Christine Bates aiming for Rio Games

Seasoned eventer Christine Bates has Rio in her sights, and the horse to get her there. Since missing out on qualification for London, her reformed horse Adelaide Hill has come a long way and is now more mature and better placed than ever to secure a Games berth. Bates and Adelaide Hill will next week compete in the Sydney International Horse Trials, an important step on the long road to Rio. “We didn't have a great run at Equestriad last weekend so I'm looking to give him a confidence run at the Sydney International event,” Bates said. “He will then be aimed at Melbourne 3DE CCI*** in June.”

The event in June will form part of Bates and Adelaide Hill’s all-important qualification process for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. With riders and horses needing a number of successful 3 star events under their belt to qualify, they will be looking for a solid performance in Melbourne, but importantly, a good warm-up at Sydney next week. Over the last couple of years, Bates has made a number of changes to Adelaide Hill’s training and preparation – changes she said are all paying off. “I've made changes to his diet,” Bates said. “Everything food related is monitored from his daily feeds to how much grass he's allowed each day. He's weighed regularly. We have made changes to how he is shod for every competition, as this varies if we are competing on hard going or soft going. We have also introduced swimming as part of his fitness program. His gallop days include interval work working up a hill. These are just some of the changes we have made.”  

Originally from Perth, Bates moved to Sydney in 1994 and is now based in Wilberforce in the Hawkesbury area north of Sydney where she lives with her family and runs a successful equestrian business. She obtained Adelaide Hill as talented but wild two-year-old and has spent the best part of a decade preparing him for world class competition. Bates won the Sydney 3 Day event on Adelaide Hill in 2011 after clearing a perfect show jumping round on the final day. She will be hoping for similar success at the event this year, which takes place from 1 – 3 May at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

THE EVENT 

Update after the event: Christine Bates competed in the CIC2* with Adelaide Hill and in the CCI2* with Ned O Reilly. She sadly withdrawn before the cross-country with Adelaide Hill but finished 4th on the CCI2* with Ned O Reilly.