Our tip for the top spot in the CCI3* after dressage - Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress
The judges have already been impressed by some of the riders taking part in the Sydney International Horse Trials this week with six riders winning the Noble Outfitters Best Presented Awards
A brother and sister duo starred in the 1* with Rob Palm and Clara Palm taking home the prize packs while in the 2* it was Andrew Cooper and Western Australia’s Kenya Wilson and in the 3* class Madeline Wilson and super smiler Jess Grosmann took the judges’ eye
Rob Palm has four entries in the CIC3* and CCI1*
But who will catch the eye of the judges during the dressage?
The Horseware CCI3* class will be judged by Britain’s legendary Jane Holderness-Roddam, who was busy presenting prizes at Badminton only a few days ago, Carolyn James and Vicky Lymbery and our guess is that Megan Jones on Kirby Park Impress may be on top of the leader board at the end of the first phase. This pair has not been out of the top three at 3* level in their last five starts, winning at Tonimbuk CIC3* in March and third at Equestriad in April
Tim Boland has GV Billy Elliott and Napoleon, two stars of the dressage arenas, in the Equestrian Australia CIC3* who will be hard to beat in the first phase but it is an open field after that with some very strong players including the Adelaide CCI4* combination of Hazel Shannon and Clifford. Dad and daughter Stuart and Gemma Tinney, both recently named on the Australian Oceania squads, are going head to head for the first time at this level and the New Zealand competitor, Ginny Thompson on Star Nouveau, is definitely one to keep an eye on
Andrew Cooper has several rides across the weekend but look out for Doubled Vision, winner at Tonimbuk and Albury, in the CCI1*
While the CCI classes have slightly smaller numbers, the CIC classes at 1* and 2* levels are packed with riders who could make an impression this weekend.
And talking of making an impression, we’re keen to see how the horses all look in the next few days with An Eventful Life sponsoring the Grooms’ Award at Sydney. These amazing people will be busy looking after their four-legged charges in the coming days, looking after not only how they are presented but their very well-being and health. They are the unsung heroes of our sport
Good luck to everyone competing this week and Go The Grooms!
We love Molly Barry's smart jacket ( and La Muso!)
One of the up and coming Junior riders to watch this weekend - Thea Horsley
Queensland's Madeline Wilson and the nine year old I'm Bruce are competing in the CCI3*
Hayley Frielick has the 2015 CCI2* winner here, My Happiness in the CCI3* - sadly her second horse Class Action was not passed at trot-up
