Sydney 3-Star Studded with A Squad Combinations on their Olympic Campaigns

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Sydney 3-Star Studded with A Squad Combinations on their Olympic Campaigns

Published on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 in General

The Mitavite 3* Class at the weekend ODE hosted by Sydney @ SIEC Eventing (SSE) was a star studded affair. Featuring six of the combinations listed on the 2012 Eventing National A Squad, spectators were thrilled by the fierce rivalry with all riders keen to be noticed by the London 2012 Olympic Team Selectors. Added to this elite competition were a further 13 weekend classes and 9 midweek classes across all the levels. Nearly 800 combinations rode around the legendary Olympic cross country course intent on winning their share of the $24 000 is cash and prizes.

Silver medallist Shane Rose from Werombi NSW brought two other horses with his A Squad mount Taurus for the Mitavite 3* Class. He was first out in the dressage with the black stallion Statford Neo who produced a test that was consistent but not outstanding. APH Mortiz impressed the judges and scored 70.39%, just 44.4 penalties putting him into 3rd. Taurus, Shane's A Squad horse, bettered this score with 72.50% putting them in the lead with only 41.30 penalties. SSE Vice President Christine Bates from Wilberforce NSW was in 2nd place after dressage with Adelaide Hill and 6th with Delago, both A Squad horses. SSE President Tim Boland from Wyong Creek NSW also had his A Squad horse GV Billy Elliot in contention sitting in 4th place. Craig Barrett from Branxton NSW made up the top 6 with yet another A Squad horse, Sandhills Brillaire. With just 11.54 penalties between 1st and 12th, less than 3 rails in show jumping, the remaining phases were critical for the final places.

The Mitavite 3* competition continued on Sunday morning with the cross country phase. Australian Course Designer Ewan Kellet created a track that was challenging, before rushing back to Victoria for the birth of his child. No rider made time, with Shane Rose and Emma Bishop (ne Armstrong) the closest to the optimum time adding just 5.6 time penalties to their scores. Christine Bates moved up to 2nd place with Adelaide Hill and Tim Boland slid into 3rd with Billy Elliot.

With all other competitions completed the last phase of the feature class attracted a good crowd, all keen to watch the top riders jump in reverse order for a thrilling final. The John Vallance track was difficult, a true test of training and fitness. 5th placed Delago and Christine Bates added a huge 28 penalties to their score dropping down to finish 9th. Craig Barrett was cool and collected leaving them all up and finishing in 5th place with Sandhillls Brillaire. APH Moritz and Shane Rose were also clear, keeping the pressure on the top 3 places. Tim Boland had an unusual refusal that also added 4 time penalties leaving him in 4th place. Christine Bates had a costly rail on Adelaide Hill, dropping below APH Mortiz to finish in 3rd. Taurus was the final horse on course and Shane was keen to prove that his show jumping had improved since the Adelaide 4* at the end of 2011 where rails down cost them the win. An 8.70 penalty lead gave him a 2 rail lee-way, but this was not needed and all the rails remained up giving Shane and Taurus the victory.

Shane also won the weekend Horseland, Richmond 2* Class with Virgil, ahead of Tim Boland and Umunga. A popular return to form put New Zealand rider John Twomey in third with Wade Equine Flaunt It. Tim was victorious in the Mitavite 2* Class at the Midweek event with his top horse GV Billy Elliot. Tim had another three horses in the midweek class and placed 2nd on Umunga, 3rd on Mercator Du Ry and 5th with Untouchable. Charlie Brister from Mangrove Mountain NSW managed to stop Tim taking the top four places with 4th on Barrel of Fun. Tim had rides in other classes and was very grateful for the services of 'super driver' Babs McSweeny who managed to get him to the right places at the right times on Thursday when he had 12 rounds to complete in Show Jumping and Cross Country.

The organising committee would like to thank the event sponsors who have contributed to the huge prize pool of nearly $25 000, making the February week of One Day Events one of the richest National events in NSW. Mitavite continue to support the event with their wonderful product Xtra-Cool. Europa Saddlery, Redgum Saddlery & Ulladulla Saddlery all regularly attend the events and sponsor classes with fabulous prizes. Miles Hay, a WA company, sent two pallets of their new compact lucerne for Sydney siders to trial. Winning Appliances delivered some flat screen plasma TV's for lucky winners in some classes. Main Event Photography continue to take wonderful photos and provide engraved frames and photos as prizes. Equissage Australia , Wyong Equine Clinic, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, Dulux, Bates Equestrian Australia, The Australian Event Horse Centre, Over The Top Equipment , Horseland Richmond, Cross Country App and The Hills Slushie Co also sponsored the event.

Sydney International Eventing (SIE) & Sydney @ SIEC Eventing (SSE) announced a new Sydney Series during the week. This exciting, fresh concept will include all six Eventing competitions, the four national One Day Events and the two Three Day Events, held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) in 2012. SIEC, a legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games where Australia won Eventing Gold, is the one of only two Olympic Equestrian venues still in use around the world and riders from all across Australia are always keen to compete at the wonderful facility. Current leaders in the Sydney Series will be announced this week now the first two series competitions have been completed.

The Sydney Series will focus on the partnership between horse and rider, rewarding combinations who consistently perform well together during the year. It is anticipated that the series will encourage and recognise riders who have a strong, ongoing relationship with their horse. The first stage of the pointscore will be published next week.

Tim Boland is excited about the Sydney Series. “ This is a fantastic concept that allows the national and international events to work more closely together promoting the sport of Eventing. Australia has a strong tradition of success in this sport and competing at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre is a wonderful experience for all levels.”

The new Sydney Series is in its initial stages and there is an opportunity for a major sponsor to become involved in a sport where Australia has had amazing Olympic success, at the venue where Australia won Eventing Gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, across all levels of the sport from beginners to Olympians. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

For more information please contact Rachel Smith rjsmith@furdography.com.au