Aussie reiners within reach of WEG podium

Australia is in fourth position and one penalty off the bronze medal position at the halfway point of the team’s reining event at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 after strong performances from 2010 WEG representative Martin Larcombe and WEG debutant Shaun Saunders.

Larcombe and Wimpys Cute Tune were fourth to go on the opening day of competition and the pair held the lead for most of the morning session. By the end of the day their score of 218.5 had them sitting in equal fourth position, four positions ahead of team mate Shaun Saunders (Sparkin Tinsel) who is in eighth position with a score of 217. The pair's scores combined is 435.5.

It’s a vast change for Saunders who was competing at the Queensland State Show in Caboolture only a few weeks earlier.

“Today was awesome. I haven’t had an adrenalin like this showing since I was a kid

“I was stoked. There were a few things that I could have practiced a little better but the horse was with me all the way.

“I was super stoked with his left turns. It was an awesome first time round but lots of room for improvement,” he said.

The team’s competition is also the first individual qualifying round and Australia’s John Wicks (Top Flash Cody) is sitting in equal 16^th position after scoring 213. Those ranked in the top 15 at the end of the first round of qualifying will automatically qualify for the final.    

Still to come for Australia on day two is Shauna Larcombe and Bill Norwood.

The second part of the Reining team competition, which features 16 nations, and the first individual qualifier will take place on Tuesday. At the end of the day, the first prestigious FEI medals of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy will be awarded.

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