Shane Rose and Taurus - first place after dressage Photo: Libby Law
Aussies are in the top three positions after dressage at Kihikihi. Shane Rose snuck in under Christine Bates and Delago, who had the early lead with 49.0 penaties, but Shane who has a keen eye on London selection rode a beautiful test on Taurus to take the lead on 47.6 penalites. In third place is Natalie Blundell on Algebra who scored 54.0.
Fourth (Shelley Ross) and fifth (Annabel Wigley) is taken by two Kiwis who, unfortunately for Team NZ, are not on the team. In equal sixth is Australia's Katja Weimann and Joseph Waldron the first of the Kiwi team riders.
Joseph Waldron and Springvale All Black - top of theNZ team combinations Photo: Libby Law
Team Aussie – Shane Rose, Taurus 68.27%, 47.6; Christine Bates, Delago 67.33%, 49; Katja Weimann, BP Gallantry 58.8%, 61.8; Natalia Blundell, Algebra 64%, 54. Best three score: 150.6
Team Kiwi – Annabel Wigley (Amberley) BRM Enzo 57.73%, 63.4; Joseph Waldron, Springvale All Black 58.8%, 61.8; Simon Gordon, Simply Mitch 56.49%, 65.4; Christen Hayde, Tandarra Sweet As 53.87%, 69.2. Best three score: 190.6
So after day one, the experience of the Aussie team of which three, Shane, Christine and Natalie are gunning for London really showed the difference between the two teams. The Kiwi team is a group of youngsters being blooded in the team with a view to Normandy or even Rio gaining the valuable team experience.
New Zealand coach and advisor Tinks Pottinger is looking forward to the cross country phase tomorrow (Saturday). Kihikihi is never considered to be a dressage competition.
"John Nicholson has produced one of the biggest and best cross country courses in the country and requires good positive riding, and we picked the team on the strength of their cross country riding,” she said. She says that while her crew is rather inexperienced, she's confident they would make teams for the likes of the 2014 World Equestrian Games and 2016 Olympics.
John Nicholson and his magnificent fence 11C Photo: Libby Law
Shane Rose, who is striving to earn a spot in the Australian team for the London Olympics, says he had hoped for a higher mark but, given the horse had been unsettled in his warm-up by a near-by rugby league match, he was happy with the result.
“This is a three phase competition but it is nice to start tomorrow in the lead,” he says. “The course has certainly got plenty of tough fences, but it's fair. I just need to do a good job!”
Full results are available HERE
Yours in Eventing
ESJ
