Australia secured the top two places on the Event Rider Masters podium for the first time in the series this year at Leg 6 at the Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.  Shane Rose took home the £16,000 winners cheque with Chris Burton in second. Britain’s Oliver Townend filled the third spot. 

2016 Olympic bronze medal winning Australian team mates, Shane Rose and Chris Burton ensured Australia dominated the ERM podium at the weekend, by filling the first two spots respectively. This is the first time Australia has featured on the podium in the 2017 series.

Shane Rose riding Virgil won the sixth leg of the ERM series, which saw the leaderboard dramatically change across each Eventing phase.    After being positioned in ninth place after dressage, Rose started out on the cross country in third position after jumping a clear round in the showjumping earlier on Sunday. The combination performed an impressive, very accurate and strong cross country round adding just 2.8 time penalties, finishing on a score of 45.9.  

Shane, a cancer survivor, has recovered from multiple riding injuries including having his face reconstructed after receiving a kick from a horse to the head.  He also breaks racehorses for a living at his Australian base in New South Wales. This year he has spent the Eventing season competing on the British and European circuit.  He has been based with fellow Australian rider Sam Griffiths, who he dedicated his ERM win to. Rose said;

“Virgil felt like he was finding the ground tough in parts of the cross country, but once we were in the woods where there was a firm base he got his wind back and then travelled really well and galloped home nicely. It’s one of the best rides I have had on him.  He will now head back to Australia, so it’s a great note for him to finish his northern hemisphere trip on. 

“It’s been a great experience competing in the ERM series as it’s an amazing concept for Eventing.  I feel we can have these short format competitions as well longer ones, just like other sports.  Plus, you’ll find, like top athletes, there will be horses that can perform across both formats, and then others who will be specialists in the ERM.  I’ll certainly look to hopefully compete again in the series next year around my championship targets”.

Australia also filled second place with Chris Burton and Graf Liberty finishing on a score of 47.7.  Burton experienced a roller coaster ride through the competition after sliding from third to sixth after the showjumping phase, when rolling two poles.  However, tagged as the fastest cross country rider in the world, he delivered a masterclass with Graf Liberty on the cross country, to complete the quickest round of the day with just 0.8 time penalties.

Britain’s Oliver Townend, the 2016 ERM champion, secured third on the podium riding Cooley Master Class finishing on a score of 51.7.  Franky Reid-Warrilow (GBR) and Dolley Whisper, who led the competition going into the cross country, finished in sixth place on a score of 56.8 after jumping clear on the cross country but incurred 16.4 time penalties.

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