Eventer's Olympic dream

HELEN Goddard was in good company at the Melbourne International Eventing last year, she and Olympic gold medallist Stuart Tinney were the only two to have clear rounds in cross country and showjumping in a two-star field of 30.

After graduating from SOTE at the end of the 2008 school year, she had a gap year working with national eventing representatives Blair Richardson and his wife Nikki Bishop at Scone in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.

Richardson has represented New Zealand at Trans-Tasman level and Bishop competed for Australia in individual eventing at the Atlanta Olympics. Bishop led after the dressage before finishing out of a place.

Last year, Goddard cleaned out a lot of stables, worked many horses, but also found time to compete on her own horse Kilburi Mambo. She also broke in some racehorses.

Goddard is now studying nursing at university on the Gold Coast so is taking a break from the sport.

For the next three years, Richardson will ride her horse, Mambo, as he chases an Olympic dream with New Zealand in 2012.

Goddard said Mambo and Wally were the two horses Richardson was pinning his hopes on for London.

If Mambo makes it to the Olympics, it will be proud moment for the Goddard family. Helen’s father Simon broke in the horse, her sister Alison did the initial training and Mum Cathy supported them all the way.

Richardson and Mambo compete in three star at Scone this weekend.