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Melbourne Three-Day Event
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester win the Melbourne CCI 3*. Monday - Showjumping - Final Results
CCI 3* - Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester have won the Melbourne Three-Day Event CCI 3*.
The large crowd in the indoor arena was silent as the tension mounted at the top end of the class. There was disappointment for Will Enzinger and Badger Bay who dropped from sixth place to twelfth with six rails down. The first clear round of the day came from Olivia Bunn and GV Tuscany, which ultimately moved them into sixth position, improving from twelfth after cross-country. Kevin McNab and Game Play were the next combination to conquer the course although he gave us a fright when he looked to have lost his way at one point on the course, but he regained his composure and completed a beautiful round which moved him up from seventh place to fifth. Sonja Johnson and her little pocket rocket Jaguar never looked liked hitting a fence, a clear round which moved them from fifth place to fourth. Christopher Burton and Newsprint were in third place and determined to stay there, a clear round and putting pressure on Shane who was less than a point ahead of Chris. Shane and Lucky did not disappoint and to the delight of the crowd jumped a faultless round. The combination have now acheived their Olympic qualification. There was less than a one rail between second and first, so Megan had to jump clear to win. When Megan and Jester entered the arena the crowd was still cheering for Shane, but seconds later you could have heard a pin drop as the focus was soley on Megan and Jester. True to her style, Megan kept her cool and rode a perfect round to claim victory. The crowd was delighted and Megan raised her fist in the air and galloped a victory lap. The weekend proved yet again how reliable these top horses and riders are and how well they handle pressure. The top five horses finished the event on their dressage score. An obvious absentee from the prizegiving was Wendy Schaeffer. Wendy withdrew Koyuna Sun Magic before the showjumping due to a minor injury. Wendy was very philosophical and professional in her disappointment, wishing the other riders well. Amanda Howell also withdrew Barney Rubble, the pair had been in ninth place overnight. CIC 3*-W - Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer won the World Cup qualifier making up for some of the disppointment of not completing the CCI 3* on Koyuna Sun Magic. Wendy was the only rider in the class to jump a clear round and finished on a score of 52.1. Kevin McNab was second riding Hufflepuff, with one rail down. Kirby Park Allofasudden and Megan Jones had two rails dropping them from second to third. Hamish Cargill and Wynella Remus had 2 down but remained in fourth place. In fifth place was Emma Mason and F1 Farinelli who also had just one rail. CCI 2* - The showjumping proved to be very testing in this class. Of the twenty-six horses to jump there was just one clear round. Amanda Howell took victory on Koyuna Tora Bora, they had one rail down which they could afford. In second place was Rachel Lee and Freestyler who jumped the only clear round of the class. Katja Weimann and BP Gallantry had three rails down yet retained third place. Kevin McNab and Kelecyn Stiff Drinks, fourth with just one rail but five time faults. Lucinda James and ESB Irish Denial had a rail down and moved up from eigth to fifth, two rails down allowed Rachel Lee on her other ride, Hunter Hill to move from eleventh to sixth! CCI 1*- The CCI 1* showjumping was much less dramatic. There were only 3 rails down between the top twelve placegetters. Unfortunately for Seamus Marwood, the overnight leader, one of those rails was his, dropping him to second place. Amanda Howell also had a rail on Sunvalley Donnerhe, which bumped them down from second to third and allowed Melissa Van Den Berge (nee Hughes, for the ol'time eventers) and Phantom Stealth to take the podium. Melisssa finished on her dresssage score of 49.3. Christopher Burton and Kolora Stud Secrets (which an ever increasing number of breeders would like to know!) also finished on their dressage score to remain in fourth place. Fifth to Shane Rose and APH Moritz again with no jumping penalities and sixth to Georgia Cliford and Kolora Stud Falrich II who improved on their overnight position by one place with a clear round. Disappointment for Samantha Whiting and Soveriegn Rose who fell from sixth place to fifteenth due to three rails. CCIJ 1* - Lauren Balcomb was in the lead but I doubt she felt the same pressure as the leaders of the other classes, reason being she had a handy 18.3 penalties up her sleeve. Lauren and Kootamootoo used just 4 of those penalties and won the class easily. Second place went to Andrew Heseltine and Sunbury Lodge Pandora who also had just one rail. Third to Bonnie Price and River Range Coppergate, also with one rail. Bonnie moved up from fourth position as unfortualtely Tom Baumer and Cowboy Up dropped from third to sixth with two rails down. John Tomson and Liberty Mac finished fourth. Fifth to Helen Goddard and Kilburi Mambo. There were no clear rounds jumping rounds in the juniors. Sunday - Cross-Country It was a magnificent day in Werribee, clear and sunny and for the most part quite warm. The course rode beautifully and was a credit to Ewan Kellet. The horses were recovering well in close to idealic cross-country conditions and the spectators were given a great display of cross-country riding. Our Olympic hopefuls showed just how good they are by all finishing without any faults, making the Three-Star track look very straight forward. CCI 3*- The top three places did not change after the cross-country. Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester remain in the lead on their dressage score of 35.9. Shane Rose and All Luck were also clear and within the time thus staying in second with 39.6 penalties and Christopher Burton and Newsprint were also faultless today to retain third place on 40.4. Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Magic moved up from seventh position to fourth by remaining on their dressage score of 45.9. Sonja Johnson and Ringwould Jaguar also made light of the course and climbed up the ladder from ninth to fifth. In all 14 of the 19 horses jumped clear and 9 were within the time. CIC3*-W - Wendy Schaeffer has moved into the lead on Koyuna Sun Dancer on 49.3 by adding just 2.8 time faults. Kirby Park Allofasudden and Megan Jones added just 3.2 time and are now in second, an improvenment of two places. Kevin McNab went clear and under time to move into third position aboard Hufflepuff. Overnight leader Shane Rose and Cleddau Bobby Dazzler incurred 20 penalties to drop down to eigth position. Shane confessed "I just made a mistake, the horse was great." CCI 2* - Amanda Howell retained her lead on Koyuna Tora Bora with a faultess performance. Amanda says she is ready to ditch her reputation as a "Dressage Queen", and apparently she really means it as she rode the fastest round of the day in the CCI 3*, and is also lying second in the CCI 1*. Rachel Lee is currently in second position on Freestyler, an improvement from fourth place. Katja Weimann and BP Gallantry are now in third. 24 of 30 horses jumped clear in this class, reflecting the rideability of the course. CCI 1* - Seamus Marwood is still winning the CCI 1* on the big grey War Warrior. Amanda Howell and Sunvalley Donnerhe remain in second. Melissa Van Den Berge and Phantom Stealth have moved into third place followed by yet another Kolora Stud horse this time Kolora Stud Secrets ridden by Christopher Burton. 36 of 51 horses jumped without fault incurring penalties. CCIJ 1* - Lauren Balcomb and Kootamootoo did not have any trouble on course and are still leading the Junior class. Moving up from fifth to second was Andrew Heseltine Sunbury Lodge Pandora. Cowboy Up and Tom Baumer also improved their position, finishing today in third place. Elizma English unfortunatley incurred 20 penalties dropping her from second to fourteenth. Yesterday's third place getter Chloe James and RL Sir William had a disappointing day and were eliminated on course. Saturday - Day 2 of Dressage The indoor arena was filled today with spectators who were eager to see what would unfold in the all important CCI 3*. Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester are leading after the dressage on an impressive score of 35.9 penalties (76.09%). Shane Rose and Angela Shacklady's All Luck are in second with 39.6 (73.62%). Christopher Burton and Newsprint are in third position with 40.4 penalties (73.04%), Martin Plewa scored Newsprint the highest of all the horses in both the CCI 3* and CIC 3*-W on 77.83%. Will Enzinger and ten-year-old Badger Bay are currently in fourth place with 43.4 (71.02%). It is interesting to note that three of the top four horses are thoroughbreds. Olivia Bunn and the eye-catching GV Bullwinkle are currently in fifth position with penalties of 44.6 (70.29%). Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Magic scored 45.9 penalties (69.42%) to be currently in seventh position and Sydney CCI 3* winners in April of this year Sonja Johnson and Ringwould Jaguar are in ninth position on 47.2 penalties (68.55%). The CIC 3*-W is a small class of ten competitors. Shane Rose and Cleddau Bobby Dazzler are leading after the dressage with 46.70 penalties (68.84%), second is Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer 49.3 (67.1%) and third at this stage of the competition is Marcia Williamson and Kalason with 49.8 (66.81%). Seamus Marwood and the 17.3hh War Wizard, a twelve-year-old grey gelding by Daley K are in poll position at the completion of the dressage for the CCI 1*. Amanda Howell is currently in second place riding Sunvalley Donnerhe owned by Shannon Harris with a score of 46.4 (69.05%). Georgia Clifford and Kolora Stud Falkrich II, who were winners of the Pre-Novice at the 2008 Sydney Three-Day Event, are in third place with 47.6 penalties (68.25%). Fourth thus far to Katya Weimann and Pluto Mio (also by Daley K) on 48.8 (67.46%). Leading the CCIJ 1* by a good margin is Lauren Balcomb and the nine-year-old Salute gelding Kootamootoo with 42.4 penalties (71.74%). In second place is Elizma English and Chironic High Noon on 52.6 penaties (64.92%) and in third so far is Chloe James and RL Sir William with 53.3 penalties (64.44%). Friday - Day 1 of Dressage The Melbourne Three-Day Event is running five classes, a CCI 1*, CCIJ 1*, CCI 2*, CCI 3* and a CIC 3*-W. All the cross-country courses have been designed by Ewan Kellet and have been beautifully presented. The weather is fine (at this stage) and by all reports is supposed to stay that way. President of the Ground Jury for the CCI 2*, CCI 3* and CIC 3*-W is visiting international judge Martin Plewa from Germany. Martin is accompanied by Barry Roycroft (AUS) and Pollyanne Huntingtion (AUS). The Ground Jury for the CCI 1* (including the Junior competition) is Val McKenzie (AUS) (President), Ross Spalding (AUS) and Clare Lewin (AUS). The Dressage for thirty-one riders in the CCI 2* class was completed today. Amanda Howell is in the lead riding Koyuna Tora Bora on a score of 44.0 penalties (70.69%). Christopher Burton riding Walk the Line is a close second on 45.8 penalties (69.44%). Cassia Montgomery and Arkie are currently in third position with 51.0 penalties (65.97%).
The CCI 1* Dressage is underway, however with sixty competitors in the class the judging will continue tomorrow. For full results and further information please refer to the Melbourne Three Day Event web site | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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