Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Australia achieves best-ever dressage result

 

Australia achieves best-ever dressage result

Author image
AOC
Australia achieves best-ever dressage result

Australia has posted its best-ever Dressage result at a world championships, with two riders qualifying for the second round for...

Australia has posted its best-ever Dressage result at a world championships, with two riders qualifying for the second round for the first time and the team finishing in the top 10.

Sydney Olympian Kristy Oatley and her 11-year-old dark chestnut stallion Quando-Quando led the way for Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Germany, finishing 15th in the Grand Prix on 70.083 per cent – the highest score awarded to an Australian at a world championship.

The team was 9th overall.

NSW-based Matthew Dowsley and his 10-year-old chestnut mare Cinderella placed equal 29th on 66.667 per cent, just making it into the group of 30 riders who will progress to the Grand Prix Special on Friday.

The best rider of this competition wins the first of two individual gold medals up for grabs.

Rachael Sanna (NSW) and her 8-year-old bay gelding Chatham Park Jac, the equal youngest horse in the competition, rounded out the Australian team, coming equal 54th on 62.5 per cent.

Australia has never had a rider qualify for the Grand Prix Special at a WEG. Its previous best individual placing at a WEG was 36th for Rozzie Ryan at Stockholm in 1990. The best team finish was 12th at Jerez, Spain, in 2002.

Australian Chef de Mission Geoff Sinclair said major changes by the Australian Dressage fraternity in the past few years were starting to pay off.

“The past few days have been evidence that some of these things have worked well and others will need to be reviewed,” Sinclair said.

“In the end, we have got the best result at a WEG that Australia has ever achieved and we’ve got some very young horses that have competed in the highly charged atmosphere here that with the right training and experience will now go on to be wonderful competitors for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.

“There will also be plenty of opportunities for many other riders to be part of this exciting time for Australian dressage.”

The best three scores for each country in the Grand Prix competition yesterday and today decided the team medals, which went to Germany, the Netherlands and the US.

These three teams are the first to qualify for Beijing 2008. If the Australia team maintains this form at the Asian Championships in 2007 they will make it to Beijing through regional qualification.

Denmark’s Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine won the Grand Prix on 76.333 per cent, ahead of Germany’s Heike Kemmer and Bonaparte on 75.792. Germany’s Isabell Werth and Satchmo and the Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero were equal 3rd on 75 per cent.

Equestrian Federation of Australia

Top Stories