Australia leads after first day the Oceania Eventing Championships

Australia’s Young Rider team has a slender advantage over New Zealand at the end of the first day of the 2015 Oceania Eventing Championships in Taupo (NZL).

With two riders from each team having completed their dressage tests, the Aussies have a combined score of 112.5 penalties compared to the home nation’s 118.9.

New South Wales rider Teegan Ashby was the first to go of the Australians, riding Waitangi Password, the 9 year old warmblood mare who was imported to Australia by Ashby last year. Waitangi Password is no stranger to Taupo having competed there on three occasions with local rider Dannie Lodder. Ashby and her mare were faced with wet and unfavourable conditions but the pair pulled through and put the Aussies on the board with a score of 64.6.  

The wet weather subsided for the second of the Australians, Shanae Lowings and Venture Sky High, one of two combinations in the Australian young rider team who have travelled from Western Australia. 18 year old Lowings got the start she was hoping for earning a score of 47.9, which has her currently sitting in second place in the CCI2* class.     

"I'm happy and I'm pretty relieved,” said Lowings.

“Some parts of the test were really good but there were a couple movements that could have been better. Overall I’m happy with how it went.”

“With my luck I really through it would be raining so I’m happy the weather was clear.

“Getting ready I was really excited, not nervous at all. When I went into the arena I just focused on what I had to do.

“I can’t wait for the rest of the competition, everything we’ve done so far as a team I’ve really enjoyed. It’s been a really good experience,” she said.  

The two remaining members of Australia’s Young Rider team as well as the senior team will start their competition on Friday.

The Young Rider Oceania Eventing Championships are being held as part of the CCI2* while the senior event is in conjunction with the CCI3*.  Live scoring is available at www.equestrianentries.co.nz