Kiwis Win Oceania Championships
Kiwis Win Oceania Championships
New Zealand’s
senior eventing team broke a decade-long drought today when
they won a hard-fought Oceania Championships at the
Saddleworld Melbourne International Three Day Event.
Jock
Paget (Taupo) and his former racehorse Angus Blue won the
individual CCI3* crown, finishing on their dressage score of
46.9 penalty points, with Samantha Felton (Matangi) and
Ricker Ridge Pico Boo second on 49.2, Ginny Thompson
(Kaukapakapa) and Star Nouveau fourth on 53.1. All four of
New Zealand’s Equestrian Entries Senior Team completed the
event, while just two of the Australian team made it through
to the showjumping, and Stuart Tinney and War Hawk the best
of the team placing fifth on 53.6.
The Kiwis had an 18.2
penalty point buffer ahead of the Australians heading into
the showjumping. Felton was also clear and inside time, with
Thompson taking a single rail and adding two time penalties,
and Andy Daines (Kumeu) aboard Spring Panorama adding nine
to their tally.
Just five of the 18 combinations in the
showjumping were clear and inside time.
For Paget, the
victory was a very special one.
“It is special for lots
of reasons,” said the London Olympian. “It was just
great to ride with the other guys in the team and for me, a
good way to come home.”
It is the first time he has
even ridden in the Oceania competition.
And he was
chuffed with his lovable Angus Blue.
“He really got up
didn’t he,” he said of the nine-year-old horse who while
is a New Zealand thoroughbred, moved back from the UK with
Paget last year.
New Zealand team manager Eliza Riedel
was ecstatic with the win.
“These results are a tribute
to our performance programme and the work its leader Penny
Castle has put into establishing it,” she said. “It is a
credit to the team and those around them. The culture within
the team throughout the whole campaign has been fantastic.
Everyone has contributed to the result. It is just
wonderful!”
Earlier in the day the Bombers Equestrian
and Hidez NZ Young Rider Team finished runners-up behind the
hosts in the Oceania Championships, with Abby Long (Levin)
and Enzo sixth on 52.1 and Vicky Browne-Cole (Waiuku) aboard
Eli eighth on 55.8 in just their fourth 2* completion. Gemma
Tinney – daughter of Olympian Stuart – was the best of
the Australian young rider team in second place aboard
Annapurna on 45.7. Andrew Barnett and Bradgate Park Fonzie
won the class, finishing on their dressage score of
41.9.
Young rider team trainer Jock Paget was very
pleased with the efforts of his charges.
“It is looking
good for the future, isn’t it? The showjumping today
looked tough. There was a lot of jumping into the crowd and
some difficult lines. The distances were tough enough and
they couldn’t muck around with the time at all,” said
Paget.
“I am very proud of the team. At an event like
this, riding is only a small part.”
The riders had much
more to contend with – from travel to a different
environment and more.
“It all comes into play,” he
said. “All of our riders showed great attitude the whole
way through.”
He singled out Renee Faulkner (Papakura)
who had had to withdraw Rubinstar HH before the cross
country but had still be a key team player.
“She was
right there for the rest of the team the whole way through,
doing any job she could.”
While second wasn’t the
result the team had crossed the Tasman for, Paget said he
was very proud of how the youngsters had handled themselves
throughout.
Twenty-eight of the 35 starters completed the
three days of the CCI2*, with just seven going clear and
inside time in today’s showjumping.
For full
results, head to www.bspscoring.com
.