Albury-Wodonga horse trials showcase skills of elite riders

Even without locked-out Victorian riders, the Albury-Wodonga horse trials featured some serious star power and thrilling wins. See who had the edge over their competitors.

IT WAS possibly easier to say which elite horse trials rider wasn’t at the Albury-Wodonga horse trials last weekend than to say who was.

Even with the Victorian competitors still locked out, the stars shone and the competition was fierce in all sections.

Katie Taliana on Trevalger II moved from second in dressage to win the four star by just three points from Emma Mason’s Warrego Marco Polo, and Gemma Tinney’s Wanda.

The sport demands fitness from horse and rider, and, remarkably, Heath Ryan, Emma Mason and Courtney Slattery all had two rides and finished as fit as their horses.

There were family ties, too, in the class with Stuart Tinney finishing sixth behind his daughter Gemma’s third place and Hamish Cargill and wife Annabel also competed together in this class, with Annabel placed fourth and Hamish 13th. The Three star event went to Christine Bates on her long time successful partner, Adelaide Hill, from Gemma Tinney on Dalenna Dream and Merran Wallis riding Superclass. Shane Rose rode Sir Viv to a win in the two star section, hotly pursued by Emma Bishop on Cassilis Park Figaro, Nicky Lyle on Winter Hill, Sam Lyle on Delarno NPE and Shane Rose took home another sash and fifth place on his second mount, Dotti.

The one star section was won by Teegan Ashby’s Magic Mushroom TAE with second place to Natalie Blundell on Tarburra Puss N Boots and Alexander Seppelt on Fairview Metallica. Thea Horseley’s APH New Sensation was two points ahead of Sam Lyle’s Cantano in the EA 95 event. Heath Ryan, despite being now known as an international dressage rider and coach, was also previously a champion horse trials rider and rode a youngster, Bobby Dazzler in the EA80 class to a win, and rode two horses in the four star class finishing ninth on Wimborne Constable. Phoebe Gallagher’s Beach Life won the other 80cm division.

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