tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64755984974964842942024-03-13T09:31:00.848-04:00Brian O'Connor in Hong KongBrian O'Connor, the announcer of the equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, shares the inside scoop.EquiSearch.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671815112903432584noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-40628653366228056402008-08-23T11:40:00.002-04:002008-08-23T12:03:01.575-04:00Wrap upwell, a couple of nights off and we are getting ready to come home. We finished the Games with another typhoon! Bigger than the first one! Level 9, with wind up to 90mph and heavy rain...we were secluded in the hotel for a day and night,,,,,and the poor people who were supposed to go home on Friday, had to wait a full day, depending on where they were headed. Most of them got out today (Sat) brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-52476546205561354502008-08-21T14:48:00.003-04:002008-08-21T15:04:29.926-04:00picsMe doing one of my course walks on the telescreen, and one of the dragon jump, final round. Not too bad walking the course while all the riders are walking around me too! Great fun...brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-79925671103786230722008-08-21T14:28:00.003-04:002008-08-21T15:12:58.670-04:00Canada and Sweden and USA!!!GAMES END WITH THE CANADIAN ANTHEM!!!The show jumping world was introduced to the very first CANADIAN medalist in equestrian competition…Eric Lamaze and Hickstead topped the world in a gold medal jump off, after 5 days of competition, and 5 rounds, plus the jump off , of excellent horsemanship and craftsmanship. He put in superb rounds throughout and deserved the gold. He came into the brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-91630387413277204702008-08-19T14:51:00.001-04:002008-08-19T14:52:41.702-04:00Dressage Final - TuesdayDressage Final – Anky wins 3rd consecutive gold!!Yes, history was made tonight as Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands, won her third consecutive individual gold medal in dressage..history was made tonight, as no other equestrian has ever done this (I think I am correct here). Her dressage test in the freestyle competition was exceptional…much more balanced, free of tension, and very difficult.brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-38854524272825868112008-08-19T14:10:00.003-04:002008-08-19T16:06:29.872-04:00Dressage final - Anky does it againbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-19728324209596979722008-08-18T13:11:00.001-04:002008-08-18T13:58:10.307-04:00GOLD FOR USA IN FINAL + PANDAS!!!GOLD FOR USA JUMPING TEAM!!!The night was extraordinary – USA and Canada in a jump off for the gold! A North American sweep of the gold , and silver jumping. First time ever!! Norway was bronze, their first ever jumping medal (from what they tell me)…it was a night to remember. After all the bad and unfortunate events for our 3 day squad, and the dressage squad. We truly have something to brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-34081572871456313052008-08-18T13:07:00.004-04:002008-08-18T15:00:42.285-04:00Day 13 - GOLD!!!!!brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-3971003068677983492008-08-17T13:30:00.000-04:002008-08-17T13:31:38.025-04:00Day 12 Team jumpingDay 12 Show jumping team –round 1Team USA is tied for the lead after night one….finally our USET is jumping out in front early! Our riders have a team total of 12….three scores count for the results. Mclain Ward got the single clear for us on Sapphire with a tremendously strong performance. This mare was extraordinary with her jumping - really leaping cleanly over the 13 jumps. The course brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-50786935295117168682008-08-17T12:45:00.003-04:002008-08-18T17:12:43.582-04:00Day 12- Show jumping- team round 1brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-14766992589116401482008-08-16T14:21:00.002-04:002008-08-16T16:48:29.779-04:0011a Dressage Grand Prix SpecialDressage GP SpecialWell gang hang on for a great ride tonight…I’ve got it all : from lunch on HK island, to GPS, to superstars at the bar, to superstars on my bus, to superstars hugging and hand shaking the announcer, to big screen appearance #4, to acing the announcing for the GPS, to Tsing Tao in my room/office here at 2am, after a great day. Any questions? Good, you are dismissed, and brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-3301617520430990892008-08-16T14:16:00.004-04:002008-08-16T16:49:23.090-04:00day 11 picsbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-22502008406203672652008-08-15T13:12:00.001-04:002008-08-15T13:45:51.542-04:0010a jumpingDay 10 _Show Jumping starts!!Aren’t the jumps great? The colors and atmosphere are totally terrific…packed stands, and the competition was super. Team USA in the lead with 3 of 4 clear in the qualifying 1st round. Finally something for the USA fans to cheer about. Beezie and Mclain were fantastic, and our “rookie” Olympian, Will Simpson put in a clear round. Laura almost made it 4 