Sydney's Wonderful Weekend of World Cups

New Zealander Clarke Johnstone (pictured right - photo: Furdography) took out his second Eventing World Cup qualifier for 2011 in Sydney this weekend, snatching victory from some of Australia's best riders in a close finish. The Sydney International Equestrian Centre looked its best for the Weekend of World Cups, almost as good as it did in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics when Australia won gold.  

The Equestrian NSW FEI World Cup Eventing CIC3*-W class began on Friday with the Dressage phase, a test of harmony for horse and rider. Dressage guru Heath Ryan from Heatherbrae, NSW set the standard high early in the class with a lovely test scoring 69.38%, just 45.90 penalties. He held the lead until Clarke entered the arena on Orient Express 20 riders later performing a lovely test and putting himself 0.5 penalties ahead. The lead changed again when Tim Boland from Wyong Creek, NSWand GV Billy Elliot scored 70.74%, giving them just 43.90 penalties. At the end of the evenings competition 2008 Silver medallist Shane Rose from Werombi, NSW and the expressive Taurus were in second place, Clarke retained third place and 2010 winner Chris Burton from Wilberforce, NSW was in equal fourth with Heath Ryan.  

Just 5.70 penalties separated the top ten places as the competition moved to the cross country course designed by international designer Ewan Kellet. Large crowds arrived on Saturday to watch the action as Chris Burton left the start box on Newsprint.They recorded the fastest time of the day, going clear and moving up from thirteenth place after dressage to seventh. Heath Ryan followed Chris with a clear round but had 17.6 time penalties moving him down into ninth. Both Shane Rose and Chris Burton didn’t complete the course on one of their rides. Chris slipped on a corner with Alan Skinner’s Haruzac and Shane retired APH Moritz at fence 18 after having a problem with the line of large, angled apexes at jump 14. This fence was picked by Eventing legend Wayne Roycroft in the hosted cross country tour as one of the most difficult on course and with 9 recorded stops at this combination he proved why he was Australia’s Eventing coach for so many years.

The overnight leader Tim Boland on Billy Elliot was one of the riders to have an issue with this fence, as well as a stop into the 2GB water, giving him 40 penalties and moving him out of the placings. The tough track proved influential to the field with just five other riders joining Chris and Newsprint with clear rounds. Shane Rose and Taurus moved into the lead with their clear, closely followed by Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express and Chris Burton on HP Leilani. Soigne Jackson also from Werombi, NSW made use of ex-racehorse Gold's speed to produce a clear round climbing up the leaderboard to 8th place and Tallara Barwick from Glenorie, NSW on Chief Justice also went clear, moving up from twenty second place into eleventh. The top three places were separated by only 1.6 penalties which left no room for error in the final phase of show jumping.

After the final vet inspection twenty of the thirty starters went forward to the final Show Jumping phase of the competition on Sunday afternoon. Starting in reverse order riders in the placings understood the need to go clear over the John Vallance designed track in order to keep pressure on the leaders.

Emma Scott from Balranald, NSW was second out on Jenbern Monyana with 2 refusals on the cross country and 131.20 penalties. Emma rode a beautiful round going clear to show it could be done and finishing in 19th place. The next clear was Emma Mason from Kulnura, NSW on F1 Pharinelli seven riders later. Pharinelli had one stop cross country and carried 85.30 penalties into the show jumping giving the a final placing of Thirteenth. Chris Burton, riding out of order with his first ride Newsprint went clear to secore fifth place. Craig Barrett from Branxton, NSW brought the first of his rides, eighth placed Sandhills Brillaire, into the ring going clear to move up into seventh. Craig's higher placed horse Wendella Jamie, coming in a few horse later, looked tired and took 5 rails ending in 11th place. Sydney 2000 Gold medallist Stuart Tinney from Maraylya, NSW sitting in fourth place on Vettori rode a calm, clear round to keep the pressure on the top three. Chris Burton showed great composure to keep the rails up with HP Leilani, reacting with emotion after safely crossed the finishing line. Clarke Johnstone also displayed a maturity beyond his years with yet another clear round on Orient Express. All eyes were on Shane Rose and Taurus as they entered for the final round. With no breathing space between first and second he had to leave all the rails up to keep his lead. An audible groan was heard as Taurus dropped the first rail, giving victory to Clarke Johnstone, Shane finishing in third place behind Chris Burton (pictured left - photo: Furdography). 2008 Silver medallist Megan Jones from South Australia on the Magic Millions Yearling Kirby Park Allofasudden finished in sixth.

