Hazel and Clifford are in great form
A year after winning the Baxter Boots CIC3* at Lynton, Hazel Shannon riding Clifford, put in a repeat performance at this year's event. Now, like last year, Hazel will head to the Australian International 3 Day Event in a few weeks time knowing that all is on track for the great 4* event.
Clifford comes across as such a laid back horse who fails to see what all the fuss is all about as winners' rugs are put on him and the crowd cheer. Just as well that he is a pretty cool dude because he had to cope with an interesting and somewhat stressful start to the Lynton weekend as Hazel explained to us.
Hazel Shannon
Dressage day at Lynton arrived as a chilly and overcast day – but no snow so that’s always a bonus at this popular event which is held on Alan Cardy’s beautiful property, just over two hours south of Sydney.
Katie Talina and Trevalgar II jumps through the road crossing Photo courtesy Jess Kennedy
Dressage leader in the CIC3* was Katie Taliana riding Trevalgar II with whom she had won the CIC3* at Sydney earlier this year. The judge at E, Prue Spurrett, was in no doubt that Katie’s test was the best of the day while New Zealand Judge, Helen Christie, preferred Hazel’s test but never the less the two scores combined gave Katie a good score of 42.5.
“We have seen some fantastic horses here this weekend,” said Prue, who has spent much of her year travelling around Australia and overseas judging.
“Our standard of dressage here in Australia is improving all the time and now riders need to look towards turning those eights that we are giving them into nines and tens. There are little mistakes happening in the test, not major ones, and the challenge now for the riders us is to step up even further and get those big marks.”
Megan Jones had once again made the trip from SA to NSW with Kirby Park Impress in the CIC3* and Kirby Park Invader in the CIC2*. Both horses were lying second in their respective classes on dressage day but Megan chose to withdraw Impress from the event prior to cross country. However Invader sent on to go clear cross country but three rails in the show jumping phase dropped them back to finish fifth in the Willinga Park sponsored CIC2*.
Amanda Ross, like Megan, had travelled from Interstate to Lynton but admitted she doesn’t make the long trek these days unless she has high level horses.
“I think it’s good to come to NSW once you have horses at a certain level because you can then test yourself against the top riders in NSW. I think that’s a really important thing to do – you need to know where you stand against the best in Australia.”
You can hear what Amanda had to say about her Lynton horses, Koko Popping Candy and Don Diablo below.
The show jumping for the CIC3* took place on Sunday morning when the day was still overcast but at least a little warmer. Thankfully the sun did make an appearance later in the day – albeit not for long! Bradley Longhurst’s show jumping track caused enough minor problems with only eight of the 34 starters managing clear rounds. One of these was Hazel Shannon who moved ahead of Katie when Trevalgar II took a rail down.
Neil Kennedy’s cross country course is seen in the eventing world in Australia as one that all the riders want to ride around and this year was no different, with good entries in all classes. Despite the lack of rain that had fallen in the Goulburn area in the months leading up to the event the committee, headed by Neil and his wife Geordie, had done all they could to improve the going.
“We were able to borrow the Aerovator thanks to Alex and Derek from Wallaby Hill which was a big help and I think the going isn’t too bad considering,” said Neil. “I haven’t heard the riders complaining so that’s got to be good.”
The course provided riders with it’s usual big and bold track, “I don’t like skinny timber,” said Neil, and there were enough new fences and repositioning of older fences to give the course a good flow.
“This course might not be as technical as some,” said TD Hunter Doughty “But it is always very open and galloping. It’s a classical course and should give the riders a good confidence building round if they are heading on to Adelaide.” However those riders who didn’t make it round the CIC3* at Lynton may now be re-thinking their end of year plans.
But there were no problems for Hazel and Clifford as they bowled around the course to finish five seconds under the optimum time of seven minutes. This sealed the win for Hazel who will now be hoping to continue her repeat performances at Adelaide.
Katie Taliana, along with Kate Burheim riding Equinox, were the only other 3* riders to make the optimum time. Katie held onto her second place while Kate moved up from 30th after dressage to finish 9th. Yona Lloyd also made a good move up the leaderboard after picking up just 6.4 time penalties on cross country to finish third on board Seargent Crisp.
