At the moment it looks like that Australia as well as the Pacific League will be unrepresented at the 2011 World Cup Finals which are set to take place in Leipzig, Germany, 27 April - 1 May 2011. Australian Pacific Leage World Cup Finals' winner Chantal Wigan has decided not to make the journey to Europe with her bay gelding Ferero (by Ferro x Wellington).
The qualification standard for the World Cup Finals is scoring 68% or higher twice at CDI-W competitions. Australia's highest ranked rider Hayley Beresford obtained that criterium but her horse Relampago do Retiro is still recovering from the injury he sustained at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in September.
The second highest ranked rider is Chantal Wigan who won the League Finals with 69% but needed to request special permission from the FEI to compete there. As a matter of fact Wigan only had one CDI-W qualifying score, but had achieved several international scores above 68% in 2010.
However, Wigan has now decided not to pursue a World Cup Finals dream and announced that she will not represent her country in Leipzig. "I will not be making the journey this year to Germany to represent Australia being the winner of the FEI World Cup Dressage Pacific League Final," she said "I have given this considerable thought and it was not an easy decision."
The logistics of traveling to Europe and missing out on the Australian show circuit leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games were the decisive factors for her decision. "It is a long hard trip from Europe for a horse," she explained. "If I was to return to Europe for the World Cup 2011, I wouldn’t be back in Australia until July which means I would miss some of the Australian show circuit. It is an important year to be seen in Australia as it is the led up to the 2012 Olympic selections."
Wigan explained she doesn't want to pass by on the opportunity to get exposed in her home country to be considered for the team. "I know first hand how being seen can effect your chances of selection, even more importantly, being seen in Australia where the selectors are more aware of your performances. I have been asked so many times “who are you” ,” where have you trained”, “we haven’t seen you before” since I have been back, which just proves my Grand Prix performances in Europe didn’t mean a great deal here in Australia even though I am probably the only Australian rider who has have actually won a CDI on European soil and returned home to share the experience."
Photo © Dirk Caremans
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2011 World Cup Finals
Wigan Wins the 2010 Pacific League World Cup Final
Excitement Builds for 2010 Pacific League World Cup Final
Chantal Wigan and Ferero Return to Competition at 2010 CDI Achleiten
Australian Dressage Squads for 2011 Announced