So Rio is here! Originally finding out we had made the reserve slot was obviously a slight disappointment, but still very exciting to be going to Rio 2016 and travelling there as part of Team GB and to be number 1 supporters to the rest of our team. Our next step was to go up to NEC in Birmingham and get all our kit. This was really exciting as it is my first Olympics and I’d been told about the amount of kit you get being unreal and they weren’t wrong, so who would be sad about a free shopping trip and a personal shopper! Although being exciting to do it did also feel rather weird seeing as we were still reserve. Two hours spent collecting new outfits, shoes, bags and not forgetting basically a years supply of nuts and fruit, that was it we were kitted out and even more excited at the prospect we were really going to Rio.
A few days later we got the call, we had been moved up to a team place. We were absolutely gutted for Izzy, Anna and their team, as we all know how much work goes into getting you and your horse to this stage in its career, you can’t not share the disappointment with them all. But obviously there was immediately a lot of excitement from our side and the scary bit set in, we couldn’t miss anything from now on in! Biz became our piece of very precious gold, especially after Pips horrendous fall earlier in the year with Sandman, who had at that stage been our contender for the games. The very sad news of Bizzy’s owner Carol passing it made his selection feel all the more special though.
The next few weeks were very busy packing trunks, ordering new kit, keeping Biz fit and ready and having the yard at home as organised as possible. Biz’s work load was upped including as increase in his galloping and longer hacks to keep him in best form possible.
With the Games getting close last Thursday I flew, the day before Biz did, so trunks had to be packed and ready before I left which was rather stressful! I left with Mumma Tattersall and Rach for Heathrow, we had a bit of retail therapy, a nice breakfast and then boarded our mammoth 11.5 hour flight to Rio, we were like excited kids! On our flight we were also joined by the GB Rugby 7s team, a great bunch to travel with and hopefully they will have a successful games.
Biz flew Friday from Stanstead and Pip left from Heathrow soon after. The horses a day behind us travelled well and settled in like pros on their arrival at the Deodoro Olympic Park. The venue is great, big airy stables, sand tracks and rubber matting everywhere although we even managed to find some green grass for the horses to munch on.
Although the majority of my time was being spent looking after Biz we got the chance to go to the Olympic village where all the athletes stay, getting a swim in the team GB apartments pool and having a general nosey around! We then awaited our riders…
As a groom these are the dreams we had as a child but now they are becoming reality!
Our thanks to Franki Murrell, Pippa Funnell’s head groom for sharing her Rio experience with us
