UK based Australian Eventers ready for final showdown ahead of team selection
UK based Australian Eventers in contention for Olympic selection will this weekend compete in the Luhmuhlen CCI4* (GER).
For the riders campaigning for a position on the five member Eventing team, this is the final opportunity to impress national selectors ahead of the London Olympic Games.
After the cancellation of the Badminton Horse Trials, a number of Australian riders who call the northern hemisphere home, revised their Olympic Games preparations and set their sights on Luhmuhlen.
Among the Australian contingent in action this weekend are Olympians Lucinda Fredericks, Wendy Schaeffer and Andrew Hoy as well as Paul Tapner, Catherine Burrell, Peter Atkins, Kevin McNab and Emma Dougall.
Beijing silver medallist Lucinda Fredericks will compete on ten year old gelding Flying Finish.
“It's great to be back at Luhmuhlen. The facilities here are now top class with superb arenas and excellent manicured ground for the cross country. The course is big and bold with a lot of maximum dimensions and four challenging water complexes,” she said.
“I have been drawn midway in the programme which I am happy with and with dressage starting on Friday I will be trying my best to bring home a great result,” Lucinda added.
Paul Tapner and Inonothing will be looking to claim their second victory in a four star event having won Badminton CCI4* in 2010.
“Inonothing is looking and feeling great so we are all really excited about his prospects for a successful event here at Luhmuhlen,” he said.
An Australian support team, consisting of Barry Roycroft (selector), Rob Hanna (Chef de d'Equipe), Graham Potts (Vet) and John Pitts (sports analysis), has travelled to Germany for the event.
Luhmuhlen is also the penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics series. You can follow all the action live on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) at the following times:
16 June 2012 - Cross Country live from 9:20pm AEST (1:20pm local time)
17 June 2012 - Jumping live from 9:25pm AEST (1:25 local time)
For full results visit the Luhmuhlen website w ww.luhmuehlen.de
The following Australian based horse and rider combinations are expected to contest the Luhmuhlen CCI4.*
Emma Dougall and Kelecyn Ice Age
Kevin McNab and Clifton Pinot
Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton
Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer
Catherine Burrell and Urzan
Paul Tapner and Inonothing
Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen
