the twenty seventh of july 2012
The opening ceremony was unbelievable. The absolute best of British and to be able to watch it all as an athlete, as part of the British team, well, that was the cherry on top.
She hadn't been able to believe her eyes when the screens that all the athletes were watching the ceremony on had shown Buckingham Palace. And then inside the palace, with James Bond walking through.
"Is that Monty and Willow?" She had asked Zara, squinting desperately to try to be able to see the screen. The fact that she didn't have her glasses on meaning that all she could see really was two corgi shaped balls of fluff toddling after Bond.
"Yeah I think so," had been Zara's reply, "as if Granny let them use her corgis."
"Look." Bella had gripped on to Zara's arm as he walked through into the room they had been in so many times, "no, no it's not."
"It looks like Granny." Zara had practically shouted as the camera changed to show the back of her.
The two of them waited, holding on to each other as she began to turn around.
"Good evening Mr. Bond."
Whilst Bella would have never admitted to screaming as her grandmother spoke those words, she definitely, definitely did. Along with the millions of people in the stadium.
"It's granny! Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it's granny!"
Jumping up and down, Bella finally stopped when Zara, who had much better eyesight, grabbed hold of her arm again and said, "look look look Bella, she's acting! Granny's actually acting."
"Aww," she replied, becoming almost tearful as she watched the film, "and the dogs are doing such a good job."
The two of them stood together, watching in delight as the film played on. And then both falling into a stunned silence as the helicopter arrived overhead and a woman wearing exactly the same thing flew out holding onto a Union Jack parachute.
"Christ alive."
"I don't think it's her Bella."
"I suppose." She had sighed, a huge smile now permanently on her face, "oh my god Z," she had exclaimed as they watched her enter the stadium, "she's wearing the same outfit... oh, granny is such a legend."
♔♕
The rest of the ceremony played out much the same. The two of them getting overexcited about things, Zara having to point out what was going on when Bella was too blind to see them and then Bella moving to another level of excitement once she knew what was happening.
And then it was finally time for them to walk out into the stadium. The other countries seemed to have been going for ages and now, as the host nation and therefore the last to go, it was their turn.
The roar that went through the stadium as 'Great Britain' was announced was unlike anything Bella had ever heard before. It was pride. And hopefulness. And joy. All mixed into one.
And she was part of it.
Standing next to Zara, the two of them waved in the direction of their family as they walked alongside people from all different backgrounds but with two things in common, their love for their sport and their love for their country.
For once it didn't matter who she was or who they were. They were part of a team. Of team Great Britain. That was what mattered.
♔♕
the twenty ninth of july 2012
day one
It was raining.
Of course it was bloody raining.
You couldn't have got any more British than the Queen's granddaughter riding her dressage test for Team GB in Greenwich Park in the rain.
I mean it sort of had to be.
Thank god it wasn't as bad as it was earlier. Now she just had the tail end of the storm that had passed through. But still, it was raining.
Oh well. She was British. She was meant for this. And Rio didn't seem bothered by it so she wouldn't be either.
Maybe she could embrace it. It would make sure Rio didn't get too hot.
Anything to take her mind off the fact that she was the next person in the arena. Her dressage test was next.
Nothing to worry about at all she told herself. It was a dressage test. Like all the others she had done before, and if she could specifically ask it to be like a particular one, it was the one last year at the Europeans. Yes, it was just like that.
Bella had really hoped that the crowd wouldn't cheer when her name came up on the board. Nothing to spook Rio. He had to stay concentrating. But they did.
And so she braced herself. Braced herself for the spook, or the buck, or the little prance he would do. Thankfully, his head just shot up and he jolted forward, but that was fine. That was nothing where Rio was concerned. Good.
She gave a final glance up to the stands where she knew her family were sat. Just about managing to make out her father, brothers, aunt and grandfather, she smiled softly before returning back to the job at hand.
Nothing different. Just like last year. It would be fine.
