Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
He started eventing through Pony Club. "My older brother took it seriously, which meant I received his outgrown ponies and horses. With two brothers into eventing, the family would all go away together for the weekend." |
General Interest |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"You can have trainers saying things to you consistently but sometimes you just have to work it out for yourself." (olympics.com.au, 12 Jun 2016) |
| Injuries |
He competed at the 2017 Badminton Horse Trials in England with a small crack in a bone in his neck. He sustained the injury after falling at a competition in Burnham Market, England, but it was initially missed on the x-ray. The injury was eventually discovered by a specialist, who put Griffiths in a neck brace, and he returned to action in September 2017. "I'm no hero and I'm not proud of it, there's no way I'd have ridden at Badminton if I'd known." (horseandhound.co.uk, 25 Aug 2017)
He had surgery on his appendix in October 2014. (horseandhound.co.uk, 31 Oct 2014) |
| Hobbies |
Cricket, gardening. (flairstrips.com, 26 Mar 2021) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning the 2014 Badminton Horse Trials in England. (horseandhound.co.uk, 09 Feb 2022) |
Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Gillingham, ENG |
| Higher education |
Geography - Monash University: Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
General Interest |
| Most influential person in career |
Australian eventer Matt Ryan. (flairstrips.com, 26 Mar 2021) |
| Hero / Idol |
Australian cricketer Steve Waugh. (horsehero.com, 23 Aug 2010) |
| Awards and honours |
He was named the 2014 Eventing Rider of the Year by the International Riders Club. (an-eventful-life.com.au, 19 Nov 2014)
He won the TSM Rider Award at the 2010 BETA Business Awards. (trizoneboots.com, 23 Aug 2010) |
Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English |
Sport Specific Information |
| Club / Team |
Griffiths Eventing Team: England |
General Interest |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
He carries a lucky whip and has a set routine before the cross-country phase of an event. "I trot around for a bit to get the horse supple, then jump a few jumps and work on my brakes and accelerator to get the horse listening to me. Then I start angling the fences and doing some turns." (thegaitpost.com, 05 May 2015; an-eventful-life.com.au, 03 Oct 2011) |
| Famous relatives |
His brothers Mark and Tom have competed in eventing at national level in Australia. (Facebook page, 31 Oct 2016; horseandhound.co.uk, 01 Mar 2016) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He grew up on his family's farm in Melbourne, VIC, Australia, and began riding at age seven. "I have memories of jumping on ponies with no saddle and just a head collar and taking them swimming in the lake." |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Athlete, Business Owner, Coach, Horse Trainer |
General Interest |
| Other information |
FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE UK
He decided to leave Australia and move to the United Kingdom in 1995 in order to pursue his dream of a professional eventing career. He trained and worked with double Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan for three years before leaving to set up his own stables at Symphony Farm in Dorset, where he trains horses and riders for eventing. (Facebook page, 06 Mar 2022; HorseQuest Facebook page, 03 Nov 2021; samgriffithseventing.co.uk, 2020)
COACHING
In February 2022 he began serving as head coach of the New Zealand eventing team. "I have had quite a long eventing career and in a way, this is a next step. In my heyday I had a lot of horses but over the last few years I have been doing more coaching." (Equestrian Sports NZ Facebook page, 12 Apr 2022; horse-international.com, 12 Feb 2022; equestrianlife.com.au, 10 Feb 2022; horseandhound.co.uk, 09 Feb 2022)
OLYMPIC HORSE RETIREMENT
In May 2020 he decided to retire his horse Paulank Brockagh. The pair placed fourth in the individual event and also helped secure team bronze for Australia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I've never ridden a horse that would try so hard, she was a naturally good jumper, needed some training on the flat but [was] an incredible cross-country horse. In Rio the cross-country was really tough and when I was the first to go for the team and so many of the other team's first riders were struggling I was filled with trepidation. So to get such a brilliant ride and then to do two showjumping clears, that was a real thrill. In Rio the proper jumpers really came to the fore. I really felt that I could point her at a house and she'd try to jump it." (horseandhound.co.uk, 12 May 2020; horsesport.com, 11 May 2020) |
Last Update |
| |
12 Aug 2022 |
Olympic Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
OG-C London (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
EL |
6 |
World Equestrian Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
6th WEG-C Lexington KY (USA) |
HAPPY TIMES |
EL |
14 |
Continental Championships and Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
CH-M-YH-CCI2* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
PAULANK BROCKAGH |
8 |
|
| 2008 |
CH-M-YH-CCI2* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
MOTION BOUND |
16 |
|
| 2004 |
CH-M-YH-CCI2* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
NOBLE OPPOSITION |
17 |
|
| 2003 |
CH-AS.P-C3* Blenheim (GBR) |
PRIVATE COLIN |
|
1 |
World Cup Final |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2003 |
CIC-W Final Pau (FRA) |
IN THE GROOVE |
19 |
|
Other Events |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
13 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
15 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
PAULANK BROCKAGH |
15 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
PAULANK BROCKAGH |
43 |
|
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
9 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
4 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
16 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
3 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
HAPPY TIMES |
3 |
|
| 2008 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
26 |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Burghley (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
11 |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
WD |
|
| 2006 |
CCI4* Burghley (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
8 |
|
| 2006 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
26 |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4*-SC Burghley (GBR) |
CONNIGAR BAY |
15 |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
PRIVATE COLIN |
6 |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Burghley (GBR) |
PRIVATE COLIN |
17 |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
CHAMOIS IV |
34 |
|
