Bill Roycroft's Olympic Riding Crop

Riding crop: James (Bill) Roycroft, won a gold medal in the team three-day event at the 1960 Rome games, riding in his first Olympics at the age of 45 and competing with a broken collarbone. This is the riding crop Roycroft used during this campaign. sterling silver collar and bone handle, overall 64 cm long. 'Our riders in Rome won Australia's first ever Olympic medals in equestrian but it was the courage of bill Roycroft that made that feat so historic' said Aoc President John Coates. 'Bill was badly injured during the cross country section and discharged himself from hospital in Rome to ride on the final day in the showjumping where he managed to clear twelve jumps despite the injuries and being full of pain killers and clinging to the reins with only one arm working.1, He competed in the three-day event at five consecutive Olympic Games, and competed alongside each of his Sons Barry, Wayne and Clarke. When Roycroft won bronze at the 1976 games in Montreal he became Australia's oldest medallist and oldest competitor at 61 years and 31 days. Provenance: presented by Roycroft to the Australian equestrian Team Manager, Clive Cochrane, from whom the present vendor acquired it.