Sydney International Three Day Event Wraps Up for 2012

The Sydney International Three Day Event wrapped up today with the showjumping phase at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. 10 Australian based Olympic hopefuls plus seven up and coming riders gave spectators a thrilling finish to watch in the Equestrian NSW CCI3*.  With only six penalties separating the top four riders the pressure was on leader Shane Rose whose record with Taurus in the show jumping phases has been inconsistent in the past.

Shane Rose from Werombi NSW, led the competition after an expressive and powerful dressage test on warmblood Taurus that scored 72.93%. At just 9 years of age, Taurus is considered young in elite Eventing, but his record so far in 2012, 3 major wins including the Trans Tasman Title in Kihikihi New Zealand, show that he is more than ready for the challenge.

They maintained their lead with a clear cross country round over a Mike Etherington-Smith designed track that was completed exactly to optimum time. Taurus never faltered at the direct lines and tough questions asked by the course and Shane rode with the confidence an Olympian should display. After a disappointing Show Jumping round in the Adelaide 4* last November, Shane has spent some months working on this phase with Taurus. They entered the ring, in front of an impressive crowd that line all four edges of the arena with 2 rails in hand. The crowd groaned as the first rail fell and held their breath as the second one came down, but the rest remained in place giving Shane the victory, just.

Tim Boland from Wyong Creek in NSW struggles to make time across the country with the lovely black GV Billy Elliot. Despite being clear over the jumps they added 6.4 seconds to their score dropping them from 2nd after dressage to 6th place. A clear show jumping phase finished them in 2nd place, just 1.6 penalties behind Shane.

Following Tim on course was gold medallist from the Sydney Games, Stuart Tinney who is keen to add another medal to his collection. He completed the cross course in the fastest time of the day with Pluto Mio moving up one place to 5th.Their show jumping round was disappointing, taking 2 rails and incurring 2 time penalties. They finished in 9th place.

Emma Mason from Kulnura in NSW, eager to make her first Olympic Team, added just 0.8 time penalties with F1 Pharinelli on cross country, gaining a place to sit in 4th for the show jumping final. 2 time penalties in the final phase were costly and she finished 4th overall, 1.8 penalties behind Shane.

Less than a penalty separated Beijing Silver Medallist Megan Jones from Stirling in SA aboard the Magic Millions Yearling Kirby Park Allofasudden from first time Olympic hopeful Emma Scott from Balrand, NSW on Mustang. Megan and Allofasudden knocked a rail giving Emma and Mustang a small room for error which was needed when Emma too dropped a rail. Emma finished in 3rd place and Megan 4th.

The third Silver medallist from Beijing in the 3* line up, Sonja Johnson and her ex-racehorse Parkiurrop Illicit Liaison were the only combination to record a double clear in the jumping phases. They finished in 6th place on their dressage score of 51.60 penalties, only 3 penalties behind the leader. Christine Bates from Wilberforce NSW added just 1 time penalty in the sj to her dressage score to place 7th and Nat Blundell from Yass NSW finished in 8th place. Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire rounded out the minor places finishing in 10th.

With only five spots up for grabs on the Australian Eventing Team bound for the London Olympics and Sydney's top five places separated by only two penalty points, selection is set to be tough.

Robert Palm and Koko Black jumped into 1st place after faultless cross country and show jumping rounds. Shane Rose and Wisteria Lane were a fraction slow on cross country but all clear in the show jumping to finish in 2nd place. The only other combination to record a double clear in the jumping phases was John Twomey riding Wade Equine Highly recommended who moved up from 15th after dressage in to 3rd place

The top three places in the Equitak Excel 1* Class remained the same from start to finish. Megan Jones on Kirby Park Irish Empress lead Emma Mason on Pokerface and Tania Hardin on Jirrima Yorkshire. Isabelle Bowditch-McIntyre on Grandios picked up 4 time penalties in the J&J Robertson & Sons Junior CIC1* allowing Bridget Crosato to slide into the lead with Silenzio. Grandios also added one rail moving them down another place to finish in 3rd making way for Elizabeth Crosato and Koyuna Bandit to finish in 2nd place.

The warm up class for the Equiline Greater Sydney World Cup Qualifier on Saturday afternoon was won by young gun Tom McDermott on Carol Mason's CP Rolex who blitzed a very experienced field. Tom returned to the arena on Sunday for the final class of the weekend, the World Cup Qualifier hoping to add yet another title to his collection in what is his first year of World Cup level competition. CP Romantic Dream had one down in the first but was fast and clear in the 2nd, putting pressure on the clear riders from the first round Alison Rowland, David Dobson (both from Western Australia), Chris Chugg  (Glossodia NSW) and Sheridan Manuel (Gleneagle, QLD). Only the WA contingent went clear in both rounds, with Alison on Bickley Brook Bella faster in a time of 48.14 seconds giving her the victory (and all the prizes)! David and Akon were second with Tom on the Tripp family's Romantic Dream was third.

Quick Links

• Results can be viewed online - here
• For more information please visit www.sydneyeventing.org