Sheridyn Ashwood and Chocolate Fondue have been stripped from the silver medal they won at the 2017 Australian Young Horse Championships in Werribee, Australia, on 22- 26 March 2017. An administrative error has caused this change in the ranking.
Sheridyn Ashwood and her home bred stallion Chocolate Fondue (by Ferrero Chocolate Box x Samboo) won silver after scoring 75.800% in the 5-year old Finals at the Nationals in Werribee.
"Due to administrative error the horse was entered in the wrong age class," Jo McKinnon, the press officer of Equestrian Australia, told Eurodressage. "This was discovered by the event’s organising committee and as a result, and as is due process, the horse was withdrawn and the results amended accordingly. It was a rider oversight/error that was made at file of entry stage. The rider has been made accountable for this and all appropriate disciplinary action has been taken."
While Ashwood acknowledges that the mistake was made four years ago, she is very disturbed about the backlash the incident has created on Facebook. "The bullying that is happening at the moment from others in the sport is cruel, mean and heartbreaking," Ashwood told Eurodressage. "It has caused vicious attacks on myself, which is very unfair. I have been badly cyber-bullied over this."
Ashwood's elimination means that Holly Leach and the Australian bred HP Fresco (by Fackeltanz x Lander x Richmeed Medallion), who scored 75.700% in the 5-year old finals and won bronze, have now been decorated with the silver medal. HP Fresco is owned by New Zealand Grand Prix rider John Thompson.
The New Zealand equestrian federation, in fact, broke the news about the medal incident, while Equestrian Australia has not made any public statement so far on the matter.
"HP Fresco has been confirmed as Australian Reserve Champion 5-year old at PSI DWTS," Dressage NZ reported. "The combination were originally third but results were amended following the discovery after the event that the second placegetter was ineligible owing to an administrative error."
This also means that Elliot Patterson and Almania Felix (by Fiji R x Torlea Van Dieman) have moved from fourth to third place and will get the bronze medal. Almania Felix is bred by Zoe Gardner and owned by Nicky Kirby.
Photo © Venhaus
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