O is for Olav

 

1958-69: Olav V

Olav V (1903-1991) ascended to the throne on the death of his father in 1957. He was the first heir to the Norwegian throne since the 14th Century who was brought up in Norway, but born in Norfolk to his English mother Maud.

1978: 75th Birthday of King Olav

A renowned sailor, who won a sailing gold medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and sailed throughout his long life. He was also a keen cross country skier 

1996: Centenary of the Olympic Games (Design - H Paulsen)

and as a young man competed in ski jumping competitions. . There is a statue of him called 'The Joy of Skiing' showing him on a ski trip with his dog Troll which is located below the Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo. His down to earth style and easy manner led to him being nicknamed 'The Peoples King'.

Sunday Stamps A-Z - for Olav and Olympics - See It On A Postcard

 

E is for Equestrian

 

1972: Olympic Games, Munich, Germany

Post war Olympic riders gaining gold Medals in Eventing, Individual Jumping and Dressage

 

Show Jumping, Individual Dressage and Team Eventing

Individual Show Jumping

1979: Horse Racing Paintings and the 200th anniversary of The Derby

More horses but on English race courses. Mahmoud had a very successful career. Sir Alfred Munnings painted him for his owner the Aga Khan after his first Epson Derby win when the horse set  a record time that would stand until 1995. Munnings enjoyed painting Mahmoud, a much loved horse for his character. 

Newmarket in Suffolk is known as the birthplace of English horse racing The panting is by J N Satorius.

The first official running of the Grand National in 1839 at the Aintree Racecourse, the painting shows the jumping of Beecher's Brook. The jockey Captain Martin Beecher was in second place in 1839 when his horse hit the brook fence catapulting him into the water, he wisely headed to deep water for safety. After the race he remarked how dreadful water tasted without the benefit of whisky. The fence has been know as Beecher's Brook ever since.

Sunday Stamps A-Z - My E for Equatorial Guinea, England, Epson Derby and Equestrian