The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, 14th in line to the British throne, placed 24th out of 74 riders in the eventing dressage competition, reports the Associated Press. Photo Credit: Reuters.
Zara Phillips was in Greenwich Park Sunday, where she competed in Individual Eventing, on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe.
Riding her horse High Kingdom, Zara Phillips made Britain and the royal family proud on Sunday with her Olympic equestrian debut.
Zara Phillips- Olympics Day 2 – Equestrian. Photo Credit: PA
“It was incredible, an amazing feeling to be part of the Olympics and to ride for your country and to just be here. The crowd are amazing,” Phillips told media. “It was incredible to be selected, and to be at here at home for the Olympics is an amazing feeling. You try to do your best for the team.”
Zara Phillips- Olympics Day 2 – Equestrian. Photo Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe
Husband of Phillips, Mike Tindall, cheered for his wife in the audience, along with some very special royal supporters.
Proud royal supporters: Prince Philip and Princess Anne watched Phillips compete in her first Olympic Games. Photo Credit: AP.
“Her [Zara's] grandfather, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and her mother, Princess Anne, were in the VIP seats as Phillips put High Kingdom through the paces of a standard dressage test to demonstrate the horse’s obedience,” says AP.
Of the performance, AP reports: “High Kingdom made a mistake toward the beginning of the canter in the first of a maneuver known as the flying change. The horse is supposed to change the sequence of its steps, but High Kingdom didn’t respond immediately to Phillips’ cues.”
Phillips spoke to media of the mistake after the competition, saying: “It was disappointing about his first change, but his other ones were really good. But he coped with all the crowd and is only getting better.”
Zara Pillips as she leads her horse through the competition. Photo Credit: AP
The Olympic excitement isn’t over for Phillips just yet: on Monday comes the cross-country segment of the competition and, on Tuesday, jumping, says AP.
Zara Phillips showed off her equestrian skills during the second day of the London Olympic Games. Photo Credit: PA
