John Lechner reports on the options for Australian riders and selectors after the cancellation of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton trophy will be staying at home in 2012 Photo: Kit Houghton/BHT
Each year Badminton is a key date in the calendar and many riders target it in the hope of not just winning but the accomplishment associated with completing Badminton. This year the event was even more crucial being the big European four star timed almost perfectly in preparation for the London Olympic Games. Many Nations including Australia had several of their European riders heading to Badminton as they work through their plans for London – now those plans are in chaos.
Horses are being rerouted to other major competitions, people who were hoping for one four star run may now need a CCI3* and CIC3* which will completely change Games preparation. Earlier this morning I spoke with Australia’s National Performance director of Eventing, Prue Barrett, to get a quick run down of how this changes things.
“Some of our riders had already entered Saumur (17-29 May), just in case something went wrong for them at Badminton and the word is that the Saumur secretary has since thrown away her mobile and unplugged her computer as 90 or so riders try and enter the event at the last minute. We won't know until Thursday (our time) just how many of our Badminton bound riders managed to get into Saumur. However there are three other key events that riders may divert to: Tattersall’s in Ireland, Bramham in England and Luhmuhlen which is the German four star event. Three of our riders, Bill Levett, Paul Tapner and Wendy Schaeffer needed the four star qualification that Badminton could have given them to be qualified for the games. Now they either have to look at going to another CCI4* (Luhnuhlen) or doing a CIC3* and CCI3* (some of them like Inonothing have already got their CIC3* qualification so would just need a CCI3*).
Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer are one of the combinations who required a 4* run Photo: Pauline Chevalier
After so many really strong performances from our riders at Sydney we were all thinking well let’s see if Badminton can make things a little clearer but that’s all gone out the window. I know Panamera and Wendela Jamie are heading for Eventing Equestriad in NSW in a few weeks time and we might see some others joining them at this rate. When I looked at the prize giving line up at Sydney I thought I would be happy for any of those riders to be on our team and in that regard we are really lucky to be in such a strong position, but it doesn’t make it any easier for the selectors.” Prue, who was due to fly to Badminton today, will now unpack her bags and wait a week or so before getting on a plane bound for Saumur.
While I am personally very disappointed about the cancellation of our sport's premier event I cannot help but be excited for the prospects for the Australian team and the top class eventing we will see in the next six weeks. WOW!
ESJ
