Summary Upon a White Horse: South Australian rider Gillian Rolton entered the history books at the Atlanta Olympics last year when she rode to gold in the three day event despite suffering fractured ribs and a broken collar bone in two falls on the cross country course. Her raw courage won the admiration of millions all around the world. But on Australian Story this week Gillian reveals the extent of a personal crisis that, this year for the first time, made her seriously consider abandoning the sport she has loved all her life. Gillian's close friend Anna Savage was killed at a three day event in May. Gillian was riding in the same competition and also had a fall that day. But while she survived unscathed, her friend was killed. "The realisation of Anna's death really made me for a few days sit down and reassess where I was coming from and what I was doing," she says. "For a few days there I certainly did think of giving it away but Greg (husband) and I talked about it and spoke about it and we thought, well Anna certainly wouldn't want us to not keep going." Ms Rolton also reveals the tough tactics of her coach, Wayne Roycroft. She discloses that he alone was unimpressed by her gallant ride at Atlanta. "He came up to me and he was absolutely like thunder. He said 'well, you couldn't help the first fall but why the (expletive), (expletive) did you come off the second time.' And I just sort of pulled my shirt back and there was this bone sticking up and he said 'oh mmm, you better get to the hospital then. But don't take any drugs, we'll probably need you to ride tomorrow." Roycroft says: "I didn't realise she was quite as seriously injured as she was until the doctor picked up her arm and I could hear her collarbone crunching, so then I felt a little bit bad about what I said to her." Gillian also talks about setting her sights on "a perfect round" at the Sydney Olympics even though her superb white horse Peppermint Grove will be too old to compete again. PLUS: As Time Goes By: Barclay Wright, owner of the only factory in the world which still makes piano rolls for pianolas in the traditional way. Barclay is so completely committed to keeping the tradition alive that he even sold the family home to keep the business going and turn it into a living museum.
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Caroline Jones Leigh Sales Eddie Perfect Jimmy Barnes
Genres : Biography Documentary
Release date : Oct 3, 1997
Countries of origin : Australia
Official sites : ABC iView Official Australian Story Website
Language : English
Filming locations : ABC Studios, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Production companies : Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Summary Upon a White Horse: South Australian rider Gillian Rolton entered the history books at the Atlanta Olympics last year when she rode to gold in the three day event despite suffering fractured ribs and a broken collar bone in two falls on the cross country course. Her raw courage won the admiration of millions all around the world. But on Australian Story this week Gillian reveals the extent of a personal crisis that, this year for the first time, made her seriously consider abandoning the sport she has loved all her life. Gillian's close friend Anna Savage was killed at a three day event in May. Gillian was riding in the same competition and also had a fall that day. But while she survived unscathed, her friend was killed. "The realisation of Anna's death really made me for a few days sit down and reassess where I was coming from and what I was doing," she says. "For a few days there I certainly did think of giving it away but Greg (husband) and I talked about it and spoke about it and we thought, well Anna certainly wouldn't want us to not keep going." Ms Rolton also reveals the tough tactics of her coach, Wayne Roycroft. She discloses that he alone was unimpressed by her gallant ride at Atlanta. "He came up to me and he was absolutely like thunder. He said 'well, you couldn't help the first fall but why the (expletive), (expletive) did you come off the second time.' And I just sort of pulled my shirt back and there was this bone sticking up and he said 'oh mmm, you better get to the hospital then. But don't take any drugs, we'll probably need you to ride tomorrow." Roycroft says: "I didn't realise she was quite as seriously injured as she was until the doctor picked up her arm and I could hear her collarbone crunching, so then I felt a little bit bad about what I said to her." Gillian also talks about setting her sights on "a perfect round" at the Sydney Olympics even though her superb white horse Peppermint Grove will be too old to compete again. PLUS: As Time Goes By: Barclay Wright, owner of the only factory in the world which still makes piano rolls for pianolas in the traditional way. Barclay is so completely committed to keeping the tradition alive that he even sold the family home to keep the business going and turn it into a living museum.
Genres : Biography Documentary
Release date : Oct 3, 1997
Countries of origin : Australia
Official sites : ABC iView Official Australian Story Website
Language : English
Filming locations : ABC Studios, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Production companies : Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
