2004 Olympic Games - Eventing

Wide Lead for Bettina Hoy After Dressage Phase

Bettina Hoy (GER) holds a wide lead at the end of the first Dressage day of the Eventing competition where she scored 32 points on Ringwood Cockatoo. At the press conference following the competition, she praised the well-known dressage rider Ingrid Klimke, who replaced her coach for the duration of the Olympic Games. "The spirit of cooperation and the cheerful atmosphere among the riders is a true illustration of the Olympic ideal" she said. "It must be one of the very few sports where the athletes really appreciate the performance of the others" she added. On the cross country course designed by Albino Garbari (ITA), she said "it is a very fair and beautiful course, and the horse really has a chance to find a good rhythm. I am looking forward to riding it".

Bettina is followed by young New Zealander Heelan Tompkins with her 18 year old Glengarrick, who is the oldest horse to take part in the Eventing competition. The combination scored 44 points.

Hinrich Romeike (GER) is third with Marius (44.60). Romeike, who is a dentist, was the best placed German rider at the 2003 European Championship in Punchestown.

The wind was the biggest opponent in todays competition. The Greek "Meltemi" blew flags and flower decoration and troubled some horses nerves. New Zealander Blyth Tait and his gold medal horse from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games were the hardest hit. Ready Teddy was tense from the start of his test and finished with a score of 63.6 points.

37 of the 75 riders have completed the dressage test, which will continue tomorrow Monday at 10:00.

The complete results are available on Athens 2004 website www.athens2004.com