clear, brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-53371055127035030412008-08-15T13:07:00.003-04:002008-08-15T16:58:41.252-04:00Day 10 -Jumping startsbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-75375594299035661932008-08-14T13:53:00.000-04:002008-08-14T13:54:19.870-04:00Dressage Team final - nightDAY 9 WOES…FOR USA PARTICIPANTSJust by that header, you can imagine it was not a great night for our dressage squad….we finished in fourth just out of the medals. Courtney from yesterday with a 70.4 and Steffen with his 70.00 could not bring up the total enough to beat the Danish squad. Poor Debbie and our wonderful mare Brentina, had a rough day and only scored, I hate to say, 63.00….something brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-57234179188189530452008-08-14T13:00:00.005-04:002008-08-14T22:17:46.689-04:00Day 9 picsFun photos of downtown HK olympic site and the medal ceremony/victory round....brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-81887665418949078012008-08-13T13:46:00.000-04:002008-08-13T13:47:46.232-04:00Day 8 GP Dressage openingDay 8 – Dressage Day1Our GP riders, who have been here for almost 10 days, have finally started. The first half went tonight, and the second part of the draw tomorrow. Remember, that there are only 3 riders now in the Olympic format…so no drop score if anyone has any problems. Very tough!! Courtney was the first USA rider and boy did she put in one super test. Her first Games and she gets abrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-50921840127497863152008-08-13T13:37:00.003-04:002008-08-14T22:19:24.300-04:00pics of pre competition and entertainmentbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-40702178830458294502008-08-12T15:05:00.005-04:002008-08-12T17:21:43.811-04:00Day 7 - Bravo, Gina!OK gang here is the great news.... USA won the individual silver medal in 3 day!!! Gina Miles and McKinlaigh have just won the silver medal at the Olympics! She jumped two clear rounds in show jumping to capture the silver. She went in in 4th, and as the two ahead of her each dropped a rail, she kept moving up. When the final rider for Germany , Hinrich Romeike went, we were all on our toes..EquiSearch.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671815112903432584noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-51316867527448896232008-08-12T13:52:00.002-04:002008-08-12T13:56:14.963-04:007A pics of day 7 - 3 day final text to follow, 7Bbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-38213719852145811762008-08-11T03:59:00.003-04:002008-08-11T09:50:19.259-04:00Day 6My blogging friends on Day 6 – cross country. A bit of a sad day for Team USA – not the expected results. We dropped way down after a tough day…really it was just unfortunate things. The new FEI rules dictate now that 1 fall of horse/rider is cause for elimination (previously a rider could continue and a 2nd fall would eliminate them). Anyway, poor Amy Tryon on Poggio had a stumble upon EquiSearch.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671815112903432584noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-68731153835350038472008-08-11T03:07:00.001-04:002008-08-11T03:07:20.267-04:00DAY 6 - ON COURSE!!! EquiSearch.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671815112903432584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-1548014513573127902008-08-10T11:00:00.003-04:002008-08-11T09:53:49.560-04:00day 5Well gang..here is the second version of my post tonight...the blogger.com site has now kicked out two of my blogs (3 pages each). I have to find out a way to resolve not having to retype the whole thing over. If anyone can help me, including equisearch.com, please do so.Anwyay, the final day of dressage has the USA in 3rd place, after Australia (can't beat em eh) and Germany. Phillip and brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-6728041624713454202008-08-09T12:05:00.003-04:002008-08-11T09:57:41.667-04:00day 4 _ O3Well finally we got this thing started!! A great day of dressage with 6 scores in the 30's! One of them is Gina Miles for Team USA and the other is becky Holder with Courageous Comet...Gina would have a better score , except McKinlaigh decided he wanted to become a Grand Prix dressage horse and do multiple flying changes during the serpentine movement. Too bad , cuz she was so on form...a brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-54470731800070671872008-08-08T10:58:00.005-04:002008-08-08T11:48:28.122-04:00day 3b -photosbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475598497496484294.post-51893525889118933012008-08-08T10:51:00.002-04:002008-08-08T10:57:18.175-04:00Hello and welcome from day 3!! I have just come back from our opening ceremony, parade of athletes, and am now back in the hotel watching the parade of teams in Beijing!! How cool is that? Our opening night here was super..lots of theatrics, lion dances, and lots of color and fanfare. The Honk Kong Jockey Club, who owns all of the Olympic equestrian sites, hosted us tonight, and it was brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15531455513024788031noreply@blogger.com1