NEWS > Eventing
Posted by Equestrian Australia on 25/03/2013.

NSW wins a thrilling State of Origin Eventing duel

Natalie Blundell and Algebra 

Photograph:ESJ Photo

 

It's no surprise that team captains Natalie Blundell (NSW) and Stuart Tinney (QLD) dominated the State of Origin series clash at the weekend's Davcar Horse Floats QLD International Three Day Event.

It was Blundell’s New South Wales team which took out the inaugural State of Origin trophy but the Blues didn’t snare victory until the final day of competition after a strong Maroon outfit took an early lead during the dressage phase and were able to hold onto it on Cross Country Day. 

Each team was comprised of five combinations and the lowest three scores from each team, regardless of the class, were counted towards the final team score.

In it in the end there was nothing in it and Blundell’s Blues edged out Tinney and the Maroons by just 0.5 of a penalty (NSW = 172.4; QLD 172.9).

The closely contested battle was fought right until the end and the team captains shared the top honours amongst them. Blundell won the CIC3* with her top mount Algebra and the CC1* with the young mare Girl with a Curl. She also placed third in the CCI* with My Aladdin. Tinney won the CCI2* with Sydney and finished second in the CCI1* with War Hawk.

“It was really good for my team of horses to get exposure to a new track. They’re familiar with most of the cross country courses in NSW now so giving them a new course and collecting three places certainly made the trip worthwhile!” Blundell said.

The Queensland Captain Stuart Tinney wasn’t far behind, taking out the Saddleworld 2* on Sydney.

“NSW may have scraped through with a win to collect the trophy this year, but we’ll be out to reclaim it in 2014,” Tinney said. 


Natalie Blundell and Algebra

Stuart Tinney and Sydney

Stuart Tinney and Sydney
 
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