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Australia wins Trans-Tasman Jumping Trophy in New Zealand - Update
The Australian Team competing at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show at Hawkes Bay has won the 2007 Trans-Tasman Trophy. Friday, 16 March 2007 Paul on (long white) cloud nine Australian horses and riders dominated the Bomac Grand Prix on Friday, with an Aussie trifecta taking the event. Trail blazers for the green and gold, Paul Athanasoff and Wirragulla Nicklaus, lead from the front with two copybook rounds to be the only combination to finish the class on a zero score. Chris Chugg and Vivant, in New Zealand as a self-funded individual, almost forced a jump-off; however, a single time fault in his second round gave Paul outright victory. Third place was taken out by Becky Allen and her Brilliant Invader thoroughbred gelding Koyuna Ted. As the youngest member of the Australian team, Becky rode with a great degree of maturity and had just four faults in the first round and a fabulous clear in the second. With the Trans Tasman test run in conjunction with the Bomac Grand Prix, Australia took a commanding lead into the second round, and looked on target for a convincing victory. However, having had two down in the first round, Australia’s third team member David Robertson and Sharpe Seale ended up in all sorts of bother coming into the combination in round two. Having broken back to a trot as they approached the fence, David then tried to continue on, but Sharpe Seal ended up in an impossible position from which to tackle the fence. The final wash up was the stop, a rail and two time penalties for a total of 10. Meanwhile the Kiwis where steadily improving on their first round scores and the gap was narrowing. However, as Paula Hamood and NV Capone entered the arena to anchor the Aussie team, the green and gold was already in an unbeatable position – which proved to be fortunate. Uncharacteristically, Capone had a refusal at fence 6, a tall vertical of planks, which almost saw Paula go straight off over his head. Showing great self preservation skills, Paula stuck on, and even managed to pull the top of his bridle back on that had become dislodged in the initial scramble. Having regained her composure, Paula represented to the fence, but Capone was having no part of it – and a second refusal saw them eliminated. As stated earlier, our lead was such that we still held off the Kiwis to win the Trans Tasman test, and all 5 Australian combinations secured themselves a MES (Minimum Eligibility Standard – formerly a COC) for the Beijing Olympics. For Paul Athanasoff and his homebred Wirrigulla Nicklaus it was a great win, and certainly made all the more special for Paul by the fact that his long time friend Maree Hewitt had traveled to New Zealand as his trainer, and to have Charlie Hooke and Paul’s mum Jan all present to share the excitement.
also came 2nd in the first of three rounds of the Tri-Nations Cup, a competition run with borrowed horses.
A great day for the Aussies today. The Australian team has had a wonderful start at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show today. In the 1.30m class this morning, Becky Allen and Koyuna Ted jumped clear in the first round and clear again in the jump off to finish third. The remaining three team members competed in the 1.45 Norwood Gold Cup. The weather had deteriorated throughout the day, with gusty winds causing problems with jumps blowing down, and then squally showers adding to the degree of difficulty.
First out for Australia, Paul Athanasoff and Wirragulla Nicklaus posted a solid clear round, as did Paula Hamood and NV Capone. David Robertson and Sharpe Seal also recorded no jumping penalties, but one time fault kept them out of the jump off. Six combinations jumped off with Kiwi international Bruce Goodin being the first to go as the rain became heavier. A very tight turn to the second fence saw Bruce's horse loose its footing and slip through the fence. Paul then posted a solid clear round to go into the lead, but Paula then went slightly quicker - to put the Aussies at 1 and 2. Ike Unsworth and the grey stallion Senator VDL went very quickly to takeover the leave, and push Paula to second and Paul to third – and with no further clear rounds in the jump-off, these top 3 placings remained unchanged. So, an excellent day at the office for the Aussies, the team incurring no jumping penalties – and just one time penalty. Thursday will see Becky Allen start in the Lady Showjumper class, with the rest of the team horses having a day off from competition.
__________ Earlier .... All horses and riders have arrived in New Zealand safe and sound and have settled in very comfortably. The horses are all stabled at Jeff and Vicki McVean’s new property. The riders and their families are staying with neighbours close by, and as always, the Kiwi hospitality is second to none. Today, a quick trip into town was required to pick up all the saddlery and equipment from the flight, as New Zealand customs and MAF were unable to clear it at the time of landing, and so had to on-freight it this morning. The horses have had a quiet day, with some being ridden and others being walked out. On Tuesday, the team will move from the Waikato region where they currently are, to the Hawkes Bay town of Hastings, with the Horse of the Year show beginning on Wednesday. |
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