Britain on Display: the Olympic Jumps

Hooray for the British featuring some of their great accomplishments throughout history not only in the opening  ceremonies, but also in the venues and especially in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition.

It was great fun to watch the beach volleyball at Horse Guards, wasn't it?



We are more used to seeing the parade grounds at Horse Guards at the Trooping of the Colour.


Horse Guards Parade, Trooping the Colour

The Arena for the Olympic Equestrian Events was held on the grounds of the Queen';s House, Greenwich, below the Greenwich Observatory.



Usually, this area is a lawn and so it will be after the Olympics, the organizers assure us.



Queen's House and skyline from the Greenwich Observatory

Greenwich Observatory from the bottom of the hill

Stonehenge Jump
Course Designer Bob Ellis and his team put together a wonderful array of obstacles for the show jumpers, all of which displayed an aspect of British history.

Big Ben is a natural!

What is more iconic than a London bus, especially in the rain???


And the Royal Mail pillar-style post boxes are seen all over Britain.


Honoring Charles Darwin



The site itself was honored, with the old Royal Naval Hospitals and the Queen's House underneath the horse


Greenwich Observatory and the Prime Meridian


A London Panorama


Number 10 Downing Street


Tower Bridge

Many jumps were designed to honor various maritime achievements.

Abbey Road and the Beatles

To see more of the clever jumps and to read about the creators, click here.  My favorite course is here.  Then scroll down to my favorite, Fence Six.  Stupendous!!

Finally Congratulations to the superb equestrians of Team GB:

Eventing Team: Silver


Dressage Team: Gold


Show Jumping: Gold



Individual Dressage, Laura Bechtolsheimer, GB (bronze), Gold Medal Winner Charlotte Dujardin, GB