodoro Accommodation Village, unless they want to get back into those lethal cocktails. And given that most of us are back at the competition venue the next day for the first round of dressage, it could well be just clinking of water bottles here!
Yesterday was brilliant. Eventing certainly is a sport that takes you through a roller-coaster of emotions. Tim looked so amazing going past me, I was at fence four where I could also see the beginning of the course, and a few other fences. I had high hopes, and so did everyone else. To be taken out by a fall on a corner not even related to a fence is heartbreaking. But just an hour or so later we were loudly cheering Sir Mark from the sidelines as he came home, so very happy with his horse and performance. And then Clarke, a beautiful round which was an absolute delight to watch. Then more nerves as we saw Jonelle get ready to head out, as we wondered if we would be able to post a team score. More delight and admiration for a gutsy and thoughtful ride, and elation as we realised the team had risen to silver medal position only a few points behind Australia.
I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do on cross-country day, but as the media centre and mixed zones were only put up at the last minute, I wasn’t quite sure how it would all unfold. But it was even better than I had planned. I was able to be at the first water (fence 4)to photograph the riders coming through there, and, after a New Zealand rider had gone, head down to the last water, which involved zig-zagging down the hill to get over the course (twice) at the proper crossing area. Then, when they’d been through the last water, I would run down to the finish and witness the reception the riders received when they got off their horse. Then it was into the mixed zone, where the riders appeared a few minutes later to talk to the many waiting media. They first have to do the television interviews, then the radio, and the print journalists get the last (but longest) “go” at them. Everyone has to front up, whether or not they finished, and I take my hat off to the grace and style that Tim Price displayed. Once I had talked to the Kiwi riders, then it was back up the hill to start the whole process again.
There were a number of New Zealand media there who hadn’t been to a horse event before, and two ended up joining me in my little routine for Jonelle’s round, so it was a good chance for them to ask lots of questions about this wonderful sport. By the time the day was over, I had two dedicated fans with me, who are coming back tomorrow to see it to its conclusion.
And just to add to the mix, the dressage trot-up was on not long after the conclusion of the cross-country and press conference! Some beautiful horses – and my first really good look at the wonderful Valegro.
Today is going to be another full-on roller-coaster ride. Fingers crossed for our horses, our riders and our medal tally. But right now, I would be exceptionally grateful for a good cup of tea. And then later a medal, any colour… but I’m sure you all know my real preference!
Good luck, Sir Mark, Clarke and Jonelle!
