Australian Dressage riders Lyndal Oatley and Mary Hanna enjoyed successful outings at the 2016 World Cup Dressage Final, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 25 - 27 March 2016 concurrently to the World Cup Jumping Final. Oatley received a last minute call-up for what would be her first appearance at a World Cup Final, whereas Mary Hanna earned her ticket as Pacific League winner.
Oatley of course wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to compete against the world’s best in Gothenburg, when she received the starting place.
“I had a fabulous experience, just to be here was a huge bonus because I wasn’t on the list and I got (a wild card) at the last minute," said Oatley. "It was a last minute preparation but I would never miss the opportunity to compete at a World Cup Final especially as it is in Sweden and there is always such a great atmosphere here."
Partnering with her London Olympic Games horse Sandro Boy (by Sandro Hit x Argentinus), the horse which she also hopes will take her to Rio, Oatley achieved a score of 70.943% in the Grand Prix and 73.589% in the Freestyle.
“Everything is looking really good right now. I’d love to go to Rio, that would be his (Sandro Boy) second Olympics and my second Olympics. I’d be thrilled to be there,” she said.
Four-time Olympian Mary Hanna also had minimal preparation for the Final, only arriving in Europe from Australia less than a week before the start of competition. In the Grand Prix Hanna and her horse Umbro scored 67.929% and rode to a score of 71.696% in the Freestyle.
“I have done the trip (from Australia to Europe) a lot of times, it doesn’t give you time to get nervous and dwell on things. In a way I haven’t had time to think about the enormity of what I’m doing, I’ve just done it," said Hanna. “It’s the first time that Umbro has competed in a really big atmosphere in a big indoor European show so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen and up until the last centerline (in the Grand Prix) I was really happy. Unfortunately he started to look at something beyond the judge and he backed off a little and that cost us a lot of points."
Photos © Jon Stroud
Related Links
Scores 2016 World Cup Finals
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 World Cup Finals