It has been a dream start to the 2012 season for Shane and his lovely team of horses. Taurus has had three 3* eventing starts for three wins and APH Moritz has had a win and a second for his two 3* eventing starts this year. Backed up by the younger horses who have also brought home several wins and placings. The team of horses have also had good showjumping results at the local shows. Shane and the whole team are continuing to work hard to keep the momentum going in the lead up to the Olympic Games later in the year. The next stepping stone to the games is the all-important Sydney CCI followed by Melbourne CCI. The Olympic team will be announced following these two selection events.
Photo: Libby Law
Shane has just returned from New Zealand where he was a member of the Australian team that was victorious in winning the Trans Tasman trophy at the Kihikihi CIC. The team was made up of Natalie Blundell, Katja Weimann, Christine Bates and Shane. Individually Shane won the class by over 20 penalty points, Shane was thrilled with Taurus who put together a good dressage test, jumped super around the very tough cross country track and jumped a good clear round in the showjumping on the third day. Natalie and Katja also went well to finish the competition in 3rd and 6th place respectively. Unfortunately Christine had a nasty fall on the cross country course, both Christine and her horse are fine but the fall resulted in elimination from the competition.
Before the Kihikihi CIC Shane took his team to Camden show where all the horses jumped well. APH Moritz scorched around the 1.25m AM5 to win the class by several seconds. Taurus jumped clear in the two 1.25m classes and placed 6th in the AM5. Virgil jumped very well at the show he had an unlucky rail in the jump off of the 1.25m AM5. Statford Neo looked on track for a good placing in the 1.25m A2 but sadly a rail at the last fence dropped him out of the placings. Wisteria Lane jumped very well to place 2nd in 1.15m AM5.
Rachel Watts and Gordy Pratt also jumped at Camden show, they were both pleased with their horses but did not go fast enough to feature in the placings on this occasion.
While the eventing horses have been out performing well, our resident dressage horse Wallstrasse (Walter) has been clocking up some good results too. With Michelle Robson in the saddle Walter attended the Sydney Dressage group competition at SIEC. Together they put together two good tests and placed 1st in the 4A and 2nd in the 4C. A great result for their first start together.
At the end of March Shane, Soigne and Gordy attended Albury CIC. Albury is a great event that the team really look forward to each year. Shane and APH Moritz put together a great performance to win the CIC3* beating a big field of top quality horses. Statford Neo was also in the CIC3* ; unfortunately an untimely trip in a combination cross country resulted in a technical refusal which kept him out of the placings. Shane also rode Wisteria Lane in the CIC1* and placed 2nd.
Shane and Moritz were also a late entry in the bareback high jump on Saturday night, at first it looked like Shane may get bucked off. Fortunately Moritz settled and jumped very well, Shane and Moritz cleared a square 1.55m oxer bareback which was good enough to win the competition.
Soigne Jackson had a good weekend with her CIC3* ride Gold performing very well to place 5th in the big field. Soigne’s young horse had a green moment at the CIC1* water which dropped them out of the placings.
Gordy Pratt rode Glenorchy South Park in the Pre Novice, they went well to place second
Over the next few weeks you will find us at;
10th April: Sydney Royal Easter Show – Exhibition Eventing Shane and Virgil
21st-22nd April: Canberra CNC Soigne and Warrego Collateral Damage, Gordy and Glenorchy South Park
27-29th April: Sydney CCI/CIC (Olympic selection event) Shane on Taurus, Virgil and Wisteria Lane
Until next month, all the best from BIMBADEEN PARK
