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Young Aussie Eventing Riders win 2006 Trans Tasman
The 2006 Young Rider Eventing Trans Tasman competition in New Zealand had its challenges on the cross-country course but the Aussies won by a margin of 53.6 peanlties. Congratulations!!!!!!!!! 1st Cammy O’Rourke Kirby Park Irish Jamie (38.8)
3rd Emma Dougall Dot Com (50.4)
6th Jess Mitchell AEC Storeman (65.0) 16th Emma Hoath Kiwi Mystery 90.6 22nd Clinton van der Sanden Tarr Ritzi (125.8) Chef d'Equipe Gill Rolton reports:Conditions for the Jumping Test were perfect sunny and around 20 degrees – rather a contrast to the lightening, thunder and rain of the cross-country day. On Friday night and Saturday morning the heavens opened up but by mid-morning, the 2-star class stayed relatively dry; however, the previous rain did make conditions rather slippery. The course was certainly up to tough 2-star standard and was a nearly max 9min 46sec and there were a number of fences to cause trouble. The first three riders all had trouble but the first Kiwi rider jumped around clear and under time after a ‘life’ at the difficult 5th fence, the maximum ditch and rail. The fence itself was quite difficult but the going in front of the fence was quite slippery – even with a layer of crusher dust on takeoff. Any hesitation and the horses slid and many got over it with a bit of a stifle. First to jump it really well was our first rider Emma Hoath and Kiwi Mystery. He jumped the big ditch like it wasn’t there and motored around the course on time to all the minute markers until loosing a stirrup down a slippery hill before an apex made Emma loose her line and have a costly stop at the third-last fence.. Next out for us was 2nd-placed on 43.6 (after the dressage) Next out for us was individual rider Jess Mitchell. After a pleasing PB dressage score at 2-star level she motored around the XC coming in quite a few seconds under time. After a good dressage of 45.5, Emma Dougall put together a very polished and confident cross-country on Dot Com to come in 10 seconds under time and clear. Dot Com can be a little careful at ditches but did not look like hesitating and jumped beautifully. By this stage after the first two riders going clear under time, the wheels were falling off the Kiwi team with an elimination and a couple of stops with their final two riders so it was up to dressage leader Cammy O’Rourke on Kirby Park Irish Jamie to show us how it was done. They looked good from the start although appeared to be slightly slower over the first 4 minutes than the others. However, Jamie jumped around the course finishing with only .8 penalties or 2 seconds over. The course proved to be as tough as we predicted with many of the 2-star combinations withdrawing or being eliminated.’ At the end of cross-country day our 30point lead from the Dressage day had extended and the horses all looked great. The trot-up proved to be not a problem so we had a full complement of five riders to contest the Jumping. The track was again very slippery and we made sure all had plenty of studs all round. Next out Jess Mitchell – in 5th place after XC had a rather strong round for 2 rails and 4 time penalties. In second after the XC, Dot Com looked to be jumping beautifully for Emma. He came in giving everything heaps but a tiny touch on the Aussie planks saw her finishing with 1 rail and 1 time penalty to drop to 3rd by 1.4 penalties. Cammie and Jamie warmed up beautifully with team coach Sam Lyle and didn’t look like they were going to touch anything – and they didn’t , a clear round under time saw them complete the weekend on 38.8 penalties, over 10 in front of 2nd placed Kiwi Young Rider Alice Montgomery on Scott Free. After the showjumping, the Aussies’ lead had increased to 53 penalties, a great result for all concerned. The kids all did a fantastic job both on and off the horses and we were proud to be associated with such a great bunch of kids. Coach Sam Lyle and Vet Andrew Hunt did a fantastic job and the result was a real ‘team effort’. A huge thanks to the EFA and Australian Sports Commission for their support and our Kiwi hosts for a wonderful competition and unbelievable hospitality. Gill Rolton, Chef d’Equipe Technical Delegate Des Hughes adds his commnets:I recently had the pleasure of being the Technical Delegate at Richfields (NZL), which included the Young Rider Trans Tasman Competition. From the time our Team arrived it was clear that they had a professional approach to the Competition.
They all combined as a team, presented themselves extremely well, and complained about nothing. I received numerous compliments from the Officials present, that the Team dressed well (uniforms), presented themselves well, were very polite and accommodating to the OC when requested to perform various sponsorship activities.
They also performed extremely well, and brought home the Trans Tasman Trophy.
For me, it was the highlight of the event to receive so many compliments. It made me very proud to be Australian.
Congratulations to the Team:
Their professionalism was best summed up by the land owner, when, at an Official's Dinner, he noted that our team was drinking 'soft drinks', the Kiwis - alcoholic beverages.
Thank-you to the Team and again congratulations on being such great ambassadors for both Australia and our sport.
Des Hughes
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