2009 Sydney's Equestrian World Cups

It may look a little awkward, but Kerri Ann-Steinhardt jumped clear in the final phase of the CIC** with her 'Prince Darius' to move from fourth after the cross country to overall second place.

New Zealand rider, Elizabeth Brown made a great leap forward with her 'Henton Attorney General' from 18th after the dressage phase of the CIC** to fourth overall, thanks to just 5.6 time penalties and a double clear in the jumping phase.

The last time Horse Deals caught up with Clarke Johnstone it was in Invercargil, at the very southern tip of New Zealand. Clarke made the trip to SIEC to win the CIC** riding his 'Orient Express'. Seventh after the dressage, Clark posted the best cross country run (just 4.8 time penalties) and a double clear in the jumping phase to win with 61.2 penalties.

Stephanie Bender and 'Gipsy Princess' moved from 20th after the dressage phase to a final seventh place in the CIC**, thanks to a good cross country run and just one rail down in the showjumping phase held in the SIEC indoor arena. Interestingly, Gipsy Princess is out of Stephanie's Three Star Mare, 'La Li Lu 2'.

The addition of ten cross country time penalties and one jumping rail, saw CIC** dressage leaders, Christopher Burton and 'Kolora Stud Secrets' slip to third place with 67 penalties.

Sam Fasher riding 'Valley" placed seventh in the Pre-Novice A on a score of 65.2.

Eleanor Miller and her 'Kaloona Buckingham' are pictured during the Pre Novice B cross country.

Seline Madeleine rode 'Samsara Alchemy' to fourth place in the Pre-Novice A with a score of 60.2.

Danielle Knox and "Roederer" make a nice picture going across country in the Pre-Novice B, where they finished mid field.

Shane Rose rode 'PPP Xia Jiang' to finish in tenth place in the Pre-Novice A. Later in the day Shane rode 'Koko Black" to win the CIC*A on a score of 54.1.

Emma Mason had a good day at the office winning both the Pre-Novice A riding 'Tainui Lad' with a score of 52.4 and Pre-Novice B riding 'Rossolini' (pictured) on her dressage score of 44.4.

Sappho Ransan-Elliott riding 'Bonza Troy' look good as they head to the water in the Pre-Novice B. Unfortunately things did not continue to go so well and they finished at the tail end of the field.

George Sheridan rode 'Woznme' to win the CIC*B on a score of 57.7.

Niki Chapman riding 'Milford Monarch' scored 64.8 to finish in fifth place in the CIC*B.

Craig Barrett rode 'Sandhills Brillaire' to finish the CIC* on his dressage score of 59.1 in fourth place.

Zach Stanton riding 'Sevon Mossimo' finished the CIC*B in third place on a score of 60.1.

Karen Irwin rode 'Newman' to third place in the CIC*A finishing on a score of 58.9.

Katja Weiman rode Vaughan Ellis', 'Tomahawk Tom' to fifth place in the CIC*A, finishing on a score of 60.1. Katja also placed fourth in the CIC*B riding John and Jane Pittard's, Pluto Mio and second in the Pre-Novice B riding BP Flamboyant.

Sharmayne Spencer riding 'Jaybee Star Celebrity' placed second in the CIC*A on a score of 55.9.

Christine Bates rode 'Making News' to finish in tenth place in the CIC*B on a score of 84.3.

Olivia Bunn and 'GV Bullwinkle' make rather a spectacular jump, more befitting the Jumping World Cup rather than the Eventing World Cup. As hard to believe as it looks, Bullwinkle lowered four fences for the addition of 16 penalties, to take sixth place in the CIC/W with 80.4 penalties.

Stuart Tinney jumped a beautiful round aboard the Voltaire gelding, 'Vettori', adding nothing to his post cross country score to take third place in the CIC/W with a final score of 60.2.

Victorian legal eagle, Georgia Clifford rode a super jumping round aboard her 'It's Monty' to hold on to overall second place in the CIC/W with a final score of 59.2.

Again you would be forgiven for thinking this combination was in the Jumping World Cup. Megan Jones and 'Kirby Park Irish Jester' are in a league of their own. Despite cross country time penalties and one jumping rail, the last, they cruised home without even getting in to top gear, by 9.2 penalties, with a final total of 50.

Emily Blinkworth jumped a super four and clear to take third place in the IRT World Cup Qualifier riding her imported mare, 'CP Romantic Dream'. It was the first World Cup Qualifier for this partnership.

Amanda Madigan made up for a eight penalty first round riding 'TP Gifted' by jumping a great second round clear to take fifth place on time. It was the first World Cup Qualifier for the IIU mare by Merzeus.

Wes Joyce's talented 'Irish Ace' has his eyes on the fences to come, even if Wes can't bring himself to look. The popular Victorian traveled up to Sydney for the World Cup weekend and had great success with his Trak gelding 'LH Warsaw', placing in both 1.30m classes.

Jono Berry made a good impression in his first World Cup Qualifier riding the Winning's imported Quick Star stallion, 'Yandoo Quincy Z'. Quincy pulled a shoe in the first round, which may account for his 16 penalties, but re booted he came in and jumped a stylish clear second round.

As usual 'Ashleigh Drossel Dan' is keeping his eye on the fences to come. Laurie Lever is making quite an effort to stay with the scopy and big jumping gelding. An uncharacteristic four penalties in the first round, just breathing on the back rail of the oxer going in to the treble followed by a perfect second round, saw the Olympic Team members finish in second place on time.

"Vintage Vivant". Chris Chugg demonstrated the benefit of beautiful training and super jumping, as he and the Australian Sporthorse Breeders' 'Vivant' posted two easy clear rounds to win the IRT World Cup Qualifier unchallenged.