Post by pudding on Jul 25, 2012 5:44:18 GMT -4
Riders lose their appeal against "northern hemisphere bias"
Australian eventing was in turmoil last week after an appeal against the country's named Olympic team was dismissed. the appeal was lodged on 22 June, two days after the team of Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), Christopher Burton (HP Leilani), Clayton Fredericks (Bendigo), Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish) and Shane Rose (Taurus) was announced. All but one of the riders - Shane Rose - are based in the UK and while Equestrian Australia has refused to divulge the details, the appeal is understood to be about a bias towards eventers who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Christine Bates, a member of the elite squad who had been hoping for London selection, said "Riders may feel it is necessary to base themselves in the UK to get selected on the team which is not something I want to do. And if our top riders go overseas what would that do to the standard here in Australia?" On Friday 29 June the appeal was dismissed by an independent tribunal.A source in Australia has told Eventing that three riders based in the Southern Hemisphere had appealed. But Clayton Fredericks pointed out that Australia's 2008 Olympic team consisted of two UK-based riders and three from down under. "This isn't just happening in eventing" he said. "Athletes from other sports are basing themselves overseas where the biggest and best competitions are - you can't change the situation. If the money was in the sport to fly horses around the world I wouldn't be based in the UK".