Chris and Underdiscussion win the CIC 2* at Tattersalls Photo: Libby Law
During the first weekend in June Chris Burton stamped his authority on overseas eventing by following a one, two in the CIC 3* at Saumur with a win in both the CCI 1* and 2* classes at Tattersalls, Ireland. William Fox-Pitt was also on a roll; he won the CCI 3* riding Bay My Hero, the partnership that won the CCI* in 2010 and the CCI** in 2011 at the very same venue while the CIC***saw International Olympic hopefuls take to the stage.
Ireland’s Camilla Speirs (above) rose to the top of the CIC 3* and claimed the title aboard her 15.1hh Connemara cross, Portersize Just A Jiff however it was a sad weekend for NZ eventer Laura Wallace who lost her 15 year old gelding Sugoi
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Tim and GV Billy Elliot strut their stuff at Melbourne 3DE
A non-selection class at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event gave riders and horses that opted to participate a run in the lead up to the Olympic Games but the CCI 3* class was the one to watch. Tim Boland led from the start with a cracking score of 35 in the dressage and a good cross country round kept him there. Despite a tense moment in the final trot up on Monday morning, GV Billy Elliot looked and jumped well for a clear show jumping round under time to the delight of the crowd and obvious relief of Tim. Tim and Billy finished on a score of 41.80, well ahead of second placed Shane Rose riding APH Moritz on 59.20 and last year’s winner Craig Barrett and Wendela Jamie on 60.0
Queenslander Mattea Davidson and Fairbanks Cargo won the CCI 2*, Victorian rider Nat Davies riding El Grado (above) won the CCI 1* and Naomi White riding Mighty Tosca won the CCI 1* Junior, helping the Victorian A Junior Team to win the Junior Teams title
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Lucinda at Luhmuhlen Photo: Libby Law
The following weekend saw some results for Australian riders at Luhmuhlen in Germany which would have a big impact on the selection for the Australian Olympic team. There were tears of joy from Lucinda Fredericks as she scored a fabulous 31.80 in the CCI 4* dressage while there were two standout rounds on cross country day from Germany’s Michael Jung and Australia’s Andrew Hoy. In to the show jumping Andrew and Rutherglen unfortunately had three rails and two time faults which dropped them back to sixth place while Lucinda Fredericks replaced Andrew in the runner-up position by jumping a clear round with only one time fault on the relatively inexperienced Flying Finish.
Photo: Libby Law
Superstar Michael Jung won the class (above) but with four Australians in the top 10, things were looking good.
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Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo Photo: Leszek_Wojcik
The FEI eventing series continued with Germany taking a commanding lead of 13 points over Spain at the halfway mark in the Nations Cup in Strzegom, Poland which also hosted the FEI World Cup, won by Germany’s Sandra Auffarth riding Opgun Louvo
Andrew and Avebury
With the Australian, New Zealand and USA Olympic teams still to be announced the event at Barbury Castle was attended by all of the big guns, although some chose to ride in the unofficial 4* Combined Training. Andrew Nicholson won the CCI 3* on Avebury and told H&C TV that ‘it’s all about winning’ – something he certainly went on to do for the rest of the season
Hamish Cargill was worried that Shane Rose's status as a new dad may slow him down .......................
And to show it wasn’t all just hard work for eventers, the Leaping to London fundraiser gave everyone a great night out and raised funds for the Australian team yet to be formally announced
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To relive photo memories from all events in 2012 CLICK HERE
Coming up; Finally the long awaited London 2012 begins after much debate over team selection but not until Chris Burton takes another title on German home turf ..................
