Australia wins Oceania Jumping Championships opener
Saturday, 21 September 2013

Australia has won the opening round of the 2013 Oceania Jumping Championships.

What was to be a two round event ended prematurely after the New Zealand team elected not to come out and contest the second round.

New Zealand Chef d’Equipe John Cottle said he was disappointed that his team had to bow out early after two horses pulled up sore.

“It’s unfair to contest the second round, I’m not trying to be a defeatist but we’re thinking of the horses. I’m a big believer of team competitions but we have to think of the horses.

“It’s very disappointing for the team but we’ve been around horses long enough to know that sometimes these things happen,” he said.

New Zealand were first to go and their stake on the title started strongly after opening combination Ross Smith and Quite Cassini posted a clear round but their good run was short lived after a double refusal to Lisa Coupe and Bates Amaretto saw them eliminated and Luke Dee and Ombudsman picked up 17 penalties.

Australia’s opening rider Tom McDermott and his mount Romantic Dream put Australia in a strong position with a very fast and clear opening round. McDermott said he was pleased to be given the opportunity to represent his country.

“There’s always extra pressure when you’re representing your country but you just try and come out and do your best and hopefully you go well.

“I feel really privileged to be doing what I’m doing. It’s great to be on the Australian team,” he said.

Sharon Slater and Ulixes were the only other combination to produce a clear round in the Oceania team’s event.

“I feel very privileged to be part of the team with the boys in it, they’ve done a great job. I was a little bit worried about my horse yesterday when it had four down. I’m pleased that he redeemed himself today,” she said.

Today’s Oceania Championships was held in conjunction with the Australian Show Jumping Championships senior team’s event where Queensland was the best placed state followed by Victoria and South Australia.

Earlier in the day the New South Wales team won the Junior team’s championship followed by Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

Full results from the event are available at http://www.asjc.equestrian.org.au

Competition at the Australian Show Jumping Championships Continues tomorrow with the Young Rider Oceania Championships.