A clash of the Olympians in Canberra
Less than one penalty divided two Olympic medalists in the Canberra International Horse Trials Three-Star class held at the Equestrian Park, Curtin, last weekend.
In a nail biting finish of the Saddleworld CIC3*, Sydney Gold medallist Stuart Tinney riding Tim Game's 10-year-old mare Panamera hung onto his overnight lead by the slimmest of margins from Beijing Silver medallist Shane Rose on the 7-year-old thoroughbred Koko Black. Rose was also third aboard another 7-year-old APH Moritz. Tinney placed 5th and 6th on Watermark Grayson and Orchard Hill.
"Panamera is a lovely mare and it is nice that she is going so well in the lead-up to Adelaide," commented Tinney in reference to the horse's preparations for the Four-Star class at the Australian International Three-Day Event held in Adelaide in November, the only Four-Star held in the Southern Hemisphere.
Grant Johnson's cross-country track proved tough to get the time in the wet conditions, yet of the 250 competitors not a single horse and rider parted company on course. Rose stormed around the technical 3-star cross-country to put himself into a very competitive position on all three of his rides but the super-cool Tinney jumped a foot-perfect round in the show jumping to clinch the Three-Star title.
West Australian Sophie Warren put the pedal to the metal to win the Almec CIC2* competition. Sophie's 9-year-old Thoroughbred Let's Impress was the fastest horse in the class on the cross-country and jumped clear in the show jumping to climb up the score-board from 8th place after Dressage. Sophie has been based in Arcadia since the Sydney Three-Day Event in September to compete at the NSW competitions before heading to the Two-Star class at the Australian International Three-Day Event.
Victorian Katja Weimann and BP Flamboyant won the Copabella CIC1* ahead of Tim Boland who took out 2nd and 3rd place.
Local junior rider Kate Doak from Hall took out the BDA Junior Preliminary on her wonderful old timer William the Conqueror. David Bryant won the Kevin Dickson memorial trophy. Full results can be viewed at the National Capital Horse Trials web site: www.nchta.com.au
