James Paterson-Robinson and Lanosso at the Linz CSIO4* Grand Prix
Photograph:Linzerpferdefestival
Photograph:Linzerpferdefestival
Story by Peter Cooke, photos from Nicol Taylor, Sunday, courtesy Equestrian Australia
The second round of the Jumping selection series at Linz CSIO4* Austria ended on a high note for the Australians with James Paterson-Robinson and Lanosso finishing fourth in the Grand Prix of Linz, putting themselves front and centre for consideration for the Australian Olympic jumping team.
Italian Matteo Giunti won the competition on Bambino Van’t Zorgvliet, ahead of Cassio Rivetti of the Ukraine and Brazilian Jose Reynoso. (See the full results here).
James rode an excellent first round on his 13 year old bay gelding Lanosso to achieve one of only six clear rounds over a technical 1.60m track designed by Austrian Course Designer Franz Madi that was testing for many combinations. James’ round was a well ridden, careful and scopey effort under pressure, and added the required certificate of capability for the London Olympics to this combination’s credentials.
The course was intriguing for two lines, firstly the double at fence four of 1.50x1.60m one stride oxers at 10.60m followed by either 4, 5 or 6 strides to optional style fences before turning out of the entry gate corner to the 4.0m water four strides from the end of the arena, and then 6 or 7 strides to the vertical, oxer, vertical treble at 7.90m and 10.80m. Very challenging lines and fences 4 to 7 accounted for a large percentage of the faults.
The Australian riders who produced solid rounds during the Nations Cup held on Friday encountered some horse problems following the significant effort required, and then followed by some heavy work during additional Grand Prix Qualifying rounds on Saturday in very wet and heavy ground conditions.
Matt Williams was unable to bring Watch Me vd Mangelaar back for the Grand Prix, neither was James Paterson-Robinson able to produce a happy Qulander ready for the main event. Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Set were also unable to participate in the main event due to some leg soreness issues.
The dilemma for the Olympic team selection process is that none of these combinations are able to deliver a total score for the Selection Panel to take an objective measurement for two positions on the team to join recently nominated Edwina Tops-Alexander.
This doesn’t mean that these horses cannot make the team, but it will be far more difficult to match the already posted results over two rounds by Paul Athanasoff, Julia Hargreaves and Amy Graham last weekend in Lummen.
Matt Williams replaced Watch Me with Bolero Van’t Heike, however they had three rails down before electing to retire. Danielle Butcher on Twins Big Higgs showed both the horse and rider’s inexperience at this level but they will have gained from the opportunity to participate in the selection series as a chance to learn about the process and the pressure at the top end of European competition.
The Australian Jumping Nomination process is broken into two phases; the first was for all intending nominations to participate in either Lummen or Linz and post a score in the first rounds of the Nations Cup and the Grand Prix. Following the first phase the penalties incurred during both rounds are to be added and the best five performed combinations will be invited to participate in the final competition to be held in Bourg-en-Bresse, France on the last weekend in May.
A further three positions at this competition can be nominated by the Selection Panel. The final eight combinations must have an MES (certificate of capability) to be eligible to be considered at the final event.
Australia has an invitation to the Copenhagen Nations Cup in the Promotional League next weekend and has chosen to use the opportunity for Mark Lindh on Coolio, Matt Williams with Bolero and James Passy on Carry Star to try to obtain an MES by achieving four faults or less in the first round of the Nations Cup.
While Copenhagen is not part of the selection series for London, it provides another valuable chance for less experienced combinations to step up to the team competition scenario and gain valuable experience for future campaigns.
The Copenhagen Nations Cup contingent will comprise Mark Lindh, James Passy, James Paterson-Robinson, Matt Williams and Danielle Butcher.
Following Copenhagen, the National Selection Panel will nominate which combinations will be invited to compete for the Olympic Team selection at Bourg-en-Bresse, based on their results from these earlier events and attainment of an MES.
