The PreNovice riders look very relaxed around the show jumping arena - must be the extra hour!
I love daylight saving, as long as it is going in the right direction, if you know what I mean. An extra hour in bed makes the day more leisurely and the whole day at Yeringberg seemed very relaxed.
Wheee!! Now that's how to jump a ditch as this competitor in Pony Club Level 2 shows
Set in the wine growing area of the Yarra Valley (indeed one of Australia’s most famous vineyards Yarra Yering is a stone’s throw away), Yeringberg hosts EA classes from EvA 80 to CNC 1*as well as Pony Club Grade 1, 2 and 3. The Ewan Kellett cross country course was first built for the Pony Club State Championships in 2008 but has been developed since then to incorporate fences for the EA classes, many of them under maximum height, so is a good course for young horses and riders looking to have a confidence building round.
Sinead Conlon and Ruby Alla show great style in the EvA80 (Intro 1)
Plenty of those were in evidence on Sunday with riders such as Well Enzinger bringing a few young ones here rather than heading to Albury with his top horses. He was rewarded with a win in the EvA95 (Prelim 1) riding BB Boom finishing on his dressage score of 26.60 while Lucinda James and Platinum Cruise (below) won the EvA95 (Prelim 2), again on their dressage score of 30.7. Will took the honours again in the EvA80 (Intro 2) riding BMS Armada while Paula Balchin and Don Oscardo won the EvA80 (Intro1)
The Enzinger/Anker team had a good day with their groom Emily McQueen winning the CNC 1* on King’s Sun and Emily Anker having a second and third in the EvA105 (PN), won by Nina Clarke and LP Boudin (would love to know the origin of this name as I can’t believe that Nina has named her lovely horse after the French word for black pudding)
Naomi White and Meanwhile in Burma in the PreNovice showjumping
There was plenty of encouragement through the water jump for the greener horses at the lower levels. Some riders were obviously keen to get their horses through and used exhortations to help followed by lavish praise (maybe relief?) and there was plenty of support on the sidelines from family and supporters enjoying a day out in the autumn sun. Training and encouragement is what these events are about and it’s really nice to sit and watch lower levels for a change, especially as so many seem to relish the fun of cross country.
Mark and HP Chocolat have a paddle first at the water
Although many of the horses may have been green, some of the riders were not. Mark Griffiths (brother of London 2012 Australian team member, Sam) gave a masterclass on introducing a young horse to water with his mare HP Chocolat. We caught up with Mark earlier in the day and had a chat to him – we’ll have that interview sometime soon.
Another less experienced rider told me as she was heading into the Starter Box that her last outing had been a bit of a disaster with her horse deciding half way around to just stop and buck her off! The starter and I cheered her off and I'm glad to report that Erin Phillips and Belmak Painted Lady (above and below) did complete this time - well done!
.............. and safely over the first!
CLICK HERE for full results from Yeringberg
Coming up – photo gallery, interviews and famous racing horses at Yeringberg
