Zara Phillips and Toytown defend title
Next week, Zara Phillips, the Queen’s grandaughter, and superhorse Toytown, defend their European three-day eventing title in Rome.
Zara is quoted as saying, “A lot has changed in a short amount of time. I’ve certainly got a lot of confidence these days, which comes from winning the Europeans and the worlds. My confidence stems from the fact that others have belief in me now, a lot more than they had before. I don’t feel I have to prove myself any more to anyone. Nobody gave me those titles. The fact I come from the family I do had no relevance to what I’ve achieved. In fact, if anything, it’s been a disadvantage because of all the added attention.
“I’ve felt all along that I’ve had to do a lot better than others to get them to look at me as a sportswoman.”
At 26, Zara can certainly claim vindication for her long-term goals. It’s not an accident, of course, that her mother, Princess Anne, became European champion in 1971 and represented Britain at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her father, Mark Phillips, went one better, winning an Olympic team gold medal in Munich in 1972 and an Olympic team silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, as well as claiming the Badminton crown on four occasions.
Zara is still not satisfied, though. “I’ve done okay but there’s still loads of stuff to do. Sure, Mum didn’t win a world title, but she did compete at the Olympics and Dad has an Olympic gold and a silver medal. So there’s still so much to achieve.”
Her goal is to qualify automatically for next year’s Olympics, where the three-day event competition will be staged in Hong Kong. Naturally she’s aiming for gold.
“I’m pretty desperate to compete in the 2008 Games, partly because both my parents competed for Britain at the Olympics but also because Toytown and I missed out in 2004,” she says.
“As soon as London got the Olympics we’ve all been looking around to find the right horse for those particular Games. To be able to compete at the London Olympics will be really, really special. I got a taste of what having home support backing you is like when I won the European title at Blenheim in 2005. It will be 10 times as good in 2012.”
Unfortunately, Toytown’s career will not extend as far as the London Olympics. “Ah, well, I think I’ve found another special horse,” she said.
“I’m not going to tell you its name because there’s a long way to go, but he’s got loads of potential and I’m excited about the future.”
Let’s hope Zara and Toytown hit top form in Rome next week.
Zara has every right to have a lot more self confidence, her achievements are remarkable and all her own. Coming from the family she does probably does add a bit more pressure as both parents are extremely high level competitors. I hope she achieves her dream of winning the Gold!!!!!.
By Trudie on September 14th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Well said, Trudie! I agree totally. I have my fingers crossed that Zara achieves her fondest wish.
By Gigi on September 14th, 2007 at 2:15 am
In my view, Zara sets the pace for what other talented Royal youngsters can do if they dedicate themselves to a single activity.
When Zara broke away from jockey Richard Johnston and took up with the great Mike Tindall she changed from a talented amateur to a real pro — and now she can claim to be the best. We’re all rooting for her to get that Gold next year.
By John on September 14th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I was just thinking the same thing about Zara, John. I really like the fact that she is focused and ambitious and humble at the same time. I’m very, very impressed with her as a person. And she seems to be enjoying herself to boot. I like that she stands for something and wants to do it well. There’s not much more you can ask for from a young person. Somewhere in all those messy divorces, her parents did something very good.
By Marie on September 14th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I just saw some photographs of Zara in the Daily Mail. They are captioned “Zara and her fuller figure” but it appears to me that she is not at all in the physical shape she should be in to compete in a physically challenging competition on horseback. Weight control and balance is key to both the rider and the horse.
I hope she knows what she is doing.
By Gigi on September 14th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I saw those pics too, Gigi. She does seem to be a little flabby, and any extra weight won’t help Toytown in the cross country run.
By John on September 15th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I am floored at her lack of physical conditioning, John. My daughter rides and jumps horses and does cross-training and is extremely careful to keep herself in top physical condition. Racing and jumping horses are dangerous endeavors for both the rider and the horse and weight and muscle tone and control are critical elements. Mark Phillips needs to get after his daughter on this factor.
By Gigi on September 15th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I saw more pictures of Tara at Daily Mail today, in an airline hostess costume. It was gaping a bit in the midsection. There’s no chance that she’s pregnant, is there? I mean, they wouldn’t let her ride in these events if that happened, would they?
By Evelyn on September 16th, 2007 at 12:27 am
I find it hard to believe that Zara is carrying a serious amount of extra conditon. I didn’t see the pictures but even if she has put on a few pounds it would have no bearing on her ability to compete. Look at Nick Skelton or Harvey Smith when they competed they weren’t exactly skin and bone, i think Nick Skelton is still competing and he must be nearly sixty so i doubt if he is jockey thin.
So while she did lose the championship i doubt very much it was because of a few pounds up.
Evelyn, as regards her riding while pregnant that really is up to the prospective mother nobody else. I know a girl who competed at the RDS in Dublin, a major showjumping venue, pregnant and took a bad fall. The baby was okay but nobody approved of the risk she took.
Zara would not take that risk but then she will not get pregnant until she is married. The queen would go ballistic as would her mother.
By Eliza on September 20th, 2007 at 1:06 pm