It’s like that old song, when will they ever learn? In the run-up to Rio, the High Performance manager, Chris Webb and his team managed to stuff up the selection process by listing selection events without making sure that these events would allow all the Australian contenders to compete in the same class. At the shows in Denmark and Holland, the Australians had to be split between the ones in the top Grand Prix stream and the ones in the also rans GP, which resulted in a hugely unlevel playing field, not to mention quite different arenas.
For this selection series for the WEG at Tryon, there was a list of eight: Tryon, North Carolina CDI3* April 20–23; Sydney, Australia CDI3* May 3-5; Compiegne, France CDI3*, CDIO5* May 17-20; Rosendaal, Netherlands CDI4* May 30-June 3; Wiesbaden, Germany CDI5* June 1-3; Werribee, Australia CDI-W June 8-10; Boneo, Australia June 14-16; Fritzens, Austria CDI4* June 29-July 1; Cappeln, Germany CDI3* July 13–16.
The original list of competitions was out of date before it was published. Anyone with a handle on the European dressage scene was aware that Rosendaal had already been cancelled, and that Cappeln was looking dodgy, yet they did not change the list for several months. When several combinations failed to score the two 69s in the qualifying period, the ‘rules’ were re-written to allow them to pick up a second score right up to the time of selection. To make this happen, they added Falsterbo, blissfully ignoring the fact that the invited teams had all been officially nominated, and Australia wasn’t one of them.
Right now the four Australian riders with the top four scores at selection events, and the only ones that have met all three of the criteria laid out in the selection policy are Shannan Goodwin / Aristede (70.5), Alexis Hellyer / Bluefields Floreno (70.478), Brett Parbery / DP Weltmeiser (70.435), Judy Dierks / Diamond Star (69.348).
In another selection twist, the High Performance board changed the criteria again, dropping the requirement of two selection event scores, just one would do. This was done, I understand, without the knowledge of the EA board, and they are less than amused and have suggested to the selectors that they stick to the original criteria, let the scores do the selecting and that a discretionary selection would not be a good idea. The not two but one will do, would seem to have been done to allow Kristy Oatley / Du Soleil, to move into the frame. She has a selection score of 69, better than Mary Hanna’s best of 67.046, but it might be noted that Mary has met the criteria (and had a series of good results at non-selection shows including a 70.348 at Aachen 3 star – that ain’t THE Aachen but it was still a good medium level show), or at least the original criteria, by competing at two selection events, whereas Kristy’s score came at only one selection show – Wiesbaden. Kristy scored 72.543 at Hamburg CDI4*, 72.065 at Zakrzow CDI3*, 69.261 at Neumünster CDI-W all in 2018 so in terms of numbers she has produced the best results of any Australian combination this year. It might be noted that she has a bit of a home ground advantage at Hamburg, and that Zakrzow is not a front line competition, while Neumünster was a Western European league World Cup qualifier – that’s the real deal.
It might also be pointed out that Mary has competed at only two selection shows, Compiegne and Aachen and was looking at Falsterbo as her third chance to shine, while all the Australian based riders had the three show option.
The good news is that assuming all the Australian horses trot up sound, four riders will be selected out of Australia, two of them brand new and shining faces, and two of them stalwarts of the Australian dressage scene. That would have to be a good thing for Australian dressage. CH
ps. bizarrely several times in the selection criteria, reference is made to the rôle of the National Training Advisor. When I asked EA press officer, Jo McKinnon who this mysterious person was, she replied ‘There is currently nobody in this role’. Oh well, at least he or she, isn’t implicated in the stuff ups…
Tickets to Carl’s Masterclass, Sunday July 22, are available at www.qsec.com.au/CarlHester The Brisbane CDI is free for spectators from Wednesday July 18 to Friday July 20, and general admission is $20 for Saturday July 21 which is a day of freestyles. Carl will present the Young Horse Showcase on Saturday afternoon at the CDI. We also have a Gala Ringside Dinner on Saturday night, tickets are $125
I totally agree with you. A team of Alexis/Shannan/Judy/Brett would be awesome for our sport. Australian based riders proving you don’t need to travel to Europe. Two proven riders and two up and coming riders. Two imported horses and two Australian-bred horses.
That’s a team that really represents where Australian Dressage is currently. It would be a shot in the arm for our sport and is a team I, personally could really get behind!!!!!
Thanks for telling it as it is as you always do.
……………………Chris, what a mess, You would have thought that EA would have tried especially hard to do everything right in an attempt to restore something of their credibility, Instead, they have confirmed the incompetence and lack of due diligence that surrounds everything that they do,
oh dear……..
Exciting to see some new faces on the team in Shannan, Alexis, Judy, and Brett, who represent what dressage here at home in Australia is all about. Lyndal, Mary and Kristy are always awesome, and watching them improve year-by-year to achieve the higher scores and remain competitive internationally has been great, but new faces are refreshing to see. And yes, it’s another selection criteria farce…
EA’s ‘Yes Minister’ selection policy is a joke, the discretionary clause makes all the other ‘requirements’ extraneous. The ‘policy’ should simply say ‘EA will select whoever we want’. I hope the new faces get a ride but I wouldn’t count on it.