By Anna Sharpley

Stuart Tinney (AUS) and Panamera produced a superb Jumping clear today to clinch victory at the HSBC FEI Classics™ in Adelaide, the second leg of the 2012 series.

The beautiful clear riding by Tinney on the 12-year-old Staccato mare gave him enough to elevate him to the victory dais with a total of 51.30 penalties. “Frankly, I’m a little surprised to be sitting here”, said Tinney. “The mare is a lovely jumper and I knew she would jump clear if I rode her well enough.” Panamera jumped just one of four clear rounds of the 21 to start the final HSBC FEI Classics™ Jumping phase. “It is fantastic that HSBC has come on board and I will try to think of ways to get more HSBC points.”

“I came here to win”, declared Western Australian sheep farmer, Sonja Johnson, and she very nearly did riding Nikki Brooks’ racehorse Parkiarrup Illict Liaison. The flashy chestnut just rubbed a rail for the addition of four penalties and second place by less than a rail. Johnson, who returns to Western Australia to “commence shearing” was delighted with Liaison’s performance and hopes that this effort, “has put us right back in the mix for London.”

Queensland lawyer, Emma Mason who saw victory slip from her grasp last year jumped an assured four penalty round to hold on to third place riding her lovely Salute gelding, FI Pharinelli with 55.20 penalties.

Natalie Blundell continued her good form with Julia McLean and John Glenn’s Thoroughbred, Algebra taking fourth place with a consistent performance adding one jumping rail for 55.90.

Shane Rose had one of those days all riders fear and all have suffered some time in their career. With two fences in hand Taurus lowered four, in great part due to a broken martingale flapping about as he progressed around the course. It was a nightmare situation for the experienced rider who dropped to fifth place.

Clayton Fredericks considered the Jumping track “quite big; as big as the HSBC FEI Classics™ in Pau.” His opinion of the final Jumping phase is in keeping with 4* Technical Delegate, Alec Lochore’s regard for the HSBC FEI Classics™ in Adelaide. “The event is fantastic and you have a world class facility,” Lochore declared at the final press conference. “You are absolutely right up there in terms of 4* standard, with top class competition.”

HSBC Training Bursary
Twenty five year old Emma Scott from Balranald in western New South Wales rode Mustang to seventh place in their first 4* competition. “I was really excited and it was a great performance for our first 4* and the HSBC Bursary is a great award on top of that. It’s a fantastic concept and it is an honour to have won it,” declared Scott. “The money will be put to good use to advance my riding and to assist my gaining the Level 1 NCAS Coaching Certificate”. Scott and the homebred Mustang, bred by her late grandfather, Bill Scott and 1960 Olympic Eventing team gold medalist, Neale Lavis, spend a lot of time on the road travelling to competitions and coaching from their remote home base. “I’m a little bit of a travelling gypsy,” adds Scott who aims to give London team selection a “red hot crack.”

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 in Adelaide - final results
1    Stuart Tinney  (AUS) Panamera 51.30
2    Sonja Johnson  (AUS) Parkiarrup Ilict Liaison 53.80
3    Emma Mason  (AUS) F1 Pharinelli 55.20
4    Natalie Blundell  (AUS) Algebra  55.90
5    Shane (AUS) Taurus  61.50
6    Megan Jones  (AUS) Kirby Park Allofasudden 61.50
7    Emma Scott (AUS)  Mustang (AUS) 79.30
8    Eleanor Osborne (AUS) Mighty High 80.90
9    Cassandra Webb  (AUS) Beckli  83.80
10    Emma Dougal  (AUS) Kelecyn Ice Age  86.60

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 press kit
Download the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 press kit here: www.feipresskits.org/

Editors notes
 
HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 calendar
1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October 2011
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) - 18-20 November 2011
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) -  26-29 April 2012
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 4-7 May 2012
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* (GER) - 14-17 June 2012
6 The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 30 August-2 September 2012
 
Prize money
At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected among the HSBC FEI Classics™ events will be awarded their share of a total prize fund of US$333,000 split as follows:
1st - US$150,000 (Series Champion)
2nd - US$75,000
3rd - US$50,000
4th - US$33,000
5th - US$25,000
 
HSBC Rankings
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) currently leads the HSBC Rankings by 13 points ahead of Mary King, who was the first rider to wear the HSBC armband when it was launched at the beginning of July this year. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2011 Eventing season will receive a 50,000 USD bonus. To view the HSBC Rankings please click here.