Olympic equestrian feature

[lucretia]

in todays issue of horse and hound. any comment? its a pity that no one from the IOC made any statements.... and yes mike etherington smith did fit the xc into an area half teh size of greenwich park his EIGHT MINUTE COURSE WAS ALL HE HAD TO FUT IN THERE. everything else was at the racecourse and they didnt need to park any lorries either.....

 

[Daffodil]

I'm drafting a reply to the article, just need to check a few facts before I wing it off to them. It's quite long so they might not print it, but I've got such a lot to say (for about the 10th time!!) Already made the point that his 92 acres in Beas River only had to accommodate the XC, as everything else already in existence at Sha Tin. And of course, ticket sales were heavily restricted in HK. Makes a bit of a difference to the calculations! You'll never get a Badminton audience in Greenwich.

 

[kerilli]

what's the usual gate at Badminton and Burghley on xc day? is it about 80,000, or have i dreamt that up? if so, i reckon you could easily double it for Olympics, a LOT of people will want to see it, lots more than for B & B!

 

[lucretia]

i just wish they would admit they got it wrong, i apprieciate they want the athletes to get the 'whole' experience' but surely they would still get it if they had the thing at great leighs or windsor or hickstead or any of teh possibilities around london since when has the horse sports been right INSIDE the city? certanly not at athens, sydney, atlanta probably not at barcelona either. did any of thise competing feel they had missed out. its not as if they will be a plane ride away like at this one....

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm drafting a reply to the article, just need to check a few facts before I wing it off to them. It's quite long so they might not print it, but I've got such a lot to say (for about the 10th time!!) Already made the point that his 92 acres in Beas River only had to accommodate the XC, as everything else already in existence at Sha Tin. And of course, ticket sales were heavily restricted in HK. Makes a bit of a difference to the calculations! You'll never get a Badminton audience in Greenwich.

[/ QUOTE ]

Badminton is the second largest spectator sporting vistor numbers in the world after the Indy 500. I think it is about 250,000 for the whole event

From an article in 1999...

Despite the miserable weather, about 200,000 people turned up to slog through the mud and watch the cross country, giving Badminton the biggest single-day attendance at a sporting event in Europe.

 

[Daffodil]

Thanks for confirming that. That's the number I've always understood for XC day.

 

[lucretia]

dying to see your letter if it doesnt get in send it to me? or post it on here?

 

[flyingfeet]

I am going to write too - that was the most biased peice of propaganda twaddle I've ever seen in H&H

Were the BEF holding the Editor's family hostage?

Not to have the other side of the story printed was hardly a balanced article.

How the H&H can support a venue that's too small and a complete waste of money with no lasting benefit to the sport amazes me - SHAME ON YOU H&H.

 

[Daffodil]

Will post it here once I've tweaked and refined it (in between hiding it when the boss walks in and looks over my shoulder!)

 

[lucretia]

GO COTSWOLDSJ!!! say what you mean and all...

 

[Daffodil]

Here you go... it's a bit long though!

Dear Editor,

Having read the article entitled “Olympic Fallout” I have a few comments to throw into the melting pot.

It appears that Greenwich was chosen for two reasons:- one, so that we have a site as close to central London as possible, and two, simply so that we have an impressive background with the Queen's House encased in a grandstand (if the article in the Daily Telegraph the other day is to be believed), with little serious regard given to its overall suitability. Covering 183 acres this is the oldest Royal Park in London, and home to herds of fallow and red deer and other wildlife. I understand that many of the ancient trees will have to be heavily pruned, if not felled, to make room for the cross-country, and that commemorative trees planted and presumably paid for by individuals, will be included in this policy. Although there is a lake at the top end of the Park there appears to be no natural water running through it, and at least one other water complex will have to be constructed. The damage will be incalculable and it will take years to recover. The site is accessible only on three sides, the fourth being occupied by the Royal Naval College and other buildings, all leading down to the River Thames, and I understand the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for part or all of the Games, as will the Park itself during the preparation period which is likely to run to many months. With horse sports still viewed as “elitist” this is not the way to endear equestrianism to the inhabitants of South London, who will derive no benefit from these competitions as the site will be dismantled immediately after the Games.

