Emma Mason Takes the Lead at AI3DE Following Cross Country

Emma Mason has gone into the lead in the CCI4* after today’s Qantas Cross-Country phase.
Photograph: Main Event Photography
Story: Equestrian Australia

After a great day of competition it will go down to the wire with just 4.4 penalties separating the top three riders.

The first three horses on course were very experienced; Emily Anker and Balmoral Cavalier, Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer and Luke Jones and Soul and came home without problems. Soul incurred 13.6 time faults which was surprising as he is typically one of the fastest horses on course.

Wendy Schaeffer put herself into a strong position adding just 0.4 time to her score (4^th after Dressage) and took the early lead.

Next out was Natalie Blundell on Algebra. This horse was the first ‘green’ four star horse on the course and whilst she survived a near fall when he left a leg at the Doloitte Island Drop (fence on the island in the lake) she got home clear which was a promising sign for the rest of the field.

Eleanor Osborne and Mighty High looked to be going well but then had two run outs at the first of the ATCO apexes in the main arena. They looked to be walking home but in fact did continue incurring 50 time faults.

Young Sophie Warren from Western Australia took a heavy fall when she and Let’s Impress met fence 10b on a half distance. Let’s Impress did not clear the fence and they both fell but they were both fine and Sophie said it was just her ego that was hurting.

Will Enzinger had a run out at the Doloitte Island Drop on ESB Irish Endeavour but was otherwise clear.

John Twoomey (NZL) had a few ‘moments’ on Flaunt It but was home clear with 25.6 time.

Phillipa Dunstan (WA) and Blythe Spirit had two runouts at fence 6 the Mimsafe Corner and a further stop at the bounce before the water - hence they walked home.

Tallara Barwick (NSW) enjoyed a clear round on the fabulous Chief Justice. Just 6.4 time – a great effort at just their second four star.

After a disappointing Dressage test yesterday Pluto Mio redeemed himself for Katja Weimann (Vic) - clear but 20.8 time faults.

Adam Benson’s cracking little thoroughbred Enthusiast was another one to leave a leg at the top of the steps but they survived to finish clear with 10.4 time.
Victoria’s Cassie Lowe and Bentleigh Gambler had 20 penalties at fence 5 but recovered well to jump the rest of the course clear at her first CCI4*. However, a very steady round resulted in 61.6 time faults.

Chris Burton and Newsprint are former winners of this class and whilst Newsprint has been off the scene for a while he looked like his old self today. There was imperfection at teh first apex in teh main arena but overall it was a great round and just one of two that was within the time moving them into 4^th at the end of the day.
Emma Mason from the Central Coast of NSW, and 12-year-old gelding F1 Pharinelli conquered the course without jumping penalties adding just 0.8 time faults to take the lead.

Emma enjoyed a fantastic round “Pharinelli is a lovely horse, he is spooky and has taken a long time to be confident at this level. He has really matured in the last year,” commented Mason who shares the ownership of the horse with Melody O’Toole from Sydney.

Hardworking Emma is in her first year of working full time as a lawyer, she tarts riding by 5:00am and gets back in the saddle to work more horses after work. “It is hard but I love it and my time with my horses is so important to me, it doesn’t feel like work,” said Emma, a deserving of today’s great round.

Emily Anker had a really unlucky fall from Keniski. At the very last minute the horse ran out at the Deloitte Island Drop (a repeat of her husband Will Enzinger’s fault at the same fence) but in doing so Keniski caused Emily to hit a tree which knocked her to the ground. Surprisingly she was fine, but that was the end of her day.
Stuart Tinney did another exemplary riding display on Watermark Grayson to finish inside the time and move up to 2^nd place.

“He was great all the way around, he felt confident and happy the whole time,” said Stuart about Watermark Grayson. It is the horses first CCI4*.

Wendy Schaeffer sailed around the course on her second ride for the day Koyuna Sun Shine (chestnut mare). By Wendy’s standards it was a slow round incurring 19.2 time.

Dressage leader Heath Ryan and Mystery Whisper were the last combination of the day and the spectators in the marquee watching on the big screen were really behind him. It was a tense time as Heath had a life 15a (the EA hollows brush ditch) when Mystery Whisper left a leg and Heath was tipped forward and almost came off. Somehow he stayed on his line through the b and c elements receiving a cheer from the crowd.

Heath had another ‘moment’ at the Adelaide Tram line steps (fence 22abc) it was a two strides (riding long) to a roll top at the top of the steps and Heath chipped a third stride in at the last moment. Again he proved his stickability and ultimately finished clear of jumping faults...but the time on course was once again their downfall. Heath slipped from the lead to fifth place due to 19.2 time faults.

Thirteen of the nineteen combinations were clear of jumping faults in the CCI4*. “It was a good day of competition,” commented Event Director Gillian Rolton, “We saw some great performances and will have a nail biting finish tomorrow.”

Down to the wire: Two of Australia’s most formidable competitors Stuart Tinney and Wendy Schaeffer are breathing down Emma’s neck. Stuart, an Olympic Gold medallist was the highest placed Australian rider at the recent World Equestrian Games where he finished eighth on Vettori. Wendy Schaeffer a dual Gold medallist is in third place on 57.2 with Koyuna Sun Dancer. Schaeffer is renowned for her expertise in show jumping and competed Koyuna Sun Dancer at the Sydney FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier in May of this year.

“Stuart and Wendy are exceptional jumping riders so I will have to be at my best,” said Mason. “My horse is a good jumper and I have done a lot of show jumping training and preparation with my coach Andrew Barnett leading into this event, so I feel prepared. I just have to make it happen tomorrow.”

2008 winners Chris Burton and Newsprint are in fourth position on their Dressage score of 57.7.

In the CCI2* a clear South Australia’s Luke Jones is in the lead on 9-year-old Charlatan, improving his position from fourth. Disappointment for Chris Burton who lost his lead when Underdiscussion slipped on a turn tipping Chris off. However, he enjoyed a great round on his second horse Haruzac and has moved into second place. Claudia Graham incurred 3.6 time faults on Park Street Vision to slip one position to third place.

Shane Rose has retained his lead on Statford Neo in the CIC2*. No additional penalties for Robert Palm has moved him into second on Koko Black whilst four time faults dropped Tim Boland and Mercator Du Ry one place to third.

Show Jumping begins on Sunday at 10:00am.