Horsezone caught up with Chris Burton and asked for his thoughts on the weekend, "it was a mixed bag for me, having Haruzac slip on course in the cross country was upsetting.  Highlight was the showjumping - coming out on Newsprint and producing a clear round and then producing another clear round on my lovely mare Leilani.  Overall, running of the show was terrific."

This was Clarke's second victory in the 2011 FEI World Cup^TM Eventing Series after winning the first round in Kihikihi, New Zealand in April. The series now moves to the Northern Hemisphere with round three set to be held in Chatsworth Great Britain. Chris Burton, with two second places in the competition, is taking his team of horses to England with the intention of winning the series as he prepares for possible selection for the London Olympics next year

The other feature event for the weekend was the Jumping NSW Greater Sydney Show Jumping World Cup Qualifier. Designer John Vallance built a challenging track with the first and last fences looking straight into the crowd. David Dobson from Perth, WA came into the arena on Akon as the second rider in the strong field of 28 rider recording an early clear in a time of 84.38 seconds. Only four other riders joined David with a clear round. Ingrid Clarke from Victoria on PS Monet, 2010 winner of this event Jamie Kermond from Ebenezer, NSW on Colthaga,  Cathy Graham from Queensland on Davinci's Pride (pictured right - photo: Furdography) and Billy Raymont from Queensland on Nicalette NZPH all carrying zero penalties in to the second round. Olivia Hamood from Queensland rode a careful clear round on Nero GHP gaining one time penalty with a time of 86.04 seconds to move into round two. Four of the fastest four faulters joined the second round giving a final number of ten riders through.

Just one rider, Cathy Graham on Davinci's Pride, was able to record a double clear to win the class. Andrew Inglis had one rail down in the first on Amira R but recovered in stage two with a clear round giving them second place. Third went to Billy Raymont from QLD, on Nicallette NZPH, fourth to David Dobson on Aion, fifth place to Nic Taliana on the amazing jumping machine Ambrose who cleanly cleared the lot for his fifth placing. In sixth was Ingrid Clarke on PS Monet. Seventh went to Jamie Grant and eighth went to a disappointed Jamie Kermond and his mare Colthaga.

Following the weekend, Horsezone had a chat with organiser Rose Read about the event:

Horsezone's reflections on the weekend:

What's Hot...

• Walking the cross country course, plus bumping into Megan Jones at fence 14a/b double of brush corners which ended up being the most influential fence on course.
• Watching/jump judging the most influential jump on the 3* cross country course, most of the top riders making it look easy while it caught out the less experienced riders.
• Rubbing shoulder with equestrian legends like Wayne Roycroft and former Olympians.
• Having Hamish back from Kentucky so the Hamish and Dave show could host the Bare back jumping, which they did in fine style.
• Watching the older showjump riders pat their horses after their round, rail or no rail.
• Shane Rose's method of working out if Horsezone's Business Manager really is a Kiwi on Saturday night.
• Galahad & Horsezone competition winners from Tasmania (George and Kathy were great company).

What's Not...

• Having only one person turn up for the Wayne Roycroft hosted cross country course walk on Saturday morning.
• Only four riders in the bareback competition and only one dressed up! New Zealand's horse of the Year show nailed it - a puissance for the horses and a six bar for ponies.
• Young riders shaking their heads when finishing after knocking one rail in the 1.30m class.
• Empty seats on Sunday for the world cup showjumping qualifier and 3 * showjumping. Stark contrast to the dressage the week before.
• Junior 1.2m class outside not having their names announced as they came into the ring.
• No music/band after the cross country, so everyone could let their hair down on the last night, especially on this big weekend of world cups with two disciplines together - it was disappointing there wasn't any entertainment.

Full Results - www.sydneyeventing.org