Olympic silver medallist Megan Jones (AUS) and her home-bred Kirby Park Irish Jester proved invincible when they led from start to finish at the first HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing qualifier of 2009 at the Mitavite International Horse Trials at Kihikihi (NZL). Jones enjoyed an impressive 10-penalty margin over last year’s winners, Heelan Tompkins (NZL) and Sugoi.
Unanimous judging
18 starters came before a ground jury comprising Jim Dunn (AUS), Bill Phiskie (NZL) and Joan Matheson (NZL). They were unanimous in placing Jones in first place with the only sub-40 mark after a relaxed and professional test which gave her a 3.4-penalty margin over her Hong Kong team mate, Shane Rose (AUS) on All Luck.
Former triple Kihikihi winner Matthew Grayling lay third on the 8-year-old NRM Parklane Hawk (44.6) and Tompkins, twice a member of the New Zealand Olympic team, lay fourth at this stage on 47.3.
Change of order on cross-country
Jones continued to impress on cross-country day, making light work of John Nicholson’s (NZL) demanding course which famously features a ‘Winnie the Pooh’ theme. Jones was one of four riders to complete within the optimum time which was to give her a two-fence advantage for the final jumping phase.
She gained breathing space when Rose suffered a glance-off with All Luck when the horse failed to sight the second element of the influential line down to the second water complex and incurred 20 penalties, dropping to sixth place. However, he wasted little time, only accruing 2.8 time penalties on his Australian Thoroughbred, the fastest horse across country in Hong Kong last year and third at Burghley in 2006.
Rose also had a run-out on his other ride Santos but, remarkably, still finished within the time.
Tompkins was only 2 seconds outside the optimum time, and this allowed her to move up to second place, ahead of Grayling who had incurred 5.6 time penalties.
There were eight clear cross-country rounds and 12 riders completed.
Jones displays effortless confidence
The top three remained the same on the final day, with Jones displaying effortless confidence to scoop the NZ$23,000 first prize, the most valuable prize ever offered in New Zealand Eventing.
There were four clear jumping rounds, with Jonathan Paget (NZL) riding Clifton Promise finishing on a clean sheet to move up to third and swap places with the 2007 winners, Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Oakley Vision, fourth.
Jones, therefore, becomes the initial leader of the 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing rankings with 71 points, and has every chance of increasing her lead with another good performance when the series moves to her home country, at Sydney (2-3 May).
Results
1 Megan Jones/Kirby Park Irish Jester (AUS) 38.1 + 0 + 0 = 38.1
2 Heelan Tompkins/Sugoi (NZL) 47.3 + 0.8 + 0 = 48.1
3 Matthew Grayling/NRM Parklane Hawk (NZL) 44.6 + 5.6 + 4 = 54.2
4 Jonathan Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 61.4 + 0 + 0 = 61.4
5 Clarke Johnstone/Oakley Vision (NZL) 60.2 + 0 + 4 = 64.2
6 Shane Rose/All Luck (AUS) 41.5 + 20 (jumping) + 2.8 + 4 = 68.3
7 Kate Wood/Easy Tiger (NZL) 64.4 + 13.6 + 0 = 78
8 Clarke Johnston/Orient Express (NZL) 53.1 + 20 + 8 = 81.1
9 Shane Rose/Santos (AUS) 57.5 + 20 + 0 + 8 = 85.5
10 Alice Montgomery/Gordon (NZL) 54 + 28 + 4 = 86
HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Rankings (after 1 out of 9 qualifiers)
1 Megan Jones (AUS) 71 points
2 Heelan Tompkins (NZL) 67
3 Matthew Grayling (NZL) 64
Qualifying venues for the 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing series:
1 Kihikihi (NZL), 10-12 April 2009
2 Sydney (AUS), 2-3 May 2009
3 Marbach (GER), 8-10 May 2009
4 Chatsworth (GBR), 16-17 May 2009
5 Malmo (SWE), 23-24 May 2009
6 Tattersalls (IRL), 28-31 May 2009
7 Minsk (BLR), 16-19 July 2009
8 Kalispell (USA), 23-26 July 2009
9 Mansfield, ON (CAN), 7-9 August 2009
HSBC FEI World Cup ™ Eventing final 2009 Strzegom (POL), 21-23 August 2009
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