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Diary from Athens - And so it ends...
Saturday, August 28, 2004
 The final day of competition at Markopoulo Equestrian Centre provided a lot of excitement, much of it due to the new format whereby the top 45 show jumping competitors from the week start with a clean slate to determine, over two rounds, the individual medals. It also showed just how much of a roller coaster this sport can be.
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Diary from Athens
Jan Mansfield
Thursday, August 26, 2004
A day off from equestrian competition – and just three more days until the Olympic flame in Athens is extinguished. A good day to pass on some bits of information and trivia that haven’t yet made it into this diary.
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Diary from Athens - Grand Prix Freestyle
Jan Mansfield
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
 There was showmanship, there was brilliant horsemanship, there were glitches – and they all made Freestyle day at the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre today an incredible event. The spectator stands were full with huge patches of orange, or red, or blue – depending upon the partisanship of the group in each area.
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Diary from Athens - Showjumping Part II
Jan Mansfield
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
 It was a matter of who would blink first in a jump off for the Team
Silver Medal this evening between the U.S. and Sweden. And it came down to
the last rider for each team, when all previous riders had put in clear, quick
rounds. With the U.S. over seven seconds ahead at that point, Sweden
decided to take the Bronze, which they were very happy with, and save their
horses for Friday.
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Diary from Athens - Showjumping Part I
Jan Mansfield
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
 There was a clear winner in this morning’s first round of the team competition and 2nd qualifier in show jumping. It was German course designer Olaf Petersen and the very challenging course he set that had fences crashing and horses’s shoes flying all around the stadium. American Peter Wylde, who went clear with Fein Cera the first day but had three down today, said it was one of the hardest Nation’s Cup courses he has ridden.
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Diary From Athens - Another Day
Jan Mansfield
Monday, August 23, 2004
The wind blew up again today and caused some problems in the dressage arena, especially for Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty. His usual error-free performance was marred by late transitions and difficulties with the flying changes, along with a spook in one corner. Nevertheless I’m sure their score of 74.840% would be gladly accepted by most dressage riders.
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Diary from Athens - A Hometown Hero in the Making
Jan Mansfield
Sunday, August 22, 2004
 It’s quite obvious that show jumping is the equestrian discipline that attracts the most attention. Today, the first day of competition, there were a lot more photographers and journalists at Markopoulo Equestrian Centre than has been in the past few days, many of whom asked questions which indicated they were from the general sports press.
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Fuel Added to Eventing Controversy Flame
Jan Mansfield
Sunday, August 22, 2004
 (Special to EquestrianConnection.com)
By Jan Mansfield
Athens, August 22, 2004 - - - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) held a press conference early this morning and Germany’s National Federation issued a terse statement following yesterday’s Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling which rescinded the eventing Gold medals awarded to the German team and to Bettina Hoy. The appeal was filed jointly by the National Olympic Committees of the U.S., France, and Great Britain.
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Diary from Athens - It Was Beginning to Look Like a German Medal Sweep
Jan Mansfield
Saturday, August 21, 2004
I was just about to write about an impending sweep of equestrian medals by the Germans when I received an e-mail about the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling to overturn the Appeal Committee’s decision made in the eventing debacle Wednesday. Now Germany has to give up the Team Gold it was awarded and Bettina Hoy has to surrender the Individual Gold.
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Diary from Athens
Jan Mansfield
Friday, August 20, 2004
Mark was introduced to the big time today, and the panel of European judges for the Individual Grand Prix 1st qualifier at the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre’s dressage arena were introduced to him.
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Diary from Athens - The Acropolis Will Have To Wait!
Jan Mansfield
Thursday, August 19, 2004
 I had today’s diary submission all written – riveting editorial about life in the media village, security, etc., which I was going to e-mail in to Kerri McGregor at EquestrianConnection.com and then go off and see some of the sites on a rare slow day at Markopoulo Equestrian Centre. And then yesterday happened!
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Diary from Athens: It's Never Over Until It's Over!
Jan Mansfield
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
 Athens, August 17, 2004 - - - Late word tonight that the British eventing team has had its medal hopes pretty much dashed after a difficult day on the cross country course. Apparently William Fox-Pitt, who moved up to 5th spot individually after today, has withdrawn from competition due to an injury (rumoured to be a stifle) to Tamarillo.
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Diary from Athens: Now The Fun Begins!
Jan Mansfield
Monday, August 16, 2004
 An exciting day of dressage today at the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre. First Pippa Funnell, the very successful British eventer with Primmore’s Pride wowed everyone with the extended trot that earned them perfect 10’s which put them into first place with a score of 31.40. She said later it is the best test her 11-year-old gelding Thoroughbred has done to date.
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Diary from Athens - Eventing Dressage Day 1
Jan Mansfield
Sunday, August 15, 2004
 Well, I thought I was at Spruce Meadows today with the way the wind blew up! And to add to my confusion, there was the infamous Pedro, keeper of the gate at Spruce Meadows’ International Ring, guiding the event riders into the ring at the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre to do their dressage test.
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Diary from Athens: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Jan Mansfield
Sunday, August 15, 2004
 Okay – one day late, but here goes with my news, musings and general ramblings from Athens. Technical difficulties having now been overcome (problems getting an internet connection), I will be letting you know what’s happening with the Canadians here at the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre, a most spectacular facility with a very comfortable (and cool!) media centre. More about that in a bit.
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