Rose rides into contention

Beijing silver medallist Shane Rose has the London Olympic Games within his grasp after winning the Sydney International Three-Day Event (3DE) over the weekend.

After leading all three phases of the eventing, Rose clenched the win with an impressive jumping phase on his number one horse Taurus. However, Rose faces a fight to secure Olympic selection on the five strong Australian eventing team, with the top five places at the 3DE separated by only two penalty points.

Rose finished on 48.60 ahead of fellow NSWIS athletes Tim Boland (GV Billy Elliott) and Emma Scott (Mustang) to win the 3DE as Boland and Scott, who are looking to secure their first Olympic berth, pulled out all stops to finish on strong scores.

“This was my final selection event and my aim was to come in and win – I’m happy with that.”

From here Australian team selectors head to the UK to see the overseas based Australian riders compete in the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials CCI4* next weekend. The Melbourne International 3DE CCI3* from June 7-11 will be the final chance for any of the Australians at home to impress selectors, with the eventing team to be announced mid-June.