Australia’s Eventing Team has missed automatic qualification for next year’s Games after they failed to finish ahead of Japan at this weekend’s regional qualifier at the Blenheim International Horse Trial.
Australia’s Eventing Team has missed automatic qualification for next year’s Games after they failed to finish ahead of Japan at this weekend’s regional qualifier at the Blenheim International Horse Trial.
While the automatic entry into the Games from Blenheim would have been ideal for the Aussies, it is not the only way for Australia to secure a spot in the Eventing competition at London 2012 Olympic Games, with the team now focused on the FEI Olympic rider rankings that should see them qualify a team.
There were some strong performances from the Australian team over the weekend, and with only four penalties between the Aussies and Japan heading into the showjumping, the team was hopeful that they could regain the lead.
After Lucinda Fredericks (Nysa de Petra) was eliminated after a fall in the cross-country, it came down to Catherine Burrell (Urzan), Bill Levitt (One Too Many NJ) and Brook Staples (Ever So Clever III) in the showjumping
Both Catherine and Bill had clear showjumping rounds, but unfortunately Brook was eliminated after the horse had a refusal at one fence and then on video playback, the ground jury determined he did not have the red flag on his right for another fence.
Australia’s National Performance Director for Eventing, Prue Barrett, said while the goal this weekend was the qualify for the Games, this isn’t the only way for the Aussies to get there.
“We were in the fortunate position where if we didn’t qualify from this weekend, our individual FEI Olympic Rider Rankings should be strong enough to secure us a spot in the Games next year,” she said.
“For Japan, this was their only chance to make the Games. Currently we have 9 riders sitting in the top 20 for the Olympic Rider Rankings which puts us in good standing.
“We fielded a team this weekend with the horses and riders that were available to us. Blenheim proved to be a tough three star course but I think our riders proved worthy of representing their country.
“We’ll now wait until the rankings finish up in March 2012 at which time we’ll know from the FEI if we have secured the team spot,” she said.
There are 75 spots available at the 2012 Olympic Games in Eventing. 11 countries will receive automatic entry from the Qualification Events – if they field full teams there would be 55 athletes, leaving 20 spots up for grabs.
Countries who do not automatically qualify, such as Australia, then have the opportunity to put together a “composite team” which is made up of a minimum 3 to a maximum of 5 individuals qualified from the same nation from the “Olympic Rider” rankings to make up a team. The order or priority of the selection of the composite teams will be based on the combined highest 5 placings on the ranking list as of 1 March 2012, from the one country.
Heading into Blenheim Australia’s “combined highest 5 placings” equalled 973 point, which has them in a significant lead. See the current FEI global rankings here.
Equestrian Australia