Showjumpers On Hold

The Equine Influenza outbreak has cut a scythe through all things equestrian. Just as the competition season was about to really get under way, it has been cut off at the roots with no sight of regrowth as yet. It is not just a matter of not being able to go to a competition, it is the total standstill that is affecting a great many people. Whilst it is a nightmare and an expensive one at that for those with sick horses, for some the situation is worsened by the halt to carefully laid plans. Olympic horses don’t come along very often and what will amount to a three month (we hope) hiatus in competition will seriously impact on the preparation of domestic Olympic showjumping hopefuls. Although the Olympic Team selectors always have their eye on the competition, the serious run up to the Olympics in Hong Kong next August, was to begin with a Qualifying class (eight penalties or better in the first round to gain an MES) at the 2007 Australian Showjumping Championships, to be conducted at Canberra this month. Also with just four World Cup Qualifiers so far this season and realistically with just one more to take place at Brigadoon in WA on the 20th October, the 2007/2008 season has been dramatically reduced from 13 qualifiers.

Horse Deals caught up with Peter Cooke, member of the Showjumping High Performance Panel and Chairman of Selectors to find out what was being done to minimise the affect EI has had on Australia’s International Showjumping prospects.

“With regard to the World Cup, we are unlikely to have any more qualifiers after Brigadoon. Shepparton have postponed and Wodonga and Sale are meeting next week. What affects the World Cup Qualifiers as well, is that many of the established World Cup horses would not be able to attend the shows. Even here in WA, we ran the Qualifier at Perth, as so many local riders had prepared for it, but we were missing the horses that were still in quarantine after returning from the eastern states. We have advised the FEI that in all likelihood there will only be five qualifiers this season, Sydney Royal, Toowoomba, Brisbane Royal, Perth Royal and Brigadoon. We have been told that the winner after five rounds will be eligible to attend the final in Sweden. Laurie Lever and Ashleigh Drossel Dan were second at Sydney and won Toowoomba and their point score of 35 cannot be beaten, and subject to their being no more Qualifiers, Laurie will go to the Final. Laurie is making every effort to go to Europe and we are supporting him to do so. His time there will also enhance his chance of making the Olympic team.

“There is not doubt the EI has put a big hole in our preparation programme. The original plan was to have a Selectors Series of events starting with the Australian Championships in Canberra, which was also to be a Minimum Eligibility Standard class, then Tempo in December, Sydney Royal in March and the Australian Championships in 2008. (At the time of writing the Sydney Showjumping Club had put forward a proposal to conduct the 2008 Nationals). Of course now we have moved on to plan B. Nothing will happen until the rescheduled Australian Championships in Canberra over the long weekend in January. (Still to be called the 2007 Championships). That show will not be part of the designated Selectors Series, but it will constitute an MES competition. Traditionally only one such class is allowed each year, but the EFA have been in contact with the FEI Showjumping Manager, John Roche, who is very sympathetic to what we are trying to achieve and we may be able to have another MES class. We will then have three Selectors Series competitions, one in February, one in March and one in April. There is also the possibility of going to the New Zealand Horse Of The Year Show in March, if they will have us.

“If all that fails and there are no selection competitions, then the National Selectors will have to do their job from what they know and what they have seen. There are four travel bursaries of $25,000 to help non European based combinations to get to Europe for the two nomination classes there, from which the Olympic Team will be selected. Amongst those vying for the funding are Harley Brown with Cassiato, who is based in California and has been posting some impressive results and Gavin Chester with Warlord, also in the US. The four funded horses and any combination with an MES can present at the nomination shows in Europe. At the moment, Rod Brown and Gilbert Brockman are determining those shows. If an unfunded combination jumps their way on to the team, they will have their travel costs refunded. The European based riders showing good form and who are expected to present for final selection are Edwina Alexander, Matt Williams and James Paterson-Robinson. And of course Laurie Lever will already be in Europe, assisted to some degree by the World Cup funding. We would like about eight horses at the final nomination. Selection will be made following the warm up class and the Grand Prix at both shows. Because of the EI situation here, we would also contemplate assisting anyone from the elite squad if they wanted to go to Europe earlier”.