The Summer Olympics in London have been both exhilarating and devastating for two Salmon Arm athletes competing in the Games.
Monday could only be described as a heart-breaking day for the Canadian Eventing Team and Salmon Arm’s Rebecca Howard.
On Sunday the team competed in dressage, the first of its three-phase competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The cross-country jumping event was Monday with stadium jumping set for Tuesday.
Things went relatively well for the five-rider team Sunday, with a top score for the team of 31st place tallied by Hawley Bennett-Awad on her horse Gin & Juice, and Salmon Arm’s Rebecca Howard and her horse Riddle Master claiming 34th spot.
On Monday, however, the Canadian team experienced one disaster after another on the gruelling cross-country course. It seemed that anything that could go wrong did go wrong.
First rider out, Bennett-Awad, fell at the third fence and was taken away by ambulance. According to media reports, she suffered a concussion as well as a fractured tail bone.
Next Canadian pair, Peter Barry on Kilrodan Abbott, both fell at the 11th fence, but weren’t injured. A fall means elimination.
The third Canadian rider, Jessica Phoenix on Exponential, put in a good round, with the same hoped for Howard, who was described in media reports as “Canada’s anchor pair.”
It was not to be, however.
Halfway through the course, on the 14th obstacle, which consisted of two jumps, things unravelled.
According to the Eventing Nation website, Riddle Master had problems with the first jump, which left Howard off balance and without stirrups. As he attempted to jump the second part, Howard fell.
As if that wasn’t enough tragedy for one day, the fifth Canadian rider, Michelle Mueller on Amistad, completed the course but was told later that Amistad had torn a tendon. He has been withdrawn from the Olympics and, just as he was reaching the peak of his career, will have to be retired.
Another former Salmon Arm resident is experiencing better luck.
Allison McNeill, coach of the Canadian Women’s Basketball team, experienced success on Monday when the Canadian women defeated the hometown favourites, Great Britain, 73-65.
That evened the Canadian team’s record to 1-1, following a 58-53 loss to the formidable second-ranked Russian team.
Canada led until the fourth quarter, when Russia couldn’t be stopped.
“We know who we are and are humble about what we have to do,” said McNeill on the Canada Basketball website.
“Russia showed their experience down the stretch with an 18-3 run and they punished us. We made some mistakes in transition which is not us because we are very good in transition. I am very proud of our team and we still are ready to upset some people.”
The team followed through on her prediction.
Following the win versus Great Britain, Canada was scheduled to take on France at 1 a.m. PST today.
