Organizers of the London Olympics admit they are still no closer to resolving the problems with the much-criticized competition arena surface for next summer’s equestrian events after a re-test of the material produced more complaints from international riders.
The suppliers of the surface have now been ordered to go back to the drawing board and rethink the composition of sand, fiber and wax — only nine months before the Games are due to start.
The official Olympic test event in Greenwich Park in July was overshadowed by criticisms from show jumpers that the footing was “dead” and “heavy” and unsuitable for top-level competition.
The same surface was used at the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s NEC earlier this month. Afterwards eight leading riders were invited to test it again behind closed doors. The re-test produced an identical reaction to the July event, with riders complaining that the surface was pudding-like.
A spokeswoman for the London organizing committee (Locog) said: “There was a grumble that it was too waxy, by which they mean it is too heavy and there is a danger of horses’ hooves getting stuck.”
The feedback has been passed to the contractors, Andrews Bowen, who have been told to alter the make-up of the material before a third test is staged with leading riders before the end of the year.
If the problems persist, Locog may have no choice but to find a new supplier for the 7-8,000 tons of material required for the competition arena and surrounding practice areas — a nightmare scenario so close to the Games, and an embarrassing one for a country that pioneered the development of all-weather riding surfaces 30 years ago.
Changing the composition of the material is certain to have cost implications for Locog but the bigger concern will be finding a surface that meets the requirements of riders and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Greenwich Park is due to receive its first deliveries of the material as early as next spring.
“We have the legal capability to change suppliers if we want to but we are some way off that at the moment,” said the Locog spokeswoman. “We will do a re-test, and that will be done before the end of the year.
“Clearly, we want riders on board with us. We have to have the international federation’s support and their clearance, so that is why we have to re-test, but it’s a bit speculative to be talking about changing suppliers at this stage.”
The quality of the arena surface is crucial to the success of the equestrian events as it will be the field of play for 12 out of the 13 days of equine competition at the Games. Only the cross-country event takes place on natural grass.
The uncertainty over the material is the equivalent of having no idea what track material to use for the athletics events in the Olympic Stadium, though the FEI said it had every faith the issues would be resolved.