Press Release

Sydney International 3-Day Event
Organising Committee

6th May,  2002

Badminton disappointment means Australian based riders get better chance for selection for World Equestrian Games

“We have an ageing Gold Medal Team who look like they have reached their used by date” says Heath Ryan, who assisted National Coach Wayne Roycroft in winning Australia’s third consecutive Gold Medal in eventing.  “This gives our Australian based riders a very real expectation of selection for the World Equestrian Games in Spain in September.

Australia’s Gold Medallist Andrew Hoy and his horse Darien Powers suffered profound disappointment yesterday at the Mitsubishi Badminton Three Day Event, UK.

Following the dressage Hoy was second in second place, a situation which improved after a brilliant cross country which left him just a fraction of a point behind British rider Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock.

Showjumping proved to be Darien Powers downfall as four rails fell moving the Gold Medallist combination into eight place.

Matt Ryan, who won a double Gold for Australia at Barcelona and was a member of the Gold Medal winning team at the Sydney Olympic Games had a miserable dressage test on Kibah Sandstone, his Olympic horse followed by two stops cross country which put the pair right out of the competition.  Riding his second horse Balmoral Mr Slinky Matt finished in 14^th place after the showjumping.

Other Australian riders based in UK, Brook Staples finished 23^rd, Bill Levitt 33^rd, Clayton Fredicks 35^th which put them out of contention for selection for the World Equestrian Games in September.

Australian based riders now have every chance of strutting their stuff to the selectors at this weekend’s selection trial, the Sydney International Three-Day Event.  The event will take place at the Olympic Venue, Horsley Park,10-12 May.  Gold Medallist, 2000 Stuart Tinney and Atlanta Gold Medallist Wendy Schaeffer will battle for the honours of winning the event from Hunter Valley rider Sammie McLeod, who is right on form and a hot favourite.

According to Heath Ryan, “front running, hungry riders out of Australia has been the hallmark of our successful Aussie teams.  Australia has never won the World Equestrian Games Championships despite our Olympic Gold Medals.  Spain 2002 might be our opportunity to prove the scope and brilliance of the Aussie Equestrian Team”.

For more information on Sydney International Three-Day Event go to the event website – www.zeta.org.au/~venhaus – Sydney CCI***.

Or contact: Judy Fasher 0414 457 632 or Franz Venhaus 0419 466 476

All ticket enquiries contact: Rose Read 0418 216 364

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