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Sunburst Equestrian Newsletter - September 2008
Leaving the major disappointments of July / August - our non selection in the Olympic Team and standby position as reserve in Pre Olympic Training Camp - behind us, we have to congratulate the 5 riders chosen for Hong Kong on their great effort in achieving Team Silver Medals, and Megan in particular for her 4th in the World! - an outstanding effort.
Personally, I had taken Koyuna Sun Dancer out of Camp to compete in the World Cup final qualifier at Warwick, Queensland, only to trip up the bank of a tight first water jump incurring 20 penalties, and having Kevin McNab take out the World Cup points and the trip to France (where he has just finished a creditable 10th to Clayton & Ben A Long Time's 1st). It seemed to me that Eventing and I needed a break and instead of funding Sun Magic to France I decided to concentrate on Showjumping for a spell.
Toowoomba World Cup show was first on the agenda and Sun Magic made his World Cup debut, but not as I had intended when he jumped so big he jumped me off!!!. Fortunately Koyuna Sun Dancer & Sun Storm made some amends to quinella the Mini Prix.
Long drive home to SA and the Gawler World Cup Qualifier where my Nationally listed showjump mare, Koyuna Sun Set, returned to action placing 4th.
Royal Adelaide Show followed soon after with 3 eventers entered along with Sun Set so it was a very busy week jumping. I failed to win a single blue ribbon, however 5 seconds, 5 fifths, 3 thirds, a 4th & a 6th added up to 15 placings and the points to win Champion Senior Showjumping Rider - in my first Royal Show since Sunburst & I had won Champion Junior !.
Royal Show World Cup Qualifier was a hotly contested affair with 3 horses double clear and time deciding placings with Clem Smith & Dark Ages the winner from myself & Sun Set with Jamie Winning & Yandoo Vangelo 3rd. The exciting thing was that I had started my young 3* eventer, Koyuna Sun Storm, in this big class where she coped really well to finish in 6th place.
The 3rd World Cup Qualifier in SA was next weekend at Metropolitan where Amy Graham & Transatlantic won while Koyuna Sun Set and Sun Magic both had one rail in each round to place 6th & 7th.
Flushed with World Cup fever, I now changed my plans (to ride at our local Monarto ODE) and pursued the World Cup Qualifiers to Royal Melbourne Show. This event was held with full show raz-a-matazz at 7.30 at night under lights with a huge video screen right in the horses faces coming into fences 3 and 7 - quite a spectacle for the largish number of spectators. Again a impressive track built by Graeme Watts and only 3 clear into the final round. With me first to go, Lia set sail and recorded another clear in a smart time that caused the other 2, Amy & Transatlantic and Becky Allen & Koyuna Ted, to go to beat my time which they did, but they both had one rail allowing Koyuna Sun Set her first World Cup win. Amy 2nd, Becky 3rd. (and Sun Magic also a creditable 10th). For more details, see the Horse Deals report by Anna Sharpley at www.horsedeals.com/gallery.php?showID=5396.