Sam Lyle and Cushavon Crackerjack at Sydney 2017
There is not a lot of eventing happening in Australia at this time of year but the team at Quirindi manage to put on an event when the rest of Australia is on the ski slopes or hiding in front of the fire!
Quirindi is about four hours north of Sydney and, although the days can be lovely at this time of year, it can also be jolly chilly – it even snowed when we visited in 2015! But the organising committee provide a unique opportunity at this time of year for Aussie eventers to experience an international long format event which took place from July 7th-9th
All classes, including the national level CCN60, CCN80, CCN95, CCN105 classes are run as long format along with the CCI1* and CCI2*, giving everyone at all levels a great chance to experience the long format competition with the full treatment - trot ups, vet inspections and longer cross country distances.
So who were the CCI long format champions at Quirindi this year?
Sam Lyle, who we last spoke to as the coach for the Australian team at Melbourne International 3 Day Event, was back in the saddle himself and won the CCI2* on Kirsty Douglas’ gorgeous Cushavon Crackerjack. We fell in love with this horse at the Australian International 3 Day Event in 2015 when he won the CCI2* ridden by his owner Kirsty Douglas (if you haven’t heard the story of this one –eyed wonder horse, watch our interview with Kirsty here)
Sam has been riding Cushavon Crackerjack since early in the season and they finished fifth in the CIC2* at Sydney and second in the CIC2* at Berrima, now followed by a win at Quirindi. This could be a pair to watch for the rest of this year ..........
Sappho Ransan-Elliott and her eight year old mare SR Penhaligon took the CCI1*, finishing on their dressage score of 47 and adding to their really consistent year so far
