London 2012: Zara Phillips Makes Olympics Debut

Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, made her Olympic debut today, competing in the second day of the individual dressage at Greenwich Park.

Riding High Kingdom, she scored 46.1 penalty points during her dressage routine before lunchtime, which left her in twenty-fourth place following the conclusion of the day’s competition. In the team eventing, Great Britain – comprising of Phillips, Nicola Wilson, Mary King, Kristina Cook and William Fox-Pitt – is currently in third place.

Phillips’ score was impacted mistakes made by her mount who prematurely went from walk to canter, and during the flying change from trot to canter, where High Kingdom did not respond immediately to the command.

In the stands to cheer on the 31-year-old were the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Timothy Laurence, Mike Tindall, Peter and Autumn Phillips and Princess Benedikte of Denmark. Zara’s father, Mark – the coach of the US team, was also there to support his daughter. Each joined in the massive cheer when Phillips entered the arena, but Princess Anne maintained her composure clapping politely.

Phillips will compete in the cross-country discipline of the eventing tomorrow, which she says is her “strongest phase” as High Kingdom is a “good jumper and quick to turn…he wants to get out there.”

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Autumn Phillips, Captain Mark Phillips, Equestrian, Horses, House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, London 2012, Olympic Games, Peter Phillips, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Sport, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Zara Tindall.