I agree that Mr Etherington Smith’s cross-country course in Hong Kong was a great success. It rode well and was beautifully designed and constructed over its 4,560 metre length on the 92 acre site of Beas River Country Club, a 20 minute drive from Sha Tin. However he misses one crucial element when he says that he's absolutely sure Greenwich can accommodate a cross-country course, presumably of a similar length and calibre. At Sha Tin Racecourse there was seating for 18,000 in the grandstands, 13 schooling arenas, gallops for fast work, state of the art stabling, and the racecourse veterinary hospital. Greenwich is starting from scratch and is expected to find room for everything: cross country course, main arena, schooling and warm-up areas, stabling for over 200 horses (based on this year's numbers), storage facilities for show jumps, tractors, levelling and raking equipment, media facilities, veterinary and first aid sites and a drainage system to be constructed. You only have to look at the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of 2005 put together for the Hong Kong Jockey Club to realise the enormity of the site at Sha Tin, which is far greater than was visible on television. I fail to understand how Greenwich can accommodate a fraction of this, and erase all trace of it afterwards.

I understand that 200,000 tickets were available for all disciplines in Hong Kong, with ticket sales being restricted to 10,000 for cross-country day, in a country which, other than racing, does not have an equestrian tradition. That is not the case here, where Badminton regularly admits over 200,000 on cross-country day alone. There is no way Greenwich will be able to accommodate anything close to this number, and it would be a huge insult to supporters if they are barred from their own sport in their own country.

Views have been expressed that equestrianism in our Olympics needs an “iconic” backdrop. What is wrong with Windsor, with its 5,000 acres of parkland to play with, the Castle and the Copper Horse in the background, a track substantially in existence, with easy access off the motorway, and Heathrow virtually next door. It could be spectacular.

Of course it would be regrettable if equestrianism were to be taken out of the Games, particularly those held in this country. It is one of the few sporting areas which we are consistently good at, although our recent show jumping results might not reflect that. However, the lead-up to Hong Kong was fraught with concerns about the climate and welfare. A strong element of luck played its part in the success of the Event too, with the weather being extremely kind on cross-country day, and largely throughout the two weeks of competition. As far I am aware the rain only became a problem towards the end of the Individual Show Jumping. The weather in this country cannot be expected to be so co-operative!!

The much discussed “Fall and Elimination Rule” recently introduced by the FEI has to be a good thing in the public arena of an Olympic Games, taking into account the fitness and ability of horses from the less experienced countries. I confess to breathing a huge sigh of relief at the end of the cross-country phase when everyone was home safe, if not sound, and no calamities had occurred, and the one horse which did sustain a potentially serious injury had the benefit of the Sha Tin racecourse hospital. I felt that the sport “had got away with it”.

The Hong Kong Games were blessed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club paying for most of it. The Games here in London are to be funded out of public funds, via the National Lottery and Sport UK, which is accountable to the government. I am not quite sure what Tessa Jowell actually meant by her “testing to destruction” remark (News item page 5) but if the funding of the equestrian games here is under scrutiny and its future uncertain, then logic might indicate that it is sensible to reduce costs to the public purse by utilising existing facilities (as they did in Hong Kong by taking over Sha Tin). There is no reason why the venue cannot be moved now; some small sites have already been moved. Hong Kong was selected after it became apparent that Beijing could not hold these competitions there, and it was moved 1,200 miles. I am sure we could move it to Windsor, or anywhere else more suitable, just as easily.

Yours faithfully,

 

[MissDeMeena]

Brill letter

which i fear as you say, is too long for them to print

However could be summed up by saying..
Don't have the equestrian part of the Olympics in Greenwich as it would be a huge waist of time, effort and money to everyone. Move it to Winsor or Hickstead where it would save money and benifit all

 

[argyle]

Fab letter, I hope the print it or at least an edited version of it.

 

[lucretia]

good girl daffodil, the champagne should be yours!!

 

[DidiR]

Be aware that if they choose to edit it, the message may not be reflected as you wish it to be (in my prior experience with letters to H&H), so I would edit it as succinctly as you can, so that they don't have the excuse to edit much out.

Try to stick to one or two points only, and accept that you can't say everything you would like to.