Merv Bennett and Regal Reign (RR) was a partnership that endured 3 Olympic games - all be it that one of those was the second in Moscow that was boycotted by many countries- but still Merv was selected with his outstanding stead RR.
The games were Montreal - 1976, Moscow - 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. In fact in the eventing team which represented Australia at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal were responsible for a fifth of Australia’s total medal haul.
Below is a snippet from Equestrian describing the legendary performance at Montreal...
Bill, Wayne and Denis performed good dressage tests but the atmosphere was too much for the six-year-old Regal Reign and he and Merv were relegated to the bottom of the field. The duo bounced back on Cross Country day and along with Wayne and Denis produced a clear round to move the team into the bronze medal position. Bill encountered a fall but he remounted and finished the course.
Leading into the final day of competition Australia stood in third place and each of the combinations produced a clear show jumping round to secure the bronze medal for Australia. It was the second time that father and son had stood side by side on the dais in the bronze medal position, having done so eight years earlier in Mexico City.
Individually, the highest placed Australian was Wayne who finished in fifth, while Merv was 12th in the placings, Bill was 16th and Denis was 20th.
Team members were received as heroes upon their return to Australia. The Australian Olympic team collectivelly won just one silver medal and four bronze medals in Montreal so the eventing team’s victory was a significant achievement.