The Australian Young Rider team with coaches Will Enzinger and Sam Lyle
It was victory on both fronts for the Australian Senior Gold Team and Young Rider Team in Taupo at the Oceania Championships in New Zealand today.
The dreary weather settled in for the final day of competition with an early drop in temperature and intermittent rain throughout the day, the heaviest of which descended upon the Young Riders.
The Young Rider Team went into the final day of competition with a healthy 97.7 point lead, which they managed to increase in the show jumping phase to take the win by an incredible 197.9 points.
“Wow what a week! The Young Rider Team showed how well they could focus to bring their best performance today. We did have a handy lead going into the show jumping but the team handled themselves so professionally they competed fiercely right to the end’
“The riders all produced great rounds today under team pressure in very trying conditions, a well deserved win to the team. This was very much a group effort with co-coach Sam Lyle,” said Young Rider Team Chef d'Equipe Will Enzinger.
After yesterday’s exciting CCI4*-L cross-country unfortunately both Madeline Wilson riding I’m Brue and Amanda Ross on Dicavalli Diesel elected to withdraw from the competition prior to the commencement of show jumping in the best interest of their horses.
The Australian Senior Gold Team
The Australian Senior Gold Team, consisting of Shane Rose, Sonja Johnson and Emma Bishop, retained their post cross-country lead throughout the entire show jumping phase to finish on a score of 207.3, ahead of the New Zealand Black Team in second place on 325.5. The Australian Green Team finished in fourth place on 711.4.
Individually Australian’s Sonja Johnson riding Misty Isle Valentino and Jade Findlay riding Oaks Cordelia also placed 4th and 5th in the CCI4*-L, respectively.
Stuart Tinney, Chef d'Equipe for the Senior Rider Teams said “I am very proud to be a part of the team winning back the Oceania championship title from the New Zealanders who won in 2017. It was a great event and I would like to extend our thanks to the New Zealand Federation and riders for their hospitality”
“It was great to have individual performance from Sonja and Jade, as well as both Young Rider and Seniors Teams winning their divisions. Having a total Australian team of eight horses and riders plus four young riders - the organisation that is involved in arranging this has been enormous. I am very grateful for the help of everyone involved in making this trip happen”.
Although the Australians took the teams wins, New Zealand’s Madison (Maddy) Crowe hit the jackpot in a dream season with a win in the DVS Home Ventilation CCI4*-L National Championship at the New Zealand Three Day Event Champs in Taupo.
The finish couldn’t have been any closer with Maddy aboard Waitangi Pinterest and defending champ Amanda (Muzi) Pottinger on Just Kidding both finishing on the same mark. The winner was decided on which rider was closer to the optimum cross country time yesterday.
Maddy, as the overnight leader coming into the show jumping, was the last of the remaining 13-strong field to go. Ahead of her, Amanda and Just Kidding gave the second of the combination a good knock but everything stayed up. However, they did pick up 1.2 time penalties, leaving them on 34.
Madison knew just what she had to do and despite dropping a rail, knew she won the title.
“It is incredible and Lush (Waitangi Pinterest) deserved the win so much. She is the coolest horse in the world.”
To win at the New Zealand Three Day Event was something she had dreamt of as a youngster – for it to be a reality was a dream. “It has been a dream season,” she said. “I am so happy. To do it now on this amazing horse is just everything.”
Maddy Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest at Horse of the Year NZ
The combination had a run of seconds to their credit including Puhinui, the Horse of the Year and Kihikihi, but now have added the ultimate of New Zealand trophies to their cabinet. Madison and Waitangi Pinterest also won the Charlton Stud Best Mare and Caseley Trophy for Best Presented Horse.
Maddy is head girl for Rio Olympian Clarke Johnstone and both of them said the win was just as special for each. Clarke went as far as saying the 25-year-old had now put herself on the radar for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Maddy last year ditched her job as an accountant to go full time riding. “I have absolutely no regrets. My results this season speak for themselves. Clarke is such a massive part of all this – he believes in my vision.”
On hand to watch the emotional win today were her Marlborough based parents, Molly and Richard, who always come to her big events.
Previous title winner, South Islander Emily Cammock and Shaw Lee, finished third on 47.5 after taking two rails with Australians Sonja Johnson aboard Misty Isle Valentino and Jade Findlay on Oaks Cordelia filling fourth and fifth places. Emma Bishop (Aus) and CP Issey Miyake were the only combination to go clear and inside time in the show jumping.
Samantha Lissington riding Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ went back-to-back in winning the NRM CCI3*-L Championship with Clarke Johnstone and Watermill Glenneagle taking out the Fiber Fresh CCI2*-L Championship and Danielle Wheeler aboard Soldierboy winning the Wairakei Resort CCN1*-L Championship.
Results –
DVS Home Ventilation CCI4*-L: Madison Crowe (Matangi) Waitangi Pinterest 34 penalty points 1, Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Just Kidding 34 2, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) Shaw Lee 47.5 3, Sonja Johnson (Aus) Misty Isle Valentino 51.4 4, Jade Findlay (Aus) Oaks Cordelia 54.9 5, Matthew Grayling (Otako) NRM Trudeau 55.8 6.
