Eventing Team for Athens Olympic Games Announced-4th Consecutive Gold Medal within reach (AUS)

June 29, 2004

In pursuit of a record-extending 4th consecutive team gold medal, the Equestrian Federation of Australia is pleased to announce the names of the riders and horses that will be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection in the 2004 team. Selection to the Olympic Team will be conducted solely by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

The five riders and horses that will be nominated are (in alphabetical order):

Olivia Bunn on GV Top of the Line
Phillip Dutton on Nova Top
Andrew Hoy on Mr Pracatan
Rebel Morrow on Oaklea Groover
Stuart Tinney on Jeepster

The reserve horses and riders to attend a team training camp are (in alphabetical order)

Claudia Graham and Diamond B Vogue
Sam Griffiths and Private Colin
Andrew Hoy and Moonfleet or Master Monarch
Sammi McLeod on Enchanted
Matt Ryan on Bonza Puzzle
Stuart Tinney on Carrera

Andrew Hoy (45 yrs) will be competing at his 6 th Olympic Games, which would have been 7 if it were not for the Moscow boycott in 1980. Hoy, who hails from Culcairn (NSW) but who is based in England, will be looking to set an Olympic record of his own with a 4 th consecutive gold medal in the same event.

Phillip Dutton (40 years) from Nyngan (NSW) but based in USA, is aiming for a 3rd consecutive gold medal in the same event. A father of twin girls (born after the Sydney Olympic Games), Phillip has been a regular member of the Australian team since the 1994 World Equestrian Games.

Rebel Morrow (27 years) from Kilcoy (Qld) has made her first Australian team with her selection for Athens. A rising star in the Eventing world Rebel and her chestnut gelding Oaklea Groover signaled their talent with a 5 th placing at the Adelaide 4-star event in 2003. Her selection was sealed with victory in the final selection trial at the Sydney Athens Format event held last weekend.

Olivia Bunn (25 years) from Eurongilly (NSW) makes her Olympic debut having been a reserve at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Olivia was the highest placed member of the Australian team at the 1998 World Equestrian Games as a 19 year old, placing 7 th, a feat she repeated at the 2002 World Games.

Stuart Tinney (39 years) from Maraylya (NSW) will be competing at his second Olympic Games having anchored the Three Day Event team to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and ended up the highest placed horse and rider combination in the team event. Stuart’s horse Jeepster is the only horse from the 2000 team to be selected in the team for 2004. Stuart and Jeepster competed at the 1998 and 2002 World Games where they placed 9 th and 16 th respectively.

National Eventing coach Wayne Roycroft commented: “I am very excited about the team that the Selectors have chosen. It has a good blend of experienced riders and horses along with younger, yet highly talented combinations”

Jim Dunn, Chairman of Selectors, added: “This was a very difficult decision due to the depth of talent of the horses and riders available for selection. The team will give Australia every possible chance of doing well and we now focus on the preparation and training of the team and the reserve horses leading up to the Games.”

Australia has won the Team gold medal at the past three Olympic Games, which is an Olympic record. A gold medal in Athens will extend the record that the team created when it won gold in front of home supporters at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The Australian Eventing team is one of the most successful Australian Olympic teams having won 4 team gold medals (Rome 1960, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000), 2 Individual Gold medals (Lawrie Morgan 1960 and Matt Ryan 1992), 2 Individual Silver medals (Neale Lavis 1960, Andrew Hoy 2000) and 2 Team Bronze medals (Mexico 1968, Montreal 1976)

The Australian-based horses and riders travel to England on 17 July and will be joined by the UK and USA based team and reserve horse and riders in a final team camp in Marlborough on 01August. The horses and riders fly to Athens on a special horse charter flight on 10 August. The competition starts on 15 and concludes 18 August. A reserve combination will be flown to Athens along with the team horses. The reserve combination will be determined during the training camp in England. Team riders are only permitted to ride one horse at the Games and the reserve combination and any substitutions required will be based on the best available horse and rider combination eligible to compete in the team. Substitutions on veterinary grounds are permitted up to one hour before the first veterinary horse inspection scheduled for 14 August.

The format for the Athens event includes all five team riders completing the dressage, cross-country and showjumping tests. The Team medals are determined by the scores of the best three riders from each nation. All five riders will, however, receive a medal. The top 25 individuals progress through to complete an extra showjumping round to determine the Individual medals. A maximum of three riders per nation are permitted to progress into the individual showjumping round.

Note: Nominations will be submitted to the AOC once any appeals against non-nomination are received and finalized. Riders that have missed out on a nomination have until 11am on Thursday, 01 July 2004, to lodge their intention to appeal.

Wayne Roycroft – Head Coach
Coach of Australian team since 1988
Coach of the three gold medal winning Olympic teams 1992, 1996, 2000
Olympic rider at Mexico 1968 (bronze) Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984 (bronze)
Carried flag for Australian team at Los Angeles Olympic Games
Associate member Sport Australia Hall of Fame

Jim Dunn OAM – Chef d’Equipe
Chef d’Equipe for Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games
Chef d’Equipe for World Equestrian Games 1994, 1998, 2002
Chairman of Selectors since 1989
National Eventing Selector since 1985

Denis Goulding - Veterinarian
Team Veterinarian at Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games
Team Veterinarian at World Equestrian Games 1994, 1998, 2002
Member of the International Veterinary Commission (FEI)
Associate member Sport Australia Hall of Fame

Heath Ryan – Assistant Eventing coach
Assistant Eventing coach at Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games
Assistant Eventing coach at World Equestrian Games 1994,1998
Australian representative rider in Eventing and Dressage at World Equestrian Games

Section Manager - Gareth McKeen
Section Manager - 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
Chef de Mission - 2002 World Equestrian Games
Assistant Chef de Mission - 1998 World Equestrian Games
Assistant Section Manager - 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games