Australia’s Trans-Tasman Team Named

Nat Blundell and Algebra after winning the CIC 3* at the Queensland International 3DE last month Photo: Emma Currie

Sydney Olympic gold medallist Stuart Tinney is among the four member Australian team which has been named to take on New Zealand in a Trans-Tasman Eventing Challenge at this year’s Sydney International CCI3* which commences on Friday. 

National eventing selectors have named a strong team which includes current Australian International Three Day Event champion Craig Barrett (NSW), 2012 Trans-Tasman representative Natalie Blundell (ACT) and 26 year old Emma Scott who is set to make her debut for Australia.

“I’m wonderfully excited about the opportunity to represent my country, it’s been a lifelong dream and it’s finally happening this week,” Scott said.

Two-time Olympian Stuart Tinney has been a pivotal member of a number of successful Australian teams and always enjoys going head to head against the Kiwis.  

“Competing against New Zealand is always good fun and we have to make sure we come out on top, sometimes they can sneak ahead of us so we have to keep them at bay. We’ve got a really great team and hopefully we can go well,” Tinney said. 

The Sydney International CCI3* is a major international event in its own right but with the added duel between Australia and New Zealand taking place, and happening around the time of ANZAC Day, this year’s event is extra significant.

The Trans-Tasman Eventing Challenge headlines a full three days of equestrian action at the venue of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Australia currently holds the Trans-Tasman tittle and will be looking to retain the trophy which it won in 2012 in New Zealand. Action gets underway from Friday.

The Australian team is as follows:

Rider                       Horse                                      Owner(s)

Craig Barrett         Sandhills Brillaire                  Keith and Juliet Osborne

Stuart Tinney        Pluto Mio                               Elizabeth and John Pittard

Nat Blundell          Algebra                                  John Glenn and Julia McLean

Emma Scott           Mustang                                Emma Scott and Anthony Twomey

Reserves:

Seumas Marwood Wild Oats                             Danielle and Seumas Marwood

Jessica Manson     Legal Star                              Jessica Manson

The team will be declared to the Organising Committee after the Trot Up on Friday and if needed the team may substitute a reserve until then.

Team Support Staff:

Prue Barrett - Chef d'Equipe

Brett Parbery – dressage coach

Sam Lyle – jumping coach

Nathan Anthony – Vet 

By: Equestrian Australia