Last night's Opening Ceremony has left the team with a sense of awe. Unfortunately Trish and Susan did not attend as it was felt that with their dressage tests this morning they might get tired. They watched the ceremony with the Irish swimmers in the Olympic Village. Virgina, Nikki, Helen and Mary watched just by the Flame. Austin and Trevor marched with the team. I watched the Ceremony at a Street Party in Paramatta, the town in which I'm staying. It was spectacular.

The Team has been nicknamed "The Bitch Pack" and the individuals are the "Stallion Masters". Helen is known as the Trolley Dolly because she goes everywhere on a small scooter. As I am responsible for the last nickname, I am keeping a low profile !

Susan was very relaxed this morning prior to her test. Her Mum was polishing her boots when we arrived into the stables. It is lucky that there was any leather left on the boots. As Ann Shortt, Susan's sister, prepared Joy Of My Heart, Susan was busy tiding her hair and straightening her clothes. She was laughing and joking.

In the dressage, the Australians are two teams ahead of us in the running order. The crowd gave Andrew Hoy and Darien Powers a tremendous reception when their score of 30.6 was announced. Janet Brakewell of Britain was the next with a score of 50.6. She got a good reception from the large British contingent. The Australians will give their team members a lot of support and this may be difficult for the Brits as they follow them into the arena. This may act against us as the Brits will want to match the Aussies.

Susan Shortt and Joy Of My Heart received a mark of 69.9. The little mare seemed intimidated by the arena. She seemed to get smaller. Susan tried to lift her and go forward. Unfortunately the mare was backing off the bit. Susan tried everything but to no avail. The mare found the occasion too much. Patricia Donnegan produced the test of a lifetime. Don't Step Back rose to the occasion. All the work that Van de Vater and Mary D'arcy had done over the past few months paid off. She got a mark of 54.3

Some other scores to note:

Mark Todd on Diamond Hall (NZ) 58.6

David O'Conner (USA) 44.4

Leslie Law (GB) 44

Philip Dutton (AUS) 46

Lara Villata (IT) 70.20

Tomorrow we have Nikki Cassidy on Mr. Mullins and Virginia on The Yellow Earl.