An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on the cross country at the Australian International 3DE - find out more here
At just 16 years of age, Bessie Dimery is one of the youngest competitors to be heading to Adelaide in November to be part of the Australian International 3 Day Event. Bessie will be competing in the CCI2* on her 13 year old warmblood/thoroughbred cross Ruban Son who she has been competing for the past two years with results good enough to see them compete alongside some of Australia’s top names (see Entry List here)
In June 2016 Bessie and Ruban Son competed at their first CCI2* at Melbourne international 3 Day Event, finishing 19th overall and the second highest placed Young Rider, helping them gain a place on the Australian National Youth squad for 2016-17 but, since bringing Ruban Son back into work after the winter break, it hasn’t been easy preparing for the big event in Adelaide. Competitions in Victoria, where Bessie is based, have been badly affected in recent months with one of the wettest periods experienced in the past 100 years.
“It has been a real struggle for Victorian riders to get their horses fit” says Bessie “So we had to make the eight hour trip north to compete in Canberra Horse Trials and Lynton Goulburn Horse Trials for our last two competitions. But it was worth it - we finished 9th out of 46 starters at Goulburn and pulled off our first clear show jumping round at CIC2* level!”
Bessie says that, like most young riders, she couldn’t have done any of this without the help of her parents, Alison and Jeff. They will of course be supporting her in Adelaide but they may have a little business to attend to during the famous Melbourne Cup Carnival first
“Mum was going to travel with me to Adelaide but it is possible that our racehorse De Little Engine may be competing in the Melbourne Cup on the Tuesday. If that happens, I will travel over to Adelaide with my trainer Will Enzinger and his wife Emily Anker and mum will fly over on Wednesday in time for the trot up”
"The dressage is slowly getting there" says Bessie
Even when she gets to Adelaide, Bessie also has some things to do before she can focus on her riding. A Year 11 student at Braemar College, Bessie is taking two Year 12 subjects early and will be sitting exams on the Tuesday and Wednesday after arriving in Adelaide on the Monday
“The Aus3DE Director Gill Rolton has helped me get an exemption to sit my two exams in Adelaide rather than in Victoria so that I can compete at the event” says Bessie, who clearly can juggle many balls in the air
“I’ll sit one exam on Tuesday then the second one is on Wednesday morning so I’ll be back at the event in time for the first horse inspection!”
And what is she expecting of her Australian International 3 Day Event?
“In 2015 we competed in our first Melbourne International 3DE in the CCI1* Junior class and, even though we didn't place I had a successful weekend, that's when the goal of competing at the 2016 Australian International 3 Day Event started. After a lot of work I can finally feel every phase coming together so hopefully we can do a good job!”
Ruban Son may be by the famous Australian dressage stallion, Regardez Moi but the dressage is a bit of a trial for him, simply because he gets so excited about starting a competition
“He gets very hot at the start of the competition – he loves eventing and just wants to get out on cross country – so it has been a struggle to get the quiet relaxed test judges are looking for. But the dressage is slowly getting there with the help of my dressage coach Charlotte Pederson and Will Enzinger (who used to ride Ruban Son) has planned lots of arena familiarisation time for us. Hopefully that will work”
It’s going to be a busy time for Bessie during the first week of November but we’re sure that she will have a great time at her first Australian International 3 Day Event - keep an eye out for those hot pink colours!
