Marcus Graduates at London Olympics
| Marcus Graduates at London Olympics - 18th Jul 2012 | |
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| Marcus Graduates at London Olympics James Paterson-Robinson Equestrian team member, Third Marcus Oldham graduate to ride at Olympic Games! (Horse Business Management 1999) Currently based at Ger Poels Horses stables in The Netherlands, James 33, established himself as a very successful junior rider, having made his international debut at the Young Rider Challenge tournament in India in 1998. Two years later, at the age of 21, James moved from his hometown near Geelong, Victoria, where he was based at Barwon Heads Pony Club, to pursue his riding career in Europe. In 2001 and 2003, James won the five-year-old division of the FEI World Breeding Young Horse Jumping Championships, and many notable wins followed. James and 11 -year-old black stallion, Niack de l'Abbaye, had many successes in 2010, having won the CSI4* Geesteren (NED) Grand Prix; finishing in second place at both the CSIO3*-NC Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT) and the CSIO4*-NC Lummen (BEL); and placed 13th at the CSI5* San Patrignano (ITA) Grand Prix. In May this year, as the Olympic season drew closer, James produced a wonderful tied win aboard 1 1 -year-old gelding, Um Diabo, at the CSIO4* Champion of Linz Grand Prix. The first weekend of June 2012 was a great success for James and his 13-year-old gelding, Lanosso, who clocked the fastest time at the CSI4* Bourg-en-Bresse (FRA) Grand Prix, and was rewarded with automatic selection for the London Olympic Games. "I was a little bit nervous because it was a difficult course and there weren't too many clear rounds," James said. "But the incentive to jump well for the Olympics was stronger than the nerves." Olympian Imtiaz Anees HBM 1995 rode for India at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and Tim Amitrano HBM 1998 represented Australia at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Sally Francis - Chef d'equipe for the Para-Equestrian team at London Paralympics (Horse Business Management 1982) Sally's rewarding national and international career with Riding for the Disabled has given her opportunities well beyond her expectations as a new graduate of Marcus Oldham in 1982. This year Sally is accompanying the Australian Para-Equestrian Team of four riders to the Paralympics in London. Such responsibility and achievement is not new to Sally. She was Chef d'equipe for the Para-Equestrian Team in 1996 at the Paralympics in Atlanta USA, and in 2010 at the World Equestrian Games at Kentucky USA. Sally also held the position of Assistant Coach at the Paralympics 2008 in Beijing, China, and at the Sydney Paralympics 2000, she was National Technical Official. Sally's love of people and horses and being able to achieve wonderful results in a team environment is very special to her. This is evident in her successful equestrian business at Tooradin Estate Victora as an EA level 1 Coach. Michelle Robson - Groom for Shane Rose, Equestrian team member (Horse Business Management 2003) Winner of the inaugural InternationalBest Groom Award in 2009, Michelle is travelling to London with Olympian, Shane Rose of Bimbadeen Park NSW. Michelle has worked with Shane for several years caring for his competition horses and also working with young racehorses, and has travelled extensively internationally and nationally as his groom. Shane annually conducts clinics at Marcus Oldham and is well known to Horse Business Management graduates. While Shane and Michelle are in London, Marcus graduates Rachel Watts HBM 05 and Will Forrester HBM 1 1 are doing their part towards Shane's bid at the Olympics, for as employees of Shane's they will be caring for the horses and property back home at Bimbadeen Park. | |
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