The Australian Equestrian Federation has announced that the horse of Australian WEG Short Listed candidate Hayley Beresford will have to undergo a veterinary assessment before being allowed to compete at the final WEG Selection trial in Deauville.
Equestrian Australia (EA) published the following statement:
At a meeting of the Dressage Selection Panel (DSP) regarding long list combination Hayley Beresford and Jaybee Alabaster, the Dressage Selection Panel considered section 7 - Discretionary Considerations - of the 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG) dressage selection policy.
In accordance with clause 7.1 – Extraordinary Factors, the DSP may in their discretion give weight to extraordinary factors applying to an athlete and/or horse.
The Dressage Selection Panel wishes to advise it has given discretionary weight to Beresford’s extraordinary factors, those being that her long listed horse Jaybee Alabsater was not sound to travel and compete at the first nomination event in Fritzens, Austria from 5-7 July 2014.
The Dressage Selection Panel in conjunction with EA High Performance, EA national board representatives and EA senior management, has determined that subject to a further veterinary assessment by a national team vet or by a vet nominated by the team vet, Jaybee Alabaster will be permitted to attend the second nomination event at Deauville, from 25-27 July.
Should the veterinary assessment conclude that Jaybee Alabaster is fit and sound to start in the Grand Prix at Deauville, the single score obtained by the combination will be considered in determining the final dressage ranking list.
Hanna leads dressage nomination series
Australian dressage riders competing at Fritzens CDI4*, have posted strong scores in the Grand Prix overnight in a bid to secure one of four team positions for the upcoming 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
The standout performance of the day came from triple World Equestrian Games representative Mary Hanna and her London Olympic mount Sancette with the pair achieving a personal best Grand Prix score of 70.420%.
“I was so pleased with Sancette. He is really starting to be very consolidated in his work, thanks to my brilliant trainer Patrik Kittel who has really helped me get more steadiness and a better connection, and Sancette has responded so well to his system of training.”
An additional four Australian combinations were in action on Friday, including Kristy Oatley and Ronan 2 who also recorded a new personal best in the Grand Prix after judges awarded the pair’s test 69.300.
In one of the biggest moments of her competitive career, 27 year old Brianna Burgess also had the additional pressure of being the first rider to go in the field of 31 and she and her mount La Scala produced a pleasing test that received a score of 68.820.
London Olympian and 2010 WEG representative Lyndal Oatley and her mount Sandro Boy were just behind Burgess on the scoreboard, receiving 68.420.
In their first competition since arriving in Europe in May, Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina received a score of 67.400.
Hanna said the camaraderie within the Australian camp was strong. “Of course every one of the riders here is trying their hearts out to make the team, but tonight when we all got together for dinner there was a great feeling amongst everyone. We all suffer the same hardships, the ups and downs of dressage, which at the end of the day brings us together. I think it was a great result for Australia, and every rider put in a very good performance.”
Riders will now head to Deauville France in three weeks’ time for the second and final nomination event. Following the second round a ranking list will be created by averaging the results for each combination from the Grand Prix class of each nomination event*. The top 4 ranked combinations from this ranking list will be selected to compete as part of Australia’s WEG team. (To view the selection policy click HERE).
In Saturdays' Grand Prix Qualifier for the GP Freestyle, Kristy Oatley and Louisa 34 received a score of 63.980%. With the first nomination series now concluded the standings are as follows:
- 1. Mary Hanna and Sancette - 70.420%
- 2. Kristy Oatley and Ronan 2 - 69.300%
- 3. Brianna Burgess and La Scala - 68.820%
- 4. Lyndal Oatley and Sandro Boy - 68.420%
- 5. Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina 4 - 67.400%
- 6. Kristy Oatley and Louisa 34 - 63.980%
Related Links
Beresford Misses First Australian WEG Qualifier at 2014 CDI Fritzens
Australian Dressage Long List Revealed for 2014 World Equestrian Games
Sole Aussie Based Australian Maree Tomkinson in Europe and Ready for WEG Qualifier in Fritzens
Smashing Success for Mary Hanna and Australia's Young Guns in Europe
