Australian Olympian Mary Hanna has withdrawn from competing at the 2018 World Cup Finals which are scheduled to take place in Paris, France, on 11 - 15 April 2018.
Hanna qualified her 11-year old Dutch warmblood mare Calanta (by Johnson x ) at the 2018 Pacific League World Cup Finals in Boneo, Australia, by winning the Kur to Music with 75.390%.
Hanna flew Calanta and her 2016 Rio Olympic ride Boogie Woogie to Europe at the end of February to begin her European spring show campaign. She is based at Briana Burgess's yard near Munster, Germany, and trains with Patrik Kittel.
Mary and Calanta competed at the World Cup qualifier in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, at the beginning of March and scored 66.652% in the Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, Hanna has decided to withdraw Calanta from Paris due to fitness issues.
"I am very sad to say having come all the way from Australia to represent the Pacific League at the World Cup final in Paris, I now have to withdraw," Mary stated. "Although both my horses arrived in good shape, Calanta has sustained an injury, and is not ready to compete. It’s been a very difficult campaign so far with both horses suffering from a change in farrier. However we are hopeful of a full recovery, and back to top form soon."
It has not yet been announced which rider will fill in Mary's vacant spot in Paris.
According to FEI rules the spot goes to the 2nd placed rider at the Pacific League World Cup Final in Boneo (Alexis Hellyer - Bluefields Floreno (they are still in Australia)). If the spot is not taken by the 2nd placed rider, it will be considered an "extra starting place" and then FEI rule 5.2.3 applies: "If more starting places are available,these will be allocated to the athlete/horse combination(s) with the highest ranking (as a combination) on the February of the current year FEI World Dressage Ranking List, and who have participated in at least two (2) CDI-W."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Mary Hanna Earns Berth for 2018 World Cup Finals at CDI-W Boneo
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2017-2018 World Cup Show Season