Oceania Teams’ Senior Competition: Australia Gold (Shane Rose/Ultimate Velocity 60.2, Sonja Johnson/Misty Isle Valentino 53.4, Emma Bishop/CP Issey Miyake 93.7 and Jessica Rae/Rascal reserve) 207.3 penalty points 1, New Zealand Black (Madison Crowe/Waitangi Pinterest 34, Amanda Pottinger/Just Kidding32.8, Samantha Lissington/Ricker Ridge Rui 234.7 – substituted, and Bundy Philpott/Tresca NZPH reserve 24) 325.5 2, New Zealand Silver (Abigail Long/Enzo 243.8, Renee Faulkner/Rubinstar HH 64.7, Monica Oakley/Acrobat 56.2 and Jackson Bovill/Visionnaire reserve) 364.7 3, Australia Green (Emma Mason/Warrego Marco Polo 235.4, Jade Findlay/Oaks Cordelia 147.7, Amanda Ross/Dicavalli Diesel 328.3 and Madeline Wilson/I’m Bruce reserve) 711.4 4.
Oceania Teams’ Young Rider Championship: Australia (Jordyn Faith/Double S & Evergreen Jackpot 71.2, Tayah Andrew/Silver Force 81, Isabel McLachlan/Ventura 77.6 and Hannah Klep/Reprieve reserve) 229.8 1, New Zealand (Beth Wilson/Alto et Audax 44.6, Lucy Turner/Astek Victor 329.6, Vicky Browne-Cole/Cutting Edge 53.5 and Katrina Butler-Gallie/Tarndale Endeavor reserve) 427.7 2.
NRM CCI3*-L Championship: Samantha Lissington (Matangi) Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ 28.7 penalty points 1, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Deo Volente 31.4 2, Monica Oakley (Karaka) Man of Honour 31.6 3, Monica Oakley (Karaka) Artist 34.8 4, Heelan Tompkins (New Plymouth) Oranoa Greyson 36.6 5, Beth Wilson (Papakura) Alto et Audax 36.6 6.
Fiber Fresh CCI2*-L Championship: Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Watermill Glenneagle 26.3 penalty points 1, Jock Paget (Taupo) Bing Bong 26.6 2, Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Good Timing 29.2 3, Lizzie Green (Hamilton) Comanche II 29.2 4, Alena Dorotich (Auckland) Donner XS 31.6 5, Georgie Dickson (Wanaka) Tigerherz 33.1 6.
Stirling Collection CCN2*-L Open: Jeffrey Amon (Murupara) 34.4 penalty points 1, Matthew Grayling (Okato) Henton Ambassador 35.7 2, Louise Mulholland (Taumarunui) George of the Jungle 36.9 3, Angela Lloyd (Clevedon) Lyrical 38.2 4, Samantha Mynott (Matangi) BV Illusionist 39.1 5, Aiden Viviers (Wairarapa) Giselle II 41.1 6.
Wairakei Resort CCN1*-L Championship: Danielle Wheeler (Clevedon) Soldierboy 33 penalty points 1, Alyssa Harrison (Karaka) Da Vinci Code 35.3 2, Danielle Wheeler (Clevedon) CP Aurelio 35.9 3, Lily Hillary (Auckland) Fly Me to the Moon 39.5 4, Cherie Jaques (Otorohanga) Wizard 39.7 5, Mary Matthews (Ohura) He’s a Gem 40.9 6.
Taupo Veterinary Centre CCN105-L Open: Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) Kings Soleil 30.6 penalty points 1, Molly O’Leary (Auckland) Simply Mitch 34.9 2,
Greer Bullock (Reporoa) JA Candy Girl 34.9 3, Anna Robertson (Christchurch) Valkyrie II 35 4, Cassie Hodder (Te Awamutu) Schiavo 35.6 5, Georgia Dagg (Auckland) Kataza 37.5 6.
Silver Spurs Team Competition: South Island (Emily Cammock/Shaw Lee, Christen Lane/Thunder Cat, Clarke Johnstone/Deo Volente and Eve Hawes/Spookee Possum) 108 penalty points 1, North Island (Matthew Grayling/NRM Trudeau, Lauren Alexander/Classic Indigo, Louise Mullholland/Mr McTaggart and Jock Paget/Bing Bong) 123.2 2.
Charlton Stud Best Mare: Madison Crowe (Matangi) Waitangi Pinterest.
Caseley Trophy for Best Presented Horse: Madison Crowe (Matangi) Waitangi Pinterest – groom Tessa Anderson, owners the Crowe Family and breeder Joss Bayley from Waitangi Sport Horses.
TiES Eventing Series: Monica Oakley (Karaka) Artist 140 points 1, Kirsty Sharapoff (Christchurch) Shoot the Breeze 116 points 2, Shannon Galloway (Hamilton) Day Walker 107 points 3, Courtney Davis (Waipara) By Hoki 105 points 4, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) Shaw Lee 101 points 5, Amanda Pottinger (Havelock North) Just Kidding 87 points 6
