Volvo Pacific League finals
Story - Anna Sharpley
For the first time the Volvo World Cup Pacific League Finals for both Dressage and Showjumping were combined in one event at the end of January this year. The Horseworld Indoor Stadium, just an hour's drive west of Sydney provided the perfect venue with a large arena suitable for both disciplines surrounded by very comfortable seating for just over 2,000. The venue also supplied facilities for the comfort of horse and rider.
Franz Venhaus - Event Director, and his wife Toni, spearheaded an efficient team to provide a well organised and smooth running event. Three New Zealand showjumpers, John Cottle, Maurice Beatson and Jeff McVean (now a Kiwi) and two dressage riders, Kallista Fields and Cindy Kent made the event a really international one.
The combination of classical dressage, rock music, cross dressing (fancy dress) and showjumping proved a great success with the vocal crowd. Over
Mary Hanna repeated her efforts of last year qualifying once again to represent the Pacific League at the Volvo World Cup Dressage Final at s'Hertgenbosch (Holland) in April this year. Mary won the Grand Prix (63.04%) and Grand Prix Freestyle (67.35%) but only just. Mary was pushed by twenty-three year old Rachael Downs and her extravagant mare Northern Charisma II, and needed every bit of her experience to hold off the talented contenders. Rachael and Northern Charisma however won the applause meter with a fantastic Freestyle ridden to the sound of Queen's 'I want to Break Free' and Simon and Garfunkel's '19th Nervous Breakdown' for 66.53%. The crowd were literally on their feet cheering, whistling and clapping at the conclusion of her test.
The two New Zealanders gave notice that they are very much on the improve too. Eighteen year old Kallista Fields riding her mother Sharon's Waikare, produced a wonderful crowd pleasing Freestyle for third place. Cindy Kent and the aptly named Playskool performed consistently and well to be placed third overall after the two tests.
Chairman of the Dressage Ground Jury and Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee Mr Eric Lette from Sweden was pleased with the standard stating that it was "better than I expected". Mr Lette was also impressed with some of the Prix St George/Intermediate I horses, notably Dr Margaret Evans' Exellent ridden by Rozzie Ryan and Glennis Barry's GB Saffron.
Going into the Showjumping Final, Victorian Jeff Bloomfield had a handy lead on points. Over the season Jeff had won five Volvo World Cup Qualifiers riding Barry and Di Maher's Thoroughbred T Rex. However, with the last two qualifiers being worth 1_ times the points of the others an upset was possible. As it turned out Jeff and T Rex did enough with a sixth placing in the Table C (one round) and equal fourth in the AM3 to maintain a convincing lead of 14 points to drive off with the greatest prize in Australian showjumping - a brand new Volvo.
The race was for the second seat on the plane to the Volvo Final in Sweden in April. John Fahey, Krissy Harris, Sharon Scott and George Sanna were vying for a trip through immigration. Sharon Scott and the jumping horse 'of the moment' Jox, won the Table C in great style. Sharon did say at that time that she would not go to the Final even if she finished second, preferring to gain more experience and go for the Volvo and the World Championships next year. Although George Sanna with Nonix Le Parc came second in the class, Nonix was George's second ride and therefore not eligible for World Cup Points. Record breaking John Fahey and TB Sorrento were second with other hopeful Krissy Harris hanging in there for fifth.
The AM3 was won in fine style by George Sanna (finally picking the correct horse) riding Melissa Asimus' Nonix Le Parc. Vicki Roycroft and world traveller Coalminer gave George a run for his money in the two-way jump-off for second place. Krissy Harris produced the breathtaking round of the class to stick with the incredibly scopey Mr Popeye for a total of four faults giving them third place and that much sought after trip through customs.
The Finals were a great success with virtually capacity crowds for all sessions. The combined Volvo Pacific League Finals joins an ever growing list of Australian Horse Shows of which we can be justifiably proud.
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the weekend many dressage fans were converted to showjumping and vice-versa.