Australia start move toward World Equestrian Games

Top para-equestrian riders in the Oceania region took part in their first competition of 2014. 31 Jan 2014
Imagen
Joann Formosa

Joann Formosa has consistently been one of Australia's top para-equestrian riders.

ⒸGetty Images
By Rob Howell | For the IPC

The Boneo Park CDI3 played host to para-equestrian classes for the first time in 2014 and the event attracted a strong number of entries, including a host of WEG hopefuls eager to post strong scores to help their bid for one of the four team positions.

The countdown to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 (WEG), being held this summer in Normandy, France, is well underway for Australia’s elite para-equestrian riders with the second observation event for Australian based contenders concluding last week.

The Boneo Park CDI3 played host to para-equestrian classes for the first time in 2014 and the event attracted a strong number of entries, including a host of WEG hopefuls eager to post strong scores to help their bid for one of the four team positions.

Overall champions at the event were:

Grade 1a – Morgan Webb Liddle

Grad 1b – Joann Formosa

Grade II – Danielle Weymark

Grade III – Lizzie Sobecki

Grade IV – Kaye Hanna

In order to be eligible for selection to the team which will compete in Normandy, riders need to compete in two of the three observation events. The third will be held in Sydney, Australia, from 16-19 February and the first was staged back in December at the Saddleworld Victorian Dressage Festival.

National Performance Director for Para-Equestrian, Julia Battams was impressed with the progress being made by riders, and said: “The national dressage and para-equestrian clinic which was staged leading into this event has certainly been of benefit to our riders and this is reflected in the scores from the weekend.

“We have a number of riders challenging for just four positions on the WEG team and the healthy competition has led to some very good scores.”

The weekend did not go to plan for 2010 WEG bronze medallist Sharon Jarvis after her horse “Lets Imagine” suffered a minor foot injury just prior to the start of competition. Her disappointment, however, was slightly alleviated by a kind gesture from a former team-mate.

Jarvis said: “When Jan Pike found out Lets Imagine had been ruled out, she asked me if I wanted to share her ride Cocon, so I rode him in the grade III while she rode him in the Grade Ia.”

“Jan and I were teammates in Beijing and I found this to be such a lovely gesture. It really picked me up after I found out that my horse couldn’t compete here this weekend.”