2014 Melbourne International Horse Trials

Naphatra Lerdsipjaroen from Thailand trains with well known Victorian coach and rider, Will Enzinger and produced an outstanding performance riding her Anglo Arabian, 'Tainui Lad' by Shiranna Dark Secrets to finish on her dressage score, 44.16 to win the CCIJ1*.

Overnight CCIJ1* leader, Shenae Lowings lowered just one rail, bit it was enough to slip her and her Northern Ariel gelding, 'Venture Sky High' to second place with a final total of 46.71.

Molly Berry and her Top Gun Thoroughbred, 'Just Joshen' lowered two rails to slip from overnight third place to fifth in the CCIJ1*competition with a total of 55.09 penalties.

It is hard to imagine from this photo, but Victorian combination, Stephanie Thornton and her Thoroughbred, 'Gosh' had two fences down to finish the CCIJ1* competition in sixth place with a total of 55.72 penalties. The arena looked spectacular in the morning sun, with the Gods obviously pleased that the Melbourne event has emerged from the gloomy Werribee indoor arena. The VIP tower dominated the scene.

Kelsey Pfeiffer and her 'Sovereign Rose' sadly slipped from overnight fifth place to 12th in the CCIJ1* after a few fences down in the tough final jumping phase, built by Olympian and former Australian showjumping Champion, Gavin Chester.

"Riding one and leading one". Always a crowd favourite and a past winner Sonja Johnson was in the lead aboard Nikki Harwood's super Thoroughbred, 'Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison'. She had a fence and a bit in hand, but two uncharacteristic fences down saw "Ben" slip to second place on 54.2. A little earlier Sonja jumped a good clear aboard S and R Bell's Australian Stock Horse, 'Belfast Mojito' that took third place in the CCI3* with 62.06 penalties.

The dramatic news on the final day of the Melbourne International Horse Trials was that Stuart Tinney had withdrawn overnight leader, 'Pluto Mio'. Apparently the gelding that finished full of running yesterday came home with a splinter in his knee and was not able to compete in the final jumping phase today. This effectively means that they are no longer in contention for a place on the Team for the WEG in August. Pluto will be perfectly OK in a couple of days, but Melbourne was his last chance to qualify for the World Games. Shane Rose was well positioned going in to the final jumping phase just over one fence behind Sonja Johnson riding his Off The Track Thoroughbred, 'Shanghai Joe'. The seven year old by Another Warrior and bred by Rose jumped superbly today to finish on his dressage score to win the CCI3* competition on 52.40 penalties.. All being well Shane has Rio in mind for the talented and typey gelding.

Adam Benson's 18 year old Thoroughbred,,'Enthusiast' by Sky Chase proved once again what a great horse he is. With just time penalties to add, ten on the cross country and one in the final jumping phase, Adam and the talented veteran took fourth place in the CCI3* with 66.4 penalties.

Popular Victorian veterinarian, Rohan Luxmoore won the CCI2* competition in 2013 and this year he rode his, 'Bells and Whistles' to lower just one fence in the final phase to take sixth place in the CCI3* finishing with 69.41 penalties.

Isabel English from Queensland rode her super part Connemara, 'Feldale Mouse' to add just one showjumping rail and take seventh place in the CCI3* competition.

Successful Victorian rider, Katja Weimann moved from seventh place after both the dressage and the showjumping to sixth place, with just one showjumping rail in the CCI3* competition riding her home bred, 'BP Cosmopolitan'.

Gabrielle Pither from WA led the Australian Young Rider Team by example. The niece of well known showjumping identities, Kate Pither and Sarah Allen rode her super Irish Sporthorse, 'Max Almighty' to finish on their dressage score and add the Melbourne CCI2* victory on 46.11penalties to their second place in the Sydney CCI2*. You might say she has had a successful trip east.

Australian Trans Tasman Team Member, Teegan Ashby rode her well performed, 'Rockingham No Reason' to finish on her dressage score, 47.04 and take third place in the CCI2* competition. Australia easily won the Young Rider Trans Tasman contest, as sadly the always super competitive New Zealand Team were left with just two remaining combinations after cross country day.

Elizabeth Crosato from NSW slipped from fifth to eighth place in the CCI2* competition with the addition of eight jumping penalties. They finished with 57.44 penalties.

Cassie Lowe and her Richmead Medallion gelding, 'Fairview Metallica' lowered one in the final jumping phase, but their performance was good enough for sixth place in the CCI2* competition.

Popular Victorian rider, Bill Chrisanis is never without a good horse. Bill is pictured aboard J Theobald's Carbine gelding, 'Jaybee Castille' that jumped clear in the final phase to take fourth place in the CCI1* with 49.78 Penalties.

Rebecca Thomas added to the strong performance from WA riders. She is pictured aboard her 'DVZ Debonaire' that finished on its dressage score, 51.86 to take fifth place in the CCI2*.

Just see how high I can jump! Olympian, Shane Rose sits tight as J Donohoe's Contendro 1 stallion, 'Contenda' get airborne during the final jumping phase of the CCI2*. Surprisingly they had the last down, but nonetheless moved from 12th to ninth place with 60.67 penalties.

Australian Young Rider Trans Tasman Team member, Jamie Stichel from South Australia rode her, 'Image Blue Ice' to finish on he dressage score, 63.71 and help the Australian Team to an impressive victory.

Will Enzinger had a great CCI1* competition. He won riding M Barkley's Laptop gelding, 'Paihia Wilhelm' finishing on their dressage score of 38.54. Will was also third riding, 'Belhaven Sanskrit' on 42.50.

Victorian rider, Tamara Campain rode her 'Rockingham Tiggeriffic' to slip from seventh to tenth place in the CCI1* with just one rail on the ground.

Well known and popular South Australian Olympian, Megan Jones had a good CCI1* competition. She is pictured aboard her home bred, 'Kirby Park Impress' that took sixth place in the class. Megan also rode 'Jayay Dom Perignon' to take second place with 42.08.

2014 Sydney CCI1* winners, Lauren Balcomb and 'Guido Hatzis' took fourth place in the CCI1* competition. with just one uncharacteristic rail to add to their dressage score.

Popular Victorian rider, Nina Clarke finished on her dressage score riding her, 'LP Boudin' to take fifth place in the CCI1* competition with 43.34 penalties. The talented Thoroughbred gelding by Personal Escort won the Racing Victoria Off The Track prize for the Best Performed Thoroughbred in the class.

Emily Anker, a popular and experienced Victorian rider rode the Brilliant Invader gelding, 'Glenwood Park Cooper Street' to take 12th place in the CCI1* with a final penalty score of 47.55.

Sadly Linda Williams and her eye catching stallion, 'Linbil White Russian' slipped from their overnight tenth place down the order in the CCI1* after some penalties in the final jumping phase.

Chelsea Priestley jumped a good clear round in the final jumping phase riding, 'Ashleigh Longtime' to move from eleventh to seventh place in the CCI1* competition with 45.42 penalties.

Just warming up, Sonja Johnson rode the Irish Sporthorse, 'ESB Irish Leprechaun' to jump a good clear round and move from 13th place to eighth in the CCI1* with a final score of 45.84.

Eleanor Miller from NSW is pictured aboard, 'Kaloona Kaydee' during the CCI1* showjumping final phase.

Successful Victorian rider, Andrew Cooper is pictured aboard his Testarossa Thoroughbred gelding, 'Goldrossa' during the showjumping phase of the CCI1*.