After completing the development of an Eventing venue in Adelaide in the early 1980s, Australia seized the opportunity to host the world championship when Great Britain declined. According to the then FEI rules, the British had the right of first refusal owing to Lucinda Green's victory in 1982.
The championship was organised in Gawler, some 40kms away from Adelaide in South Australia.
Given the sheer distance between Australia and many other countries and the heavy veterinary restrictions in force in the host nation, an extended transportation and quarantine process ensued. Many issues were overcome and the horses were brought safely to the southern hemisphere.
It was a great victory for the FEI and Graham Fricker, the leader of the group behind the Adelaide development, when the championship got underway on 22 May. This was a little early by European and North American standards, but suited well the calendar in Australia, where it was late autumn.
The event kicked off in a dramatic fashion when three of the 46 horses presented at the first veterinary inspection were eliminated. Among those who failed, was Dr. Peaches ridden by Bruce Davidson (USA), the 1974 and 1978 individual champion.
Two more horses were eliminated at the second veterinary inspection, which took place after the Dressage test.
Of the 41 combinations, who started the cross country, 36 finished but only 31 were presented at the trot-up on Sunday 25 May morning before the Jumping test.
Tinks Pottinger (NZL) aboard Volunteer had been in the lead after a good Dressage test and a brilliant cross-country, where they had been the only combination to go clear in the time. Unfortunately the horse did not pass the third horse inspection due to lameness.
Two more horses were eliminated, which brought the field down to 28 for the last test.
The individual title went to Virginia Leng (GBR) on Priceless ahead of Trudy Boyce (NZL) on Mossman in silver and fellow Briton Lorna Clarke on Myross, who was awarded the bronze, to create an all-female podium.
With Leng and Clarke in the top three and thanks to the efforts of Ian Stark and Clarissa Strachan, Great Britain conquered the team gold. France won silver and the bronze went to the host nation, Australia.
Two of the three Roycroft brothers – Barry and Wayne – were on the Australian team. Wayne Roycroft, who won team bronze at the Mexico 1968 and Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, chaired the FEI Eventing Committee from 1998 to 2009. He has been an FEI Honorary Board member since 2009.
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