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The equestrian sport of eventing is one of the world’s most demanding and thrilling sports, requiring athleticism, bravery and a special partnership between horse and rider. Equestrian sports are also the only Olympic sports in which men and women compete directly against one another.
At the Melbourne International Three Day Event, to be held at Werribee Park from the 11th-14th of June, Australia’s top eventing riders will be vying for team selection for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Kentucky, USA in October.
The competitors include the current leader of the international eventing World Cup Rankings, Megan Jones. Megan is a team silver medallist from the Beijing Olympics who narrowly missed out on winning the individual gold medal – a mistake she intends to rectify in London in 2012.
The blonde and bubbly pin up girl of Australian eventing will be riding her wonderful home bred horse Kirby Park Jester, who is a bit of a mega-star himself: “He is very special and he knows that if I were allowed, I would let him in the front door house to sit down with all of us”, says Megan of Jester in the new book ‘An Eventful Life- Life Stories of Eventing Champions’ being launched at the event.
Her fellow team members at the Beijing Olympics, Sonja Johnson and Shane Rose will also be competing at the event.
Sonja is probably the only silver Olympic medallist in the world who regards herself as a sheep farmer first and professional athlete second. She runs her equestrian career from the remote area of Albany, Western Australia and combines winning medals with managing her family’s merino stud.
Sonja will be riding her Australian stock horse Ringwould Jaguar who, when not winning medals, is kept fit by working with the sheep on the farm.
The likeable Australian larrikin Shane Rose is well known for his bravery, not only in his riding but also in overcoming life threatening situations.
Most event riders incur some injuries through their sport but Shane has recovered from having a facial reconstruction after being kicked in the face by a horse and has also had to deal with the emotional and physical trauma of thyroid cancer.
Olympic gold medallist Stuart Tinney is the quiet hero of equestrian sport. Having travelled all around the world with his horses to earn the right to compete for Australia, Stuart won a team gold medal a few kilometres from home at the Sydney Olympics.
Despite this achievement, he is unfortunately probably best remembered overseas for jumping into the crowd and breaking the arm of a sports photographer at the prestigious Badminton event – so watch out all photographers at the Melbourne International.
Stuart will be competing at the Melbourne Three Day Event on the big grey horse Vettori, and will be trying to gain a place on yet another Australian team.
For coverage of the Melbourne Three Day Event from 11th-14th June, follow the action and the behind the scenes information on these riders at www.an-eventful-life.com.au.
Photo of Megan Jones, Olympic Silver medallist at home with her horse Kirby Park Irish Jester and on course at the Beijing Olympics
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