World Equestrian Games – Week One Done and Dusted

The Dressage was a highlight for most being able to see the wonderful Valegro strut his stuff winning the Grand Prix, the Special and the Freestyle so three gold medals to the popular English rider Charlotte Dujardin.  It was just wonderful to see this lovely horse who just enjoys winning.

Australia placed 10^th in the Dressage Teams event, most importantly it has given Australia a start at the 2016 Rio Olympics – congratulations girls.

Our best score in the Teams was Mary Hanna and her beautiful Sancette on 70.929%, Lyndal Oatley and Sandro Boy scored 70.600%, Maree Tomkinson was first out riding Diamantina 4 to score 69.300% and Kristy Oatley scored 63.771% after her huge Ronan 2 just did not settle adding a huge spook at a TV camera swigging around to give Kristy quite a tough time.

Mary Hanna was the only Australian to qualify for the Special, Sancette was not quite as good as he had been in the Grand Prix scoring 69.321% to finish 29^th – a great effort from the Australian Dressage Team – Go Girls. 

Germany won the Teams from England and Holland.

England won the Parra Dressage Teams Gold from Holland and Germany, the Australian Team Joann Formosa, Nicole Blanks, Elizabeth Sobecki and Chelsea Higgins 13^th.

Joann Formosa qualified for the Freestyle and finished 9^th in the Grade 1b, Nicole Blanks placed 6^th in the IV Freestyle.  Congratulations to everyone well done and in torrential rain.

Team USA continued to dominate the Reining taking both Team and Individual Gold medals.  The Australian Team of Martin Larcombe, Shauna Larcombe, Shaun Saunders and Bill Norwood finished 5^th just 4.5 marks off the Bronze medal – a very close finish.  Martin Larcomb placed 14^th in the overall individual.  Great riding by Australian reining team.

For a number of years the United Arab Emirates have dominated Endurance, the course set at Sartilly with the famous Mont Saint-Michel as a spectacular backdrop resembled the technical courses on mixed terrain we used to see many years ago.  HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum was the best of the Gulf riders and took Gold, winning each leg.

Australia’s Alexander Toft was the best of the Australian’s in 19^th and Sasha Laws-King finished 33^rd. 

Spain, France and Switzerland took the Team medals, the Australian Team did not complete.

Eventing Dressage and Cross Country was held at the famous National Stud Haras National du Pin, at Le Pin au Haras approximately 180 kilometres from the main stadium in Caen.  The property magnificent with the beautiful Chateau as a back drop, unseasonal rain made the footing for spectators a muddy mess on the two dressage days.  An enormous amount o work by organisers, laying sand, board walks, rolling tracks and some nice sunshine almost completely transformed the paths and tracks overnight.  The footing for the horses although soft and dead, it did not cause any injuries or any problems for riders other then the time being impossible to achieve.  

Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan were 12^th after the Dressage and the best of the Australians on 44.7, Paul Tapner next riding Kilronan on 47 penalties in 20^th position, followed by Stuart Tinney in 25^th riding Pluto Mio on 48.3, Chris Burton in 46^th place riding TS Jamaimo on 52.8, Sam Griffiths 48^th riding Paulank Brockagh on 53.3 penalties.   Shane Rose 76^th riding Taurus on 61.7 penalties, Taurus did not settle when the crowd when wild for the French rider before him.

This left the Team in 9^th position, only 14.3 penalties out of a medal and the strong technical cross country course was always going to be a major factor.

Cross Country day bought plenty of excitement for the 50,000 plus crowd who enjoyed watching every horse, the crowd noise and cheering  as a French rider passed was deafening.  First out for Australia was Sam Griffiths who jumped clear adding just time penalties to a super round and a great start for the team.  Chris Burton was next, his start time passing and finally the announcement came over that he had withdrawn, a blow for the team.  News from the Australian officials – TS Jamaimo had a temperature and showed some colic signs – a blow for Chris and the team.

All the Australian horses jumped clear just adding time penalties to their score a great effort and fabulous riding.    At the end of the Cross Country Stuart had moved up to 11^th, Paul 13^th, Sam 17^th, Bill 19^th and Shane 30^th – the team now holding the Bronze medal position – congratulations on a great day.  Germany leading the teams competition from England.

The horses were transported to the main stadium in Caen for the Jumping on Sunday, Bill Levett had to withdraw Shannondale Titan after he over-reached badly on the cross country course.  Just three riders left in the team – Sam, Paul and Shane with Stuart an individual.

The jumping course was a careful and technical set at a strong 1.30m, no fence a particular problem with fences falling all around the course, the only fence not to fall was number six a 1.30 x 1.75m triple bar.  There were 13 clear rounds from the 59 starters.   Stuart Tinney the best placed Australian finishing 12^th in the world adding 8 penalties to his overnight score a rail at the 1.30 x 1.35m oxer number two and a rail at the last the 1.30 x 1.50m square oxer. 

Paul Tapner finished 15^th also adding 8 penalties in the jumping rails at the 1.30m vertical 11b and at 12.    Sam Griffiths finished 17^th adding 4 penalties for an unlucky rail at the last oxer number 12.  Shane Rose and Taurus did not have a good day at the office dropping 6 rails adding 24 penalties for 36^th place.

Germany won the Teams from England and Holland, Australia finishing 5^th just 16 penalties from the bronze position and gaining an Olympic ticket for the Australian Eventing Team – well done Eventing Australia.

The Individual Gold went to Sandra Auffarth from Germany, the Silver to the 2000 World Champion Michael Jung and Bronze to William Fox-Pit from England.  What a fantastic event with great horses, great riders making great sport – well done.

We start the Jumping tomorrow – great.