With the opening ceremony of the World Equestrian Games less than 24 hours away the excitement is building for our Aussie eventers. The eventing doesn’t kick off until next week so our team is still in full training in the UK at the Unicorn Equestrian Centre, situated in the picturesque Cotswolds. I had the pleasure of visiting the training camp this morning when they took a break from their preparations for the all important team photo shoot.
The 2014 WEG team: Riders, horses and their ever patient grooms
After some shuffling about to make a symmetrical photo with the horses’ different colours, buckets of food and ‘scary’ flags were brought out to get our four legged champions posing like true professionals. A team full of men is keeping Chef d’Equipe Prue Barrett on her toes but the ‘boys’ were well behaved also and smiled for the cameras.
There is no denying that Australia is fielding a very strong team this year, you only have to look at the recent results of its team members to appreciate that. However what you don’t get to see is how strong the camaraderie is between the riders. The banter and jokes that are flying around the camp is infectious and a strong sense of united determination is practically palpable in the air.
Shane Rose, CP Qualified and Lauren Bentley
Shane Rose has made the long journey over from Aus and after settling well into the new time zone, he is raring to go. “Both my horses are going very well and we’ve had some sessions with both Gareth and Gilbert and they’re both jumping well and going super on the flat, so I can’t wait to get over there,” he said. Shane is determined to get an early lead in the dressage and not let anyone ahead of him after that. “Darcy or CP Qualified is super on the flat and he’s going well over here and I’m hoping to be really competitive in the dressage. He’s good cross country, he been getting better and better and hopefully this is his time to shine.”
Shane
“We’ll go there and do our best and it should be good fun,” Paul says (pictured with Rowan Collins and Kilronan)
Another team member not afraid to lay it on the line is Paul Tapner. “We’re going there to get a medal. It’s quite simple, that’s all there is to it,” Paul says. Paul seems to spend much of his time sneaking about and causing mayhem, reducing Chris and Sam into fits of giggles at one point as Lauren Ryan from Equestrian Australia attempted to film them for an interview. However when it comes down to it, Paul is a ferocious competitor who is looking forward to next week with Kilronan. “It’s been great to have everyone together in one place and we’ve had some really intensive, concentrated training focusing on the job at hand next week.”
Caught red handed!
After some close calls Bill Levett is making his debut on the Australian team with Shannondale Titan and he is feeling positive. “The horse looks fine and it’s been good to get into the camp and just focus,” he said. “We’ve got another gallop today and then a jump tomorrow and then just a bit of flat work on Sunday probably before we head off on Sunday night.” Bill is extremely level headed and plans to take each day as it comes. “I just want to get to day three and feel like I have had a good solid three days.”
Bill Levett, Shannondale Titan and Emily Littlejohn
It is fantastic to see Stuart Tinney back on the Australian Team. As the highest placed Australian rider at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, he brings with him a wealth of experience. Pluto Mio has travelled well from Australia and the pair are enjoying the training camp in the lead up to next week’s games. “I’m very pleased with how the horse is going, he’s really well and he’s settled in.” With a strong focus on gallops in the first part of the week, attention has been changed to the jumping now as the team prepares to make the trip across the channel to France.
Stuart Tinney, Pluto Mio and Amy McGregor
Sam Griffiths is still fresh from his Badminton win earlier this year and he is keen to keep up the good momentum. “When you’re on a winning form you want to stick to it,” he says. “I’m planning to stay pretty aggressive on the cross country, her jumping is her forte. I’ve been working really hard on her dressage, trying to get that better and better but I’ll try and play to her strengths.” Sam says that Paulank Brockagh is on great form and that he is feeling good too. “I’ve been involved in a few camps but this is clearly in my mind the most professional and it has taken it to another level. I think us riders are going to go in really well prepared.”
Sam Griffiths, Paulank Brockagh and Imogen Mercer
2013 Adelaide 4* winning combination Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo make up the final pair for this year’s WEG team and they are looking fresh. “It’s always great to be part of the Australian team, it’s been a really great camp, in particular this one. We’ve had some great support around us and we’ve been able to focus our training in exactly the right way so it’s been fantastic,” he said earlier today. “It is always very nerve wrecking as you get closer to the event,” Chris admitted. “We worry that things are going to go wrong but the horse is coping very well with his gallop work, he’s fit, he’s going well on the flat and he’s a very good jumper so I’m feeling quite confident.”
Chris Burton, TS Jamaimo and Rachel Watts
Natalie Blundell finds herself in the unfortunate but ultimately very important position of being the reserve rider for this year’s Games. On top of that she is the only female on the squad but she is taking it all in her stride. “It’s always good though, the boys are a lot of fun and we get lots of interesting comments when we’re doing the exercises. The boys are all finding it very hard, I’ve just got to look away and laugh,” she says. “I guess my focus at this stage is just to prepare in case I’m needed for WEG but then Burghley is the week after so basically we’re just entered for Burghley and if we happen to get a call up then I’ll be there with bells on.”
“I really hope for any of the guys’ sake nothing happens to them for me to get on there,” Natalie says
The Australian Eventing team are due to head over to France on Sunday night before the action kicks off on Wednesday. With such a strong team assembled to take on the best of the best, we are sure to be in for a real treat. The team training camp seems to have been very successful and our riders are determined to go in hard and bring home the goods for Australia. We will of course be covering all of the action across the Games, so stay tuned!
Article by Emily Penney
