Athletes competing in the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational rode their horses through the cross country course today.
Thousands of spectators, many of them school children, cheered on as the horses tackled the jumps on day two of the competition.
Great Britain’s Piggy French, riding DHI Topper W, continues to top the leaderboard, with Sweden’s Sara Algotsson with Germany’s Michael Jung in second and third respectively.
Speaking to Greenwich.co.uk in Greenwich Park today, Nick Raynsford MP hailed the Eventing Invitational as a “spectacular success.”
“It’s shown very clearly this is not damaging to the park, this is actually making the very most of the park and showing off to the world, as it will do, just what a lovely and wonderful park we’ve got here in Greenwich.” (Hear Nick Raynsford’s full comments here)
Tomorrow’s final day of the Eventing Invitational will see competitors tackle the showjumping stage back in the temporary arena and prizes will be handed out by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
I was there and I’ve got to say it was a truely wonderful day. Many of the equestrian crowd seemed genuinely amazed by Greenwich and excited by the idea of racing through the park.
I saw plenty of familiar Greenwich faces and they were all smiling and the school kids were clearly thrilled to be there.
Can’t wait till next year now.