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AUS wins International Para-Equestrian teams event
Australia has won the international Para-Equestrian Teams Competition held over the weekend during the Saddleworld Dressage Festival, at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre.
This is the first international Para-Equestrian event to be held in Australia and the event attracted riders from New Zealand, Canada and Japan who competed on borrowed horses, with the exception of two New Zealand riders who bought their own horses over. The Teams Competition comprised two tests for each team rider, held over Friday and Saturday.
Final team results:
1st Australia 421.707%
2nd Canada 394.821%
3rd Japan 363.769%
4th New Zealand 362.291%
The Australian team consisted of Sharon Jarvis (WA) and Nicole Kullen (NSW), who both competed for Australia at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 and team newcomers Kate Doughty (VIC) and Fleur Lister (WA).
In the two individual competitions for each grade, the Australian team members dominated. The Grade 4 Individual Championship and Freestyle were both won by Kate Doughty, Sharon Jarvis won the Grade 3 Individual Championship and Freestyle, and Nicole Kullen won the Grade 1B Individual Championship and Freestyle.
Robert Oakley from NSW won the Grade 1A Individual Championship and Freestyle and in Grade 2 the Individual Championship was won by Canadian rider Jennifer McKenzie riding a borrowed horse. The Grade 2 Freestyle was won by Grace Bowman (South Australia).
Results
11 Dec 2009 The first day of the CPEDI3* competition has been run and won. Werribee put on a spectacular morning for the start of the Para-Equestrina competition and the riders had "centre stage." Competition started this morning with the Grade IV Team Test which was won by Kate Doughty from Victoria and her impressive and proving to be consistent, "Heatherton Park Al Capone." Then, the visitors take over - second to Elenore Elstone from Canada riding Flowervale Metallice,third to Jenny Affleck from New Zealand ( horse and rider!) and Boss II. Grade III was won by Sharon Jarvis and "Applewood Odorado." Sharon and "Odie" were kept honest by Anne Skinner and Aubaine Cossack who finished second, third to Kim Cram and her "Halloween" making the trip all the way from New Zealand, as a combination!. Grade II, and Canada proved the trip was well worth it, with Jennifer McKenzie riding the "Sunbury Lodge Voodoo" taking the honours. Grace Bowman and "Kirby Park Joy" are competing in Grade II and it appears that the change has suited them; 66.286% and second. Third to the always consistent Fleur Litster and the charming "Edlen Silver Sails." Nicole Kullen and "Nikshar Nomination" took out the Grade IB, but right on their heels are Susan Siepel and her new horse "Larundel Galata." Third to Joann Formosa and "Riverview Solitique." A change of Grade also appears to have agreed with Rob Oakley and his Weltmeyer gelding, "Peaceful Warrior", taking out the Grade 1A from the always competitive Jan Pike and "Materic." Third to Mina Chinju from Japan riding "Tiggar' Competition continues tomorrow from 8am with the Individual Championship Test and the finalisation of the Team Champion. Held over three days, from December 11-13, the Para-Equestrian event has attracted riders from all over Australia and from overseas with teams entered from New Zealand, Canada and Japan. This event is the only one of its kind being held in the Australiasian region between now and the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in September 2010 and offers the Para-Equestrian riders the opportunity to gain their qualifying scores for possible team selection for the WEG. The riders will be needing to score highly from the international Ground Jury of five judges, two from Australia and the others flying in from the Netherlands, Belgium and France specifically for this event.
There are five grades of competition offered with each grade reflecting the rider’s physical ability and hence having different requirements. For the visiting overseas riders - with the exception of two of the six riders from New Zealand who are bringing their own horses over - the challenge will be even greater as they will be competing on horses borrowed for the occasion.
The Teams Competition will be held on Friday December 11 and the Individual competion is held over the weekend with each rider competing in a Championship test and a Freestyle.
Australian riders entered in the Para-Equestrian events is a “who’s who” of their sport. Four riders from the 2008 Paralympian Team will be competing, as well as all five newly crowned 2009 National Champions. Jan Pike could be considered the veteran of the riders, having competed at two Paralympics (Athens & Beijing), winning a silver and bronze medal at the Athens Games as well as two silver medals at the 2003 World Para-Equestrian Championships.
Para-Equestrian became a discipline of Equestrian Australia in January 2009 and with the support of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Equestrian Australia have been working hard to provide Australian riders with high-level competition experience in the lead up to the World Equestrian Games in 2010.
The Para-Equestrian event has been made possible with support from the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Paralympic Committee and the Equestrian Australia High Performance Program.
Ticketing and more event information from www.vic.equestrian.org.au
Enquiries: Event Director - Caroline Coleby 0432 505 774 dwts@live.com.au
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