Location   

Horsezone News

France Produces a Feast of Victories for Australian Equestrians

Published on Monday, May 27, 2013 in Event Results
Celebrate victory at Saumur CCI3*
Photograph:courtesy http://www.saumur.org/EA

There were two major victories for Australian equestrians in France overnight with Jumping’s Alison Rowland winning the La Boissiere CSI3* Grand Prix and event rider Bill Levett claiming the Saumur CCI3*.  

With his win at Saumur, Levett maintains Australia’s supremacy at this event, becoming the third Aussie in as many years to win the title. In 2012 it was Chris Burton who topped the leader board while in 2011 Clayton Fredericks was crowned champion.

Partnering with Shannondale Titan, a 10 year old bay gelding by Limmerick, Levett produced faultless cross country and show jumping rounds and finished on his dressage score of 42.60. There were only three combinations which produced a clear show jumping round and just two which finished on their dressage scores.

The only Australian combination in this year’s line-up were consistent across all three phases and Levett was pleased with the stamina his horse displayed in what was his first outing at a CCI3* event.   

“Alfie (Shannondale Titan) dug deep, answered all the questions and galloped home clear inside the time to leave us in the lead.

“The course was strong but with forward positive riding it worked ok. Fence 14 was a four star question - you jumped over a bank, two very long strides to an angled brush with a big drop behind it, then two long strides to another angled brush,” he said.

The Australian anthem rang out for a second time in France on Sunday after Alison Rowland defeated a 60 strong field to win the La Boissiere CSI3* Grand Prix.

It is Rowland’s first major victory in the northern hemisphere for 2013.

With Bickley Brook Bella – the mare which dominated the Australian World Cup Jumping circuit in 2012, Rowland was one of only two riders to produce two clear rounds in Sunday’s Grand Prix. The Australian’s time in the second round was significantly faster than the British combination of Samuel Hutton and Heidi Du Ruisseau Z which finished in second.

Rowland and Bickley Brook Bella were recently named in Australia’s Nations Cup Team which will compete at the Lisbon CSIO3* event from 6-9 June.

For further event information and results, please visit: www.haras-de-bory.com orhttp://www.saumur.org/comite/accueil-gb.html

By: Equestrian Australia


Be the first to comment on this article
You must be logged in to place comments