2010 Australian WEG Eventing Team Announced

[RIGHT][LEFT]The Australian Eventing selectors have named the team for the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held in Kentucky, USA from 25 September to 10 October.



Australia's bronze winning 2006 WEG Team.
[/LEFT]
[/RIGHT]

The selected combinations are as follows:[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Rider
[/TD]
[TD]Horse
[/TD]
[TD]Owner
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Christopher Burton[/TD]
[TD]Holstein Park Leilani[/TD]
[TD]Jean & Jade Findlay[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sam Griffiths [/TD]
[TD]Happy Times[/TD]
[TD]Dinah Posford & Juliet Donald[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sonja Johnson[/TD]
[TD]Ringwould Jaguar[/TD]
[TD]Jim & Augusta Saunders, Dan & Phoebe Johnson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Megan Jones[/TD]
[TD]Kirby Park Irish Jester[/TD]
[TD]Margaret & Peter Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paul Tapner[/TD]
[TD]Inonothing[/TD]
[TD]Jenny & Claus Waaler[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stuart Tinney [/TD]
[TD]Vettori or
Panamera[/TD]
[TD]Peter O’Connell & Kathy Ward
Tim Game[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

About the athletes:
Christopher Burton Age: 28 Lives: Wilberforce, NSW
Christopher will make his debut for Australia at the 2010 World Games. A former winner of the Adelaide CCI4* on Newsprint in 2008, Chris has formed a great partnership with Holstein Park Leilani winning the 2010 Eventing World Cup qualifier, Albury CIC3* and the 2009 NSW State Championships. They were 3rd at 2010 Melbourne CCI3*.

Sam Griffiths Age: 38 Lives: Gillingham, Dorset, UK
In 1995, Sam moved from Pearcedale Victoria to England to pursue his riding career. Sam and Happy Times won Saumur CCI3*, in 2009 they were 3rd at both Badminton and Burghley and finished 5th in the HSBC Classics. In 2010 the pair won Belton CIC3*and the British World Cup Qualifier CIC3* at Chatsworth. Sam is married to Lucy, a freelance photographer.

Sonja Johnson Age: 42 Lives: Albany, WA
Sonja is a full time farmer on her parents farm Parkiarrup in the scenic Albany area. Sonja and Jag, who is the oldest horse on the Australian team at 19 years-of-age, have an impressive international record including a Team silver medal and individual 10th at 2008 Olympic Games and Team Bronze WEG 2006. They were the winners at the 2010 Melbourne CCI3*

Megan Jones Age: 33 Lives: Stirling, SA
Megan is a very accomplished international competitor. She won Melbourne CCI3* in 2005, 2008 and 2009; Adelaide CCI4* event in 2005, was 2nd in 2008 and was 2nd and 3rd in 2009.
In 2008 Megan and 16yo Kirby Park Irish Jester won an Olympic Team Silver medal and finished 4th individually. In 2006 they won a World Championship Team Bronze medal. Megan finished 2nd in the 2010 HSBC Eventing World Cup. In 2009 Megan and Jester won both the New Zealand and Australian qualifiers and nearly repeated the double again in 2010 winning in Kihikihi and finishing 2nd in Sydney.

Paul Tapner Age: 34 Lives: Blunsdon, Wiltshire
An extremely driven and hard working event rider, Paul will represent Australia for the first time at 2010 WEG. Paul moved from Annangrove, Sydney to the United Kingdom in 1999 and with his wife Georgina has established a successful Equestrian centre. Paul and Inonothing have enjoyed great success, namely winning 2010 Badminton CCI4*, 6th at 2009 Burghley CCI4*, 7th at 2009 Luhmuhlen CCI3* and 9th 2008 Burghley CCI4*. Inonothing has been placed in the top ten in five four-star events and eleven three-star events during his illustrious career. Paul and Georgina have a son Joshua (6 years) and daughter Madison (3 years).

Stuart Tinney OAM Age: 45 Lives: Maraylya
Stuart is a veteran of the Australian team. Stuart won a Team Gold medal in Sydney 2000 and has represented Australia at the 1998 WEG, 2002 WEG and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Stuart won the 2009 Adelaide CCI4* on Vettori and was 2nd at 2010 Melbourne CCI3* on Panamera. Stuart and his wife Karen have two children Jaymee and Gemma.

Wayne Roycroft, Australian Eventing Head Coach, commented on the team, “I think we have the makings of a very strong team for WEG. We have a good mix of riders, and some experienced riders and hopefully we can come back with a really good medal and make sure we qualify for the London Olympics.”

The horses depart Sydney airport on 13 September. The Eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games begins on 27 September.

Story courtesy of Equestrian Australia, Nicola Turner, Wednesday, 1 September 2010.