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Aussie Sam Griffiths Wins Express Eventing Qualifier in UK
Australian rider Sam Griffiths jumped his way to victory with a stylish performance with Real Dancer in the final Express Eventing qualifier at The Festival of British Eventing presented by The British Equestrian Trade Association.
As well as qualifying for the Express Eventing Final at the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s LG Arena on 4 October 2011 the Australian rider took home £3,000 in prize money after winning his Express Eventing debut. Oliver Townends bid for qualification did not come off albeit he and Neo de Breuil came a close second to Sam just 0.8 penalty points separating the two. Fifth placed Sienna Myson-Davies and Tambourine will be joining him in the final as she was the highest placed Young Rider at this qualifier.
Sam and the dressage bred Real Dancer produced a crowd pleasing freestyle dressage to music test on Saturday evening. Artistic Judge, Amanda Birch commented on the test that produced the best mark of the series, ‘spectators have seen something very special’. Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian on the former three-star eventing stallion Grafenstolz came closest to the leaders in this phase but had two fences down in the final show jumping phase and finished in a final fourth place however the breeding stallion previously qualified at the Game Fair.
A delighted Griffiths said of the event: ‘I have loved every minute of this competition winning it has topped it off. It,s a great concept and really suited my horse – I wish I had done the other qualifiers now.’
From four qualifiers, there are eight qualified riders. Matthew Wright, Fiona Hobby, Harry Meade, Sam Griffiths, Paul Sims, William Murray, Alex Hua Tian and Sienna Myson-Davies all will ride at the Express Eventing Final at Horse of the Year Show on Tuesday 4 October. These riders will be joined by eight runners up, which are yet to be announced.
Final results:
1st – Sam Griffiths on Real Dancer – 11.9
2nd – Oliver Townend on Neo Du Breuil – 12.7
3rd – Matthew Wright on If You Want II – 13.8
4th – Alex Hua Tian on Grafenstolz – 19.3
5th – Sienna Myson-Davies on Tambourine – 27.5
6th – Georgie Spence on WII Limbo – 27.9
7th – Rachael Lupton on The Chenko Artist – 30.15
8th – Nicola Baguley on Millie on Air – 30.65
Express Eventing – the spectacular, exciting and fast-moving version of eventing - has been developed and fine-tuned over several years, the Express Eventing Series 2011 is integrated within five prestigious, established annual shows throughout the country.
Express Eventing has developed from a purely invitational competition to one open to all riders meeting competition requirements and universally-recognised equestrian standards.
The Express Eventing Series 2011 will consist of three arena-based disciplines: ‘dressage to music’, cross country and showjumping, carefully organised within the schedules of the four Qualifying and Final shows.
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