Aussies One Two in Senior Competition after Dressage at 2022 Oceania Championships

Australia has taken an early lead in the Senior division of the 2022 Oceania Championships, hosted by Zeep Melbourne International 3 Day Event.

The dressage phase of the Pryde's Easifeed CCI4*-L competition took place today at Werribee Park, with the Australian Gold team leading after day one of competition on a score of 84.3. The Australian Green team is sitting in second position with a score of 94.5 and team New Zealand is in third on 99.7.

Shane Rose and Easy Turn, members of the Australian Green Team, were the first combination into the arena scoring 28.3, setting the standard and holding the lead for the majority of the competition.

It was fellow Aussie, and Australian Gold Team combination, Shenae Lowings riding Bold Venture who managed to better Shane’s score, executing a flowing test to score 24.9. The pair proved unbeatable in the dressage arena and currently hold the lead moving into tomorrow’s cross-country phase.

Shenae, who got Bold Venture off the track six years ago, said she is pleased with how they are progressing as a combination, and that she is thrilled to be part of the Australian Team at the 2022 Oceania Championships.

“Today’s test was really quite exciting. He is improving all the time and we have had amazing help from EA High Performance Coach, Bettina Hoy, and also my coach Prue Barrett, this week. It is all just paying off and it is just really exciting to have a horse at this level.”

“I feel very honoured to be on the Oceania Trans-Tasman Team. It is such a wonderful environment to be in with all the other team riders and just learning so much from all of those Senior riders with all the experience. The support that everyone gives one another is fantastic, so it is just really exciting to be here on the Oceania team,” shared Shenae.

Tomorrow the riders will tackle the Ewan Kellett (AUS) designed cross-country course, which consists of 41 jumping efforts over more than 5.7 kilometres. Shenae said that while the course may prove challenging, she is confident Bold Venture is up to the task.

“I am really looking forward to the cross-county tomorrow. I have walked the course many times and it looks very, very good. There are some tough questions out there that will keep us on our toes, but I think it is a very positive ride and he [Bold Venture] should come through the finish flags with a great ride, hopefully.” 

Australian Senior Team Chef d'Equipe, Will Enzinger, said that although the Aussies are sitting in an ideal position after day one, the cross-country course may prove influential. 

“It has been a positive start to the competition. You can certainly see that everyone has benefited from the training they’ve had from Bettina since she has been here. It definitely isn’t going to be a dressage competition though, the course certainly has some good questions out there, but they should all be very proud of themselves."  

Full results can be found HERE. 

Australian Gold Team - Score 84.3
Annabel Cargill and Quaprice - 37.9
Sam Lyle and BF Valour - 29.8
Bold Venture, ridden by Shenae Lowings - 24.9
Warrego Marco Polo, ridden by Emma Mason - 29.6

Australian Green Team - Score 94.5
Shane Rose and Easy Turn - 28.3
Jess Rae and Fifth Avenue - 35.6
Sam Jeffree and Woodmount Lolita - 34.4
Lauren Browne and Sky's Da Limit - 31.8