Nanjing Youth Olympics - Jake Saywell has an unexpected flying start!
Friday 15 August 2014
Tonight will see the official opening of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanging when then village square will become a hive of activity with the 4,000 athletes taking part.
Jake Sawyell, who is representing Great Britiain had his first ride on the horse which was drawn for him yesterday. Galaxy (or Leo as he is known in the stable) was ridden by Jake for the first time today and perhaps the best thing we could say is that it wasn’t all plain sailing!
Within a few minutes of being on him Jake had sat on a huge buck and then pitched over Galaxy’s head when the horse tripped and stumbled getting up. Thinking that was the first fall out the way and things would only get better, Jake would no doubt have been shocked to have landed on the floor again only a few minutes later when Galaxy put in another whopping buck after the first fence they’d jumped. Watching from the floor whilst Galaxy galloped around the arena fly bucking Jake remaining ever positive said “Well, we want to keep this one! If he has that much about him we will want that in the heat on day 4”. So Galaxy stays.
The European team are getting on very well and all getting on well with their horses whilst Jake stays on top of his. It’s a 5:30am start tomorrow for the riders and Corinne Bracken who is present in the role of Chef d’Equipe and keeping us all entertained with her daily blogs – without which we wouldn’t be able to pass on such insightful news!
Wishing the European Team of Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands and Ireland the very best of luck. In particular we are naturally keeping all fingers crossed for Jake Saywell, not only in respect of winning medals but also in managing to stay aboard Galaxy!
For more information on the Youth Olympic Games please visit www.nanging2014.org
Image from left to right: Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Ireland
.jpg "Rosie Smith lands the Zduchovice Children-on-Horses Grand Prix with Fruselli in the Czech Republic")
.jpg "Great Britain’s Young Riders delve deep to secure second place in the FEI Young Riders Nations Cup of Zduchovice")
.jpg "Great Britain claim second place in a tight, tense, FEI Junior Nations Cup of Zduchovice")
.jpg "Great Britain secure third place in the FEI Children-on-Horses Nations Cup of Zduchovice")