I Got a Golden Ticket!!!!!!!

Well the excitement of Greenwich started on Sunday afternoon, whilst from the Hub of Jude's couch, I managed to pick up a cheap ticket to the following day's showjumping event. My friend Juha had posted that he had picked one up and i chanced my luck and was successful. Then i realised we were sitting in joint 2nd place and would be in with a chance of a medal - how fabulous.



We met up at Waterloo at 10.30am with the idea of heading up to Greenwich on a riverboat. Unfortunately i think a few thousand people had the same idea so we took the tube then the Docklands Light Railway. En route the rain came on but when we reached Greenwich the sun was splitting the sky.
We had loads of time so took our chance to have a pleasant early afternoon - (yes the sun was over the yard arm just) drink and got prime spot in front of a screen for the athletics.


We then headed off towards Greenwich Park. We found a quaint little pub called The Gipsy Moth, where on our way through the door we were looked up and down and advised there was a Weatherspoons pub round the corner!!!! How cheeky is that? I could not stop laughing as we headed into the middle of their dining room to sit and have our drink in all our Union Jack glory.
We finally reached Greenwich park and it was beautiful. There were big screens where you could sit and watch the action without a ticket.

There was also The Royal Navy on security - a nice little treat for me.
We got into the arena and climbed up to our seats and could not believe how good they were. Very very central and close to the final jump. It was so exciting. The jumps all looked fabulous and we were treated to an explanation of each one and of the rules of the competition. We were advised to keep the applause the same for all teams, not because it would give an unfair advantage but because we might spook the horses lol. e were allowed to shout and scream all we wanted once they had finished their round.

The action started with the individual jumpers then began the team jumpers. It was very tense with Saudi Arabia out in from with 4 teams including Team GB in 2nd place. We started with a clear round from the magnificent Nick Skelton then had a round with 4 faults in our second round. Scott Brash from Peebles then jumped clear to massive applause. The Netherlands were out closest rivals and they also jumped a couple of clear rounds. With a round of 4 faults from Team GB we were left with The Netherlands left to jump. A clear round would win them Gold, 4 faults would put us tied in 1st and more than 4 faults, Team GB would win. It is a difficult situation to watch as when The Netherlands knocked down their first fence there were small yelps of joy, not at their misfortune but the fact people knew the Gold was not out of our grasp. It ended in a tie meaning we had to have a jump off. Basically the we were faced with the Penalty Shoot Out of the Horsey world. These were the rules - shorter course, all 4 jumpers jump, 3 scores count, time comes into play if scores are even - got that? Off we go.

Team GB jumped first - CLEAR!!!!! Then The Netherlands - CLEAR!!!!! Team GB - CLEAR!!!!!!!! The Netherlands - 4 Faults - yikes this is exciting. Team GB jump - 4 Faults!!!!  - aaaarg but not a disaster. The Netherlands jump - 4 faults!!!! - wow this meant we were left with the situation that if Team GB jumped clear in their final round we would win gold - the first showjumping gold medal in 60 years!!!!!! Peter Charles came out to as low an applause as we could possibly muster. The 12 000 strong crowd jumped every jump with him. We lightly gasped as he cleared every fence. Held out breath as a couple of them wobbled then went ballistic when he came over the final fence in a clear round - What An Amazing Feeling. We won Gold!!!!! I witnessed Gold!!!!!! I cried!!!!!! We hugged strangers!!!!! I cried some more!!!!!!

I recovered just in time for the victory ceremony which was magical. The horses were all written round the arena then stood as the jockeys took to the podium. I stood as the National Anthem played and have never been prouder - all the time thanking my lucky stars that I managed to get my golden ticket so cheaply and last minute just the afternoon before.

What a day it was. We headed off to Heineken House - the Dutch party house where they really know how to celebrate medals. The set up is you go in, you put money on a pre paid card and off you go spending. I enjoyed beer and food whilst playing on the rowing machine and getting out photos taken lighting the flame. There were big screens showing different sports and the whole of the Ally Pally was bathed in a sea of Orange. It was a stunning spectacle. The 4 show jumpers were brought down a ladder from the rafters of the beautiful Alexandria Palace to rapturous applause, dancing and music. The don't look on silver as a lost gold. Their athletes don't apologise for only getting a silver. They celebrate every medal as they should be celebrated and many a Team GB performer and members of the GB media could definitely take a leaf out of their book.