BEST IN OZ
Lawrence makes national team for carriage driving

30 January 2010

NICK BROWN

TARRINGTON has produced the country’s number one carriage driving team, with driver Elizabeth Lawrence and her horse Sheppard Hill Michael heading to the world championships in Rome in August.

While this is the second time the elated Lawrence has worn the green and gold representing her country, her latest effort has climbed to the top of her list of career achievements.

“This is definitely one of the biggest moments in my career, to make the Australian team in any sport is a huge achievement. But our sport’s a little off the beaten track I guess,” Lawrence said.

“It’s exciting, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it’s amazing to get into the Australian team. It’s a big moment in my career.”

After finding out Australia was holding an international qualifier, Lawrence looked into the irregular event, and after some hesitation the 33-year-old entered.

Lawrence and her beloved horse Michael, endured the long trip to the country’s capital, and with the result they brought home, the trip was well worth it.

The Australian driver had some moments of doubt on just if her six-year-old horse was up to it, but she now knows he always was.

“We do what’s called combined driving, which is an international sport. We do a three stage event, so we do dressage, cones and a marathon which is a test of endurance,” she said.

“The horse I used was actually Michael who scored 41 which is actually in the top five in the world, which is amazing for a young six-year-old horse.

“To qualify that well and to now be in the top five is pretty exciting. So we have now made the Australian team, and have qualified in the top spot.

“Michelle Jones is my teammate and she’s qualified in second position, but she’s the one that was keen and said I should enter, but I didn’t think Michael was ready but obviously he was,” she laughed.

Admitting it wasn’t an event she had been working towards, Lawrence is quietly confident that she will hold her own at the event, despite not having the other half of her team there, Michael.

For Lawrence to fly Australia’s number one horse to Rome, she would have to fork out $15,000, which she said was manageable.

It’s the scary thought of having to pay a mammoth $55,000 to bring Michael back home.

“It wasn’t actually a main aim, it just became apparent that Australia decided to hold a world qualifier,” she said.

“If I had my own horse I’d be pretty confident, but when you’re hiring a horse I think you’re always behind the eight ball a little bit, and I have to because I just can’t afford the money that’s needed,” she said.

But Lawrence isn’t writing off a win in Italy, as despite what horse she is driving, she knows what the winning traits are as a driver.

Winning and gaining experience will be two of her biggest aims in Rome, though she revealed a bigger aim that could lead to big things for ‘Team Tarrington’.

“One of the aims for this event is to get 18 countries there, so we can make it an Olympic event,” she said.

“No fear’s a good one, because the horse is so big. You need to have a good feeling in your hands because riders have their legs as well, but all I have is my hands as we don’t sit on the horse.”