An unfortunate incident occurred in the CIC3* when Murray Lamperd’s Toronto left a leg at the first water complex, depositing Murray and then bolting back towards the truck park. On the way Toronto collided with a couple of stationary cars and was treated immediately by the treating vet for several lacerations. We understand Toronto was able to make the journey home later in the day and we wish him well in his recovery.
Andrew Cooper and Darwin Park Echo - on their way to winning the CIC2* Photo courtesy Jess Kennedy
Andrew Cooper riding Darwin Park Echo won the Willinga Park CIC2* in great style nearly seven marks ahead of second placed Mattea Davidson and Kinnordy Gwendolyn. The results was made even better by Andrew also taking home the third rosette for his performance with Buchannan, who was only have his second 2* start.
In the Coprice CIC* Jack Hayden was very happy to have won the class riding Monte Argo, a horse he has only had in his yard for the past few weeks. We spoke to Jack to discover that if things go to plan this lovely little grey horse will be heading off to a new home quite soon.
Jack Hayden and Monte Argo Photo courtesy Jess Kennedy
Lynton ran two sections of National classes with three sections of EvA105 and four sections of EvA95. Sam Lyle came close to winning his own sponsored class (Fox Hill Farm) riding Wendy Manning’s Tinsletown but a rail down in the show jumping saw his slip back to second place giving the win in the EvA105 to Phillip Pollen riding the homebred Highland Beat.
Amy Brydon led her section of the EvA 105, sponsored by Bucas Rugs, from start to finish, adding just one rail and 0.4 time penalties from cross country to her dressage score of 37.2. Amy was one of only two riders to produce a sub 40’s test, the other being Elaine Robl who finished in overall fifth place with Lucky Desicion.
Amy’s horse Heistmaster (an OTTT otherwise known as Walter) had competed at Lynton last year in his first 105 class and will now be aimed at the one star at Sydney in November. “Walter just keeps trying his little heart out for me,” said Amy. “We had a couple of sticky moments on cross country but he just get on jumping.”
We spoke briefly to a very happy Georgia Tivendale as she walked back from her cross country round. “Annabella was really good on cross country,” Georgia told us “She’s been really good all weekend and I think I might win.” And win she did – taking home the winners rug in the Jim Hindmarsh & Sons junior section of the 105.
Georgia produced a cracking dressage test that many more experienced riders would have been proud of. Scoring 39.3 the pair added nothing to that to finish the event nearly ten marks ahead of joint second placed riders, Zoe Hutchinson and Oliver Barrett.
A very happy Georgia Tivendale sees to Annabella after a great cross country round
Having come close to a win in the EvA 105 Sam Lyle did manage to take home a winners rug thanks to his performance in the Gavin Rowley Building EvA95, riding SR Morpheus. Sam moved up from third after dressage after a clear cross country round and a beautiful clear show jumping round.
Sadly we didn’t get the chance to speak to Amy Roberts who won the Rocky Hill Sand & Soil EvA 95 because she would have had quite a story to tell. It appears Amy’s stirrup broke during cross country and she must have had to use a lot of will power along with a strong lower leg position to finish the course! Amy led her class from start to finish adding just 6 time penalties from cross country to her dressage score of 39.3.
The final senior section of the EvA95 was won by Robert Palm, riding Halcyons Total Joy. Robert finished ahead of Jim Walshe and Montebelle who had led the dressage phase.
“I’m still pretty happy with how the weekend has gone,” Jim, who is Chief Steward of South East Racing NSW, told us. “It’s such a pleasure to come to Lynton. I actually come here on occasion with my Chief Steward's hat on and I am always in awe of this picturesque property.”
There were nine riders in the Goulpro Power Pumps ‘N’ Sheds junior section of the EvA105 but it was the dressage leader who took home the top price for her performance with Moonwind Park Philadelphia. Despite taking a rail down Natalie held her nerve, went clear and under time cross country and finished just ahead of second placed Madalyn Woods.
Neil Kennedy wrapped up the weekends event by saying “I think it’s all gone pretty well. Out on cross country the new fences we had built didn’t cause any problems while some of the old fences did but generally that was only in the lower levels. Our entry numbers were good again with 36 starters in the CIC3* and we saw several interstate riders competing her to we must be doing something right!”
