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Boland braces for possible Games call-up
Tim Boland has given national Eventing selectors something to ponder after a convincing performance at this weekend's CCI3* Melbourne International Three Day Event. The 41 year old is searching for his first Olympic Games berth and has London 2012 firmly in his sights after winning the 55th annual CCI3* Melbourne event. “I’ve done everything I can do now and what will be will be, but obviously it’s nice to be in contention,” Boland said. Boland and his 11 year old bay gelding GV Billy Elliot led the CCI3* class from start to finish. The combination received a personal best Dressage score on the first day of competition which they backed up with a pleasing time around a wet cross country course. They wowed the crowds in today’s final phase of Show Jumping and were one of only three combinations in the class to jump clear.
“I’m absolutely over the moon, I always talk about my horse because they’re the true athletes in this sport. He’s an unbelievable horse and I’m so proud of him, he jumped the house down tonight, I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“He’s an absolute superstar and I’m very proud to ride a horse like this,” he added.
Minister for Sport, the Honourable Kate Lundy, was the guest of honour at today’s final day of the Melbourne International Three Day Event. In front of a packed crowd she said, “It’s a very exciting time for all Australians as we lead into London 2012 and I know and I can see the enormous hard work that’s going into that effort.”
Beijing Olympian Shane Rose, who was fifth after Sunday’s Cross Country, finished the event in second position after jumping a clear round with his 10 year old gelding APH Moritz.
Fellow first time Olympic hopeful Craig Barrett and Wendela Jamie ended their Melbourne campaign in third.
Australia’s UK based riders will get their final chance to impress selectors at the Luhmuhlen CSI4* in Germany next weekend.
Australia’s five member Eventing team will be announced at the end of June.
For more information and for full results from today’s competition click here
10 June 2012 Olympic hopefuls leading CCI3* Melbourne International 3DE after Cross Country After the second day of competition, two first time Olympic Eventing hopefuls are leading the Melbourne CCI3* International Three Day event which is the last opportunity for Australian based Eventers to perform well in front of national selectors before they name the team for the London 2012 Olympic Games. 42 year old Tim Boland from the New South Wales Central Coast and his 11 year old bay gelding GV Billy Elliot enter Monday’s Show Jumping phase in first position after a confident lap around a wet cross country course kept them in top spot, which they secured after recording a personal best score in Saturday’s Dressage phase. The combination jumped clear but added 4.4 time penalties to their Dressage score to finish day two on 41.80. “The ground was really heavy and really slippery in front of a lot of fences so I was a little bit protective of him (Billy Elliot) but very proud of him, he never gave me an anxious moment, he’s such a good horse,” said Boland.
Craig Barrett and Wendela Jamie also from NSW, have moved from third to second after yesterday’s second placed combination Lauren Balcombe and Kootamootoo retired midway through the course. Barrett’s time of 9:46 added just 4.4 time penalties to the combination’s score to put them on 48.00 leading into the final phase of competition.
Boland now has a comfortable 6.2 point lead over Barrett heading into the Show Jumping but for the Olympic Games hopeful there is more on the line than the title.
“I’d put all this pressure on myself leading into this event because If I’d had a problem today I was gone. I had to make it happen and without a good horse you can’t make it happen so I’m very happy,” Boland said.
“He’s a wonderful jumper and that’s the phase that I love the most so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.
The 55th annual Melbourne CCI3* International Three Day Event will conclude with Monday’s Show Jumping phase. Gates open at 8am with the CCI3* event expected to get underway at 3pm.
For more information and for full results from today’s competition click here
9 June 2012 Tim Boland takes an early lead at the Melbourne CCI3* Tim Boland has taken charge of the 55th annual CCI3* Melbourne International Three Day Event at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. Boland and his 11 year old bay gelding, GV Billy Elliot, are determined to make the Australian Eventing team that will compete at the London Olympic Games and have come to Melbourne to show national selectors they’re in form and ready to chase Olympic glory. The combination outshone the 18 strong field in today’s Dressage phase, finishing with a personal best score of 35.00.
The Melbourne International Three Day Event is the final opportunity for Australian based Eventers looking to record a good performance in front of national selectors before they finalise the five member team which will compete in London.
“Today’s test was terrific, I’m very proud of him (Billy Elliot) and thrilled we have recorded a personal best at this event. I am sure he can sense this is a big moment for us and he’s delivered a performance to match.”
Boland and Billy Elliot have a commanding lead heading into tomorrow’s cross country phase and if they are to maintain top spot will have to perform well on what is expected to be a wet track. Lauren Balcombe and
Kootamootoo (41.20) are second and last year’s Melbourne CCI3* winner Craig Barrett and Wendela Jamie (43.60)are in third.
Barrett is also campaigning for a position on the Olympic Games Eventing Team and says his horse’s best phase is still to come.
“There’s still a long way to go in this competition and he’s (Wendela Jamie) always been a great cross country horse so I’ll be aiming to go clear and under time even if the weather’s wet.”
Tomorrow’s cross country action at the Melbourne International Three Day Event gets underway from 8am.
For more information and for full results from today’s competition click here
7 June 2012 Australian based Eventers head to Melbourne for final event ahead of London team selection. For some competitors in this weekend's Melbourne International CCI3* there's more than the title at stake. Olympic selection is on the line for some entrants and they’ll be giving it all they’ve got in what is the last opportunity for Australian based eventers to impress selectors before they choose the five member team which will go for gold in London. Last year’s winner of the three star event, Craig Barrett, won’t just be defending his title when the event gets underway on Saturday, he’s here to put a good performance on the board and will be partnering with the 15 year old gelding Wendela Jamie, the horse which he rode to victory in 2011. The 42 year old is searching for his first Olympic Games berth and is pleased with the horse’s performance leading into the make or break event.
“He (Wendela Jamie) ran well at Camden two weeks ago and I’m really happy with how our preparations have gone,” said Barrett. “This is a big weekend for us and I’m hoping everything will come together and we repeat our efforts of last year,” he added.
Also on the hunt for his first Olympic Games berth is Tim Boland who placed second at last month’s Sydney International CCI3*. Boland and GV Billy Elliot have come to Melbourne to lay claim to a position on the five member eventing team and are among one of the favourites in this weekend’s event.
“He’s a good, sound horse with a lot to offer. He showed terrific form in Sydney and I’m here this weekend to reinforce his ability in front of the selectors because this is the final opportunity to do so,” said Boland.
Selectors will also be keeping an eye on the performance of UK based Australian Eventers Sam Griffiths who are due to start at this weekend’s Bramham CCI3* in Northern England. Griffiths will pair with his shadow squad horses Happy Times and Paulank Brockagh.
The Melbourne International Three Day Event is celebrating 55 years in 2012 and will run from today until 11 June. The three star competition will get underway on Saturday and conclude on Monday.
Visitors to this year’s event will also be able to watch the Melbourne CDI-W which is the third round of the Equestrian Grand Final qualifier (Dressage). Australia’s top based Dressage combinations will be looking to score well and secure a position in the Equestrian Grand Final which will take place at EQUITANA Melbourne from November 15-18. The experienced combination of Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi currently lead the field with Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina IV not far behind.
EA will be live in Melbourne and bring you the latest news and results from here and overseas right here on our website. Follow Equestrian Australia on Facebook and twitter for live results and updates.
More information on the Melbourne International Three Day Event can be found here http://www.equestrianvictoriaevents.com.au/Melbourne3DE/ More information on the Brabham International Horse Trials can be found here http://www.bramham-horse.co.uk/ | |
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