Emma Mason and Warrego Marco Polo
In 2011 Emma Mason finished third in the CCI4* in Adelaide on board F1 Pharinelli and in the next few years you may well see her again on the CCI4* podium on board one of her very promising young horses
One of these is Warrego Marco Polo, the 11 year old warmblood/TB cross and winner of the Horseland CCI2* at the Australian International 3 Day Event. Warrego Marco Polo was produced to 1* level by Justine Streater then bought by a syndicate for Emma earlier this year and since then the pair has competed at two international events together at Tamworth and Goulburn
Emma is a busy lady, running her own legal practise as well as competing professionally, and she was 'umming and ahhing' about bringing hime Adelaide but now is very glad that she did
Warrego Marco Polo went into the show jumping today in second place and had one rail down for a score of 55.30 but when the overnight leader Chelsea Priestley had two rails down in the atmospheric arena to finish on 59.2, the prize went to Emma
Emma Mason
Chelsea Priestley and Skansen Purist
Second placed Chelsea and Skansen Purist (Charlie) are another relatively new combination and, although it is obviously always a disappointment not to win, this pair has come a long way in just a few months and Chelsea is hoping that his lovely owner, Izzy O’Loughlin will let them continue on next year
Matt Gaske and Thymes Two
Queensland’s Matt Gaske remained in third place with just one rail down but he was very close behind Chelsea with a score of 59.80. Matt had a nervous moment this moment in the second horse inspection but there could be no doubt that Thymes Two was feeling on top form when he entered the arena
The trip from Western Australia was made worthwhile for Belinda Isbister who rose from 25th after the dressage on board Here To Stay to finish in fourth place (66.50), just ahead of another pair from WA, Cindy Lyall and GI Joe (66.70). Both combinations incurred eight penalties in the show jumping while Sarah Clark and LV Balou Jeanz rounded out the top six
Belinda Isbister and Here To Stay
There were no double clear rounds in the final phase of the CCI2* but the eventual winner of the Bates Australian Young Rider Championship, Courtney Stubberfield came very close with just one time penalty as all the rails stayed up
More to come from Courtney soon ..........
