The new Harcourts Splash water complex overlooks the Start area, warm up and much of the course
In 2014 the future of the Tonimbuk Horse Trials looked bleak when Hanson Quarry purchased the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, home to the popular Victorian horse trials that traditionally kicked off each Australian eventing season with the first international level event of the year.
The event was put on hold whilst negotiations over the lease took place in 2014 but it was back on the calendar in 2015 with a new committee and new course designer. Ewan Kellett took over from Wayne Copping as the cross country course designer and, although some changes had to be planned for future cross country courses, Hanson Quarry has wholeheartedly supported the event ever since.
“We’re so lucky to have their support” says Kate Wallis, President of the Tonimbuk Horse Trials committee “Yesterday they asked me to prepare a wish list for next year – how often does an event get a chance like that?” (As Kate was struggling to make the PA system work for the cross country commentary when she told me this, I have a feeling that may be on top of the list ...)
Last year the major change was the re-location of the Start and Finish to make it more spectator friendly, provide better warm-up areas and also to fit in with the long term requirements of a future access road for the Quarry. All courses now start near the arenas and then head up into the bushland before coming back into the flatter open bowl area and finishing towards the stables. This year some more changes were made in other areas as part of the three year course update plan and Mick Pineo has joined the team, designing the 80cm to CIC1* courses
The CIC tracks now make use of a new loop in an area not previously used beyond the old sheds; for the CIC2* and 3* these include a beautifully built new ditch/brush fence and some bush oxers that fit in well with the environment. In the video below CIC3* winner Megan Jones and Amanda Ross, competing in the CIC2*, show how well the new ditch/brush fences rode
The unique feature of this cross country track is that it winds through a heavily timbered bush area before opening out to the open bowl near the indoor arenas; this element of the bush track makes it a difficult course for riders to make the time and also provides some little surprises for the course builders.
As Ewan was making some minor adjustments at the new CIC3* Fence 4 a few days before the event a large tree suddenly fell smack between the two elements; it looked perfectly solid but obviously not, narrowly missing Ewan and his mum Andrea who dresses the fences "Luckily I'd just moved from that spot!" said a relieved Andrea
The spikey stump sticking up in the background is all that remains of the tree that fell between the elements of Fence 4
Aside from the concerns of having a tree fall on the course designer, safety of a different sort was a big focus this year, with MIM clips being installed on the two large oxers at Fence 3 and 5 of the CIC2* and CIC3* courses; research has shown that these are the type of fences that produce a higher probability of rotational falls
“It’s great that Kate was able to get the MIM clips organised from Sweden” says Ewan “It means that I can incorporate the sort of fences at the level of difficulty suitable for these courses without compromising safety. The MIM clips also have a slight advantage over the frangible design too that, if need be, we can change the MIM clips faster, reducing any hold time on course”
Molly Barry and Shina Kuma over the CIC2* 5A Bush Oxer
Although the MIM fences attracted lots of attention from the officials with Technical Delegates Roger Kane and Michelle Debenham, Ground Jury member Peter Shaw and Ewan himself keeping a close eye on them, the fences caused few problems for the riders. In fact all three CIC classes had remarkably clean sheets after the cross country with just one rider in the CIC2* picking up 11 penalties for ‘activating a frangible device’
In the video below Andrew Cooper rides the new CIC2* Fence 5AB on Toronto
The other new feature this year was the new Harcourts Splash Water Complex located near the back of the indoor arenas. The new area around the water jump needs some grass cover which no doubt will come in time but the shady trees on the corner already make it a prime viewing spot for spectators who can watch most of the fences in the bowl area and the Start and Finish from here
