In front of a sell out crowd in Adelaide, Stuart Tinney (pictured) executed a foot perfect show jump round today to win the Deloitte Australian 3 Day Event HSBC CCI 4*. The victory secured him 15 points on the 2012 HSBC FEI Classics™ leader-board.

 

The new purpose built arena in front of the Victoria Park Grandstand made for a spectacular setting with thousands taking advantage of the pleasant spring weather to enjoy Australia’s premiere equestrian event. 

 

Placed fourth going into today’s competition, Olympic gold medallist Tinney, placed pressure on the top order when he and Tim Game’s warmblood x thoroughbred mare Panamera (by Staccato) jumped a text book clear round.  

 

“She is a very good jumper and I knew if I rode her well enough then I had a good chance to jump a clear round, but I didn’t expect to win the class,” said Tinney.

Fellow Olympian Sonja Johnson (Albany, Western Australia) and Nikki Brooks’ athletic thoroughbred Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison retained second place with a four fault round.

 

Johnson, who has only been back riding since mid-September following breaking her pelvis in June this year was thrilled with her result. “A clear round would have won me the class but the big picture is London and considering I have been back in the saddle only eight weeks I am very pleased. Hopefully it has put us right back in the mix for London.”

 

One rail down for 29-year-old lawyer Emma Mason from New South Wales and F1 Pharinelli was good enough to keep them in their overnight position of third place. F1 Pharinelli was awarded the Peppermint Grove perpetual trophy for the best Australian based horse of 2011 as decided by the national selectors.

 

“It would have been great to jump clear considering it was that close, it would have been nice to win,” said Mason. “There was a bit of pressure there as Stuart had just jumped the most beautiful clear round of the day. The horse (F1 Pharinelli) really tried and that was the best he could do today.”

 

Overnight leader Shane Rose had a round he would prefer to forget. Taurus lowered four rails dropping them to fifth place.

 

Tinney says he is yet to decide on his plans for further participation in the 2012 HSBC series. “I haven’t really thought about that just yet, I didn’t know I was going to win. The main focus is the Olympic Games but I will have to think about that and see what we can do to get some more (HSBC FEI Classics™) points.

 

“I think it is fantastic that HSBC has come on board with Adelaide, we have some wonderful horses out here and great combinations of horse and rider so to be included in the series is fantastic,” said Tinney.

 

 

Technical Delegate Alec Lochore (GBR) commended the event for an impressive venue and high standard of competition. “I think this event is fantastic. What you have here with the stands and the arenas is a world-class facility. The course was a true four-star track, the winners are true four-star riders and horses and would be competitive at any four star competition in North America or Europe. You are absolutely right up there. It is a top class competition and worthy of the status.”

Full results can be found at www.australian3de.com.au

 

The HSBC FEI Classics^TM series now moves to Lexington Kentucky in April 2012.

The 2012 season HSBC FEI ClassicsTM are:

1. Les Étoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA)                                12-16 October 2011

2. Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS)               18-20 November 2011      

3. Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA)                     25-29 April 2012

4. Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)   4-7 May 2012      

5. Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER)          14-17 June 2012                

6. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)          30 August-2 September 2012

 

Story & Photo: Equestrian Australia