….in which the American judge at C, Marilyn Payne consistently scored Qualified and Shane about 2 points below the other two judges…. and no, you can’t see me in the press scrum, I don’t like getting the same answers as everyone else has, so this is our one on one:
Did you do something awful to the American judge’s cat?
“Must have done… but I was really happy with him. He did a nice test, no mistakes, really relaxed. If I could do the test again and it was that good again, I’d be happy. There wasn’t much to pull apart, I look at the tape but a score from 74 to 67, is pretty significant.”
The first trot looked a little tentative…
“Yes, it probably was. He can get a little loose in his body off that left turn, so I probably started a bit cautious, but it felt like he warmed into the test. He canter work was great. For me, if I can finish my trot work on better than 70%, then you’d think he’d get eights for his canter work, he’s got great changes, that brings him up to 75%… or more. Obviously Marilyn didn’t have me quite there.”
Michael Jung says this is the toughest course he’s come across…
“I can’t say which courses he’s ridden but it’s a good track. It’s certainly tough. There’s lots of questions. I think if you ride it well you should be able to negotiate your way around it but there are questions the whole way through. It’s quite similar to a Mike ES course, there’s not specifically one fence that will catch you out, it is every second one and that being the case, you have to be on the job from one to thirty three. It’s technical – my guy is great, he’s brave, he’s accurate, he’s adjustable. If I ride him well, he should jump well. I’ve just got to ride well.”
Well done Shane …Australia is so very proud of you xx
Always positive Shane. You will get job done and the rest of the field will be chasing your time
Well done team in the dressage phase. Now the xcountry may you all have a great ride.
Well done Shane and Darcy! You’ve got all of Australia behind you!!! Making us so proud 🙂
Fantastic work Shane…….
Just bring bring the horses home (as in back to the stables) sound after xc is all I ask.
Best wishes to the riders.
Thanks THM for some semblance of equestrian journalism (got all the respect in the world for Vikki Roycrofts sj ability, her commentating on ch7? not so much – whew boy did they not at least do an interview with her prior to giving her the job?! – so here is where I shall get my “Rio info” )
Now is your time, Shane. I have every confidence in you … do it for your four children and Nikki!
Well done Shane. Have a great ride all of you.
Good luck have fun I’ve seen you cruise around Adelaide four star.
Olympics for Australia now.
Berry boy through and through
Mat the best man and beast win.
Danny Thompson
Planet Earth
We are all very proud of you Shane