Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at the
Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event - find out more here
The Heritage Grandstand overlooking the Main Arena of the Mitsubishi Motors Australian International 3 Day Event is the perfect place to sit in the shade and watch the riders return home ‘flying’ the final Qantas fence. But today the spectators at this viewing spot had a long wait for the first rider to complete the CCI4* cross country and even longer to wait for one without jumping penalties
Of the first four combinations, three retired on course and one was eliminated; two of these were experienced competitors Donna Edwards-Smith and Stuart Tinney. Donna’s first horse DSE Cluny screwed over Fence 9B, almost unseating Donna but as soon as she regained her composure, it became clear to her that DSE Cluny was badly lame behind and she quickly hopped off. News from Donna’s connections are that Cluny’s condition is improving so hopefully it is nothing too serious
The Bates Saddles Advanta Corners (9ABC) were very influential with 11 combinations having problems here. Stuart Tinney’s two run outs on War Hawk occurred here at 9C, resulting in Stuart opting to walk home, and the corners also caused some ups and downs on the leader board later in the day
Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino
Another very experienced competitor, Western Australia’s Sonja Johnson looked as if she would be the first rider home without jumping penalties but a bad decision on Sonja’s part (her words!) meant that her young horse Misty Isle Valentino picked up 20 penalties for crossing her tracks at Fence 20, Stag Corner, another influential combination. Despite that, they were still the first combination to make it through the finish flags and were initially in second place on a score of 67.80, having added 20 jumping penalties and 16.8 time penalties
Originally, at the end of the afternoon it was Western Australian in first and second placings but all scores were provisional with penalties being reviewed by the Ground Jury, giving a sense of déjà vu after similar occurrences last year.
Emily Gray and Jocular Vision
At the time of the Press Conference, the only combination to finish the course without jumping penalties and with the fastest time of the day was Emily Gray on Jocular Vision, at that time in the lead with a score of 67.30, moving her from last after dressage into first place. Emily had an uncomfortable ride in the dressage arena yesterday but she was expecting it; sadly Jocular Vision reacts badly to this particular arena but Emily refuses to give up and she was rewarded for it today
New Zealand’s Jessica Woods was at that point in third place on board the bouncy little mare Just De Manzana with a score of 72.70, having picked up 20 penalties at Stag Corner, Fence 20. New Zealand was also in fourth and sixth places with Hayley Frielick on Class Action LP on 81.30 and Amanda Pottinger riding Just Kidding on 97.20.
Amanda looked to be having a marvellous ride, showing real determination at Fence 9ABC and adding just 12.4 time penalties for the second fastest ride of the day but they were initially deemed to have missed the C element of this fence and incurred 50 penalties.
But STOP PRESS! Suddenly, after penalties were reviewed, 4* first timer Amanda shot into the lead with the removal of the 50 penalties, leaving her on a score of 47.2 ahead of another rider initially given 50 penalties, Hazel Shannon, now in second place on 51.50
Hazel Shannon and Willinga Park Clifford at Fence 9B
“I can’t believe it” said Hazel as her horse Willinga Park Clifford was being cooled down and Hazel checked her phone for results to discover 50 penalties against her name. This happened to Hazel last year and the penalties were not removed but this year the 50-penalty gods were on her side and she goes into the show jumping 4.3 penalties behind Amanda
This now leaves Emily Gray in third and Sonja in fourth with a lot of breathing room – over 15 penalties - between the first two and third/fourth while Jess Woods, who was in third, has slipped down to 10th with her original 20 penalties becoming a 50.
Hayley Frielick is now in fifth and in sixth place is Gemma Tinney, another 4* first-timer who almost had a dream run but picked up 20 penalties late in the course. She was still smiling when she came through the finish though (as were her parents)
Gemma Tinney and Annapurna
The overnight leader Katie Taliana was one of the eight eliminated riders due to a fall at the Ditch and Brush but will no doubt be back again next year, having had a taste of leading the dressage! Emma Mason, in second place after the dressage, also dropped out of contention with run outs but she did complete the cross country, which was always her main aim on the 4* first timer CP Issey Miyake
It was certainly an eventful cross country day in Adelaide and, although there were many problems, they were problems that the riders can go away and work on to become better and stronger in the future, says Sonja Johnson
