Royal Watch News

Zara Phillips' father has divided loyalties

Jul 25, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Zara Phillips

Britain's Zara Phillips' father is backing her to win Olympic gold - if she can beat his team.

Captain Mark Phillips - who won a gold medal as part of Britain's three-day eventing team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich - coaches the US eventing squad and admits he has divided loyalties ahead of the competition.

He told Horse and Hound magazine: 'Of course everyone in this country is hoping the Brits can win on home soil, taking team gold for the first time in 40 years and in the Diamond Jubilee year to boot.

'If they can hold it together certainly, William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Tina Cook, Nicola Wilson and my daughter Zara have the talent, experience and ability to do it.

'[But] don't discount my Americans.'

Mark also admitted he doesn't want his competitors to take to the field immediately after the UK team as he fears the crowd will be off-putting.

He added: 'Either way, I hope my American team do not follow the Brits because the noise will be deafening after each performance.'

Zara, 31, is competing in the Olympics for the first time but has previously won gold in the 2005 and 2007 European championships.

Her mother Princess Anne also competed in the 1976 Games in Montreal, but she missed out on a medal after falling off her horse.