The New Zealand Senior Oceania Eventing team all produced outstanding performances in the Saddleworld Melbourne International Three-day Event at Werribee Park today, to take an amazing 17-point lead over their Australian counterparts at the end of the dressage.
In fact, we might even make the call that this is the first time in the history of the trans-Tasman clashes that New Zealand has had such a commanding lead after dressage – the phase we previously always struggled with.
First to go, Ginny Thompson and Star Nouveau (‘Paige’) delighted the ever-increasing number of supporters with a test that broke the 50-penalty barrier for the first time, earning 47.1 penalties. Ginny was thrilled. “Paige pulled out a beauty of a test. She worked with me, not against me for a change. I always knew she had it in her.”
Andy Daines and Spring Panorama also did a lovely test. “He was amazing, so good. He was very rideable today, after being full of himself during the week. We nailed the lateral movements.” They scored 49.9 penalties and team trainer Penny Castle was beaming.
Ginny was still leading when her friend and team-mate Samantha Felton on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo stole the show with a stunning test, scoring 45.2, which was to prove the best of the day. Sam’s remark after leaving the arena: “Good, wasn’t it?!” She said later, “I didn’t ask too much, as I didn’t want to spoil it, so I played safe.” Penny said: “It was very good, solid, no tension, and lovely balance.”
All three New Zealand scores were better than any of the Australian team at this stage, so the atmosphere was humming. Jock asked Penny if he could “go for it now we have three solid scores,” but Penny answered a firm “No, we want four solid ones.”
So Jock duly delivered another solid score with Angus Blue, 46.9 penalties, to be second behind Sam, but he as he said: “He gave me everything he could at this stage, lots of flow but a bit boring.” He added he was proud of his young, relatively inexperienced horse and his attitude, having travelled round the world, and being a bit under-prepared after a short campaign in New Zealand.
“I’m proud of all the riders, they all produced personal best scores, and Penny had them just spot-on in the warm-up. The have all worked hard, and deserve their results.” Incredibly, the best Australian team member, Hazel Shannon on Adelaide four-star winner Clifford, is eighth on 49.7 penalties, so sits behind the top three Kiwi scores.
At the end of the day, the New Zealand team holds first, second, fourth and ninth positions, and the best three scores total 139.2 penalties, with Australia’s best three scores totalling 156.2. Third place is filled by Tim Boland on GV Billy Elliot on 47, but they are not team members.
Spirits are high in the Kiwi camp, but the event is not going to be a dressage competition, and the cross-country course is to be respected. Sam says: “It’s a thinking person’s course.”
Jock adds: “We have to put today behind us. It is a challenging course, with questions coming fast, and the ground is slick with fence placement testing, so we have to accept that it’s high-risk. But we’ve come to be competitive.”
The senior NZ eventing team for the Oceania Champs is supported by Equestrian Entries, and the generous sponsorship is hugely appreciated.
