HSBC Classics Trophy Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
After two rounds of the HSBC FEI Classics Series, Australian riders are doing well on the Series leader board. It is not unusual for overseas based Australian riders to do well in this competition but for the first time, Australian based riders have had a chance to compete for points locally at the Deloitte Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide.
Emma Scott - winner of the HSBC Bursary Award Australian International 3DE Adelaide 2011
This means that in the top 16 we see Stuart Tinney at number 2, Sonja Johnson at number 4, Emma Mason at number 5, Natalie Blundell at number 7, Shane Rose, Clayton Fredericks and Megan Jones in 9th, 10th and 11th spots and Emma Scott, Eleanor Osborne and Chris Burton in 13th, 14th and 15th place.Obviously this is after only two rounds – Les Etoiles de Pau in France in October and Adelaide in November but it is certainly great to see Australian riders such as the two Emma’s, Natalie and Eleanor, who do not normally have a chance to compete at these international events, up there on the leader board.
Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison
At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics™ season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected among the HSBC FEI Classics™ events will be awarded their share of a total prize fund of US$333,000, split as follows: 1st US$150,000 (Series Champion) 2nd US$75,000 3rd US$50,000 4th US$33,000 5th US$25,000 The events yet to come are; 26-29 April 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA) 04-07 May 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) 14-17 June 2012 Luhmuhlen CCI 4* (GER) 30 August-02 Sept 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) No doubt the UK based riders such as Chris and Clayton will be having a good crack at these future events but it will be interesting to see if any other riders contemplate making the journey. In an Olympic year there are obviously many other considerations and, as those of you who have read An Eventful Life know (how great that five of our featured riders are on this very elite list), life doesn’t always go smoothly when you decamp overseas with your horses. Time will tell...................
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Click on the link below for full standings 2012 HSBC Standings after 2 Events