♔♕
"Well I think the roar from the crowd tells us who is next into the arena here at Greenwich, don't you Ian?"
"Definitely, definitely... I don't think she really wanted that to happen but it was always going to, and I have to say she's handled it very well."
"Yes definitely, the woman on the grey horse that was prancing around a moment ago is of course no one other than HRH Princess Isabella of Wales riding Antarctic Emperor for Team GB."
"Very exciting round this Mike, the test they did last year at Luhmühlen that won them the European Championships was their best ever, and I think many are hoping they will replicate that."
"Yes well, fingers crossed these crowds don't put him off to much... here we go, the bell has rung and she is heading into the ring... for Great Britain, Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Wales riding Antarctic Emperor."
"Well they've started off well, he actually stayed in halt which I wasn't sure he'd do so that's a bonus... it was a very straight entry as well... an 8 from the centre line judge, that's a very promising beginning."
"This pairing as we said earlier became the top in Europe last summer, they've still got that title at the minute and I think Ian, will probably want to be defending it next year?"
"That'll definitely be in her mind... and then the worlds as well, and probably a 4* whilst she's at it... very brave with the extended trot there, he really tried to spook at the flower pot but she kept her inside leg on and just about managed to make it look like that was meant to happen... her score might just drop a little for that... yes 7 from the judge at E."
"Rio is of course owned by Her Majesty The Queen, bought by her as a yearling and has been with Isabella ever since which is a lovely story isn't it..."
"It certainly is... she's not allowing too much in the extended walk but to be honest I don't blame her, I think the hardest thing will be for him to stay in medium walk and not anticipate the transition... and I think she's just about managing it, and what a transition that was!"
"At the minute I think the team will probably be looking for a score in the forties which would be very nice wouldn't it..."
"It would be very nice and I'm just watching now, he's got a beautiful canter this horse, he carries himself so well especially with how big he is... a lovely half pass there, and I think she's going to be brave and ask for the extended canter which will definitely pay off... and she has, he's off like a rocket but it's a balanced rocket so that's okay... and he's come back too so that's even better."
"I was a bit worried he'd just carry on then Ian, I'm not sure about you."
"Yes off into the distance but it's fine... and it was a risk that's paid off as well one eight and two nines for the extended canter which is excellent."
"Coming into the final part of the test now... this is looking like a very promising test for Great Britain."
"He's so expressive this horse, I mean how she stays on for the flying changes I don't know."
"The final movement, and just watch this horse once the crowd begins because I would bet it's going to be quite entertaining."
"I agree Mike... well she controlled him wonderfully there, a beautiful test, oh and another fantastic halt there... and there we go, that's the Rio we all love."
"And, I mean she's nearly falling off but look at the smile there... she just seems absolutely delighted."
♔♕
As she felt Rio still below her, Bella placed both the reigns in one hand, her other falling by her side as she saluted each of the judges.
It didn't stay by her side very long though because as she saluted, what she could only describe as a roar encompassed her, Rio shooting off as the incredible sound hit him.
They had done it. They had actually done it. Rio had stayed calm, he maintained his concentration and together they had done it. And done it quite well it seemed.
Whilst the crowd continued to cheer, Bella tried to at least point Rio in the direction of the exit, even if he was still jumping around everywhere. "Good boy, you're a clever boy, well done." She whispered, leaning forwards to give his neck a pat, "come on."
With a quick look behind her, she grinned and waved over in the direction of where her family was, the smile only increasing as she left the arena and was greeted by the rest of the team.
There she waited for a brief moment, sliding down from Rio and giving him another big pat whilst she waited for the score to come up.
42.10
Fan-bloody-tastic.
Towards the top of the board. A good score to add for the team total. Just brilliant.
And now, now it was time for the fun stuff.
♔♕
𝗔/𝗡: 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲!
𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶'𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝗶'𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗶 𝗰𝗮𝗻, 𝗶 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶'𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆.
𝗦𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳𝗳, 𝗶'𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗶 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆.
𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗶 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴!