An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Langwarrin Pony Club Horse Trials 2020 - find out more here
Langwarrin Pony Club Horse Trials could not have been any luckier with the weather.
The event, which took place on Sunday 2nd February (providing the perfect palindrome day, when the date - in this case 02/02/2020 - reads the same way back to front) had been preceded by a scorching day of 43 degrees on Friday and some heavy rain on Saturday but Sunday proved perfect for eventing with cool, mainly overcast conditions
Lyn Shand and A Few Too Many take a paddle before jumping in
Just over 100 riders competed at Pony Club and Open Grades 3 – 5 and for most it was their first outing of the season. Some of the higher level competitors chose to use the lovely water jump, beautifully decorated with wild flowers and spooky plastic herons as a good chance to gently get their horse’s feet wet and have a paddle first, others happily launched in and some needed a bit of reassurance by following a ‘friend’ through
17-year-old Sarah Boatwood, who rides for Pakenham Pony Club, won the Grade 3 Pony Club class on board TSM Supreme, an eight-year-old off the track gelding from Tasmania that Sarah has been riding for just over a year. The 80cm class is relatively easy for Sarah who competes at 2* level with her more experienced horse Edenvale Joshua but she was very happy with how TSM Supreme (soon to be renamed Tayser Supreme) handled the competition
“I was really pleased with the dressage” said Sarah “It was the best work he’s done so far. He was very obedient and relaxed in that phase on Sunday and he’s always shown scope and talent in the jumping”
Sarah Boatwood and TSM Supreme (above) and Alisha Mizzi on Maguires Millions (below)
TSM Supreme will now head to Tonimbuk International in March and he will be joined by his full brother, Tayser Style.
“The people we got Jerry (TSM Supreme) were very pleased with how we’ve been going so they contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in his brother. He arrived recently and he will be going to Tonimbuk too for an outing”
Sarah and TSM Supreme were in equal second place after the dressage on a score of 29 and they added nothing to that in the show jumping and cross country phases to finish ahead of Alisha Mizzi on Maguires Millions (32) and Ayla Hand riding Diverbrook Casino’s Girl (40)
The Pony Club Grade 4 was won by Lil Dean on Little G Radiant Glo, but it was a close battle with second placed Hannah Bonella on Mickey (last year’s winner) and third placed Sara Leitch on BPS I’m Obsessed, who all finished on a score of 27. Sara was in second place after the dressage but rolled a pole in the show jumping while Lil and Hannah finished on their dressage scores and Lil taking the overall win.
This Grade had quite a tricky little bank corner to negotiate which Hannah and Mickey jumped beautifully (below)
Leyla Crowhurst and Ollie in the show jumping
The Pony Club Grade 5 featured some absolutely cracking little ponies that just melted your heart.
Third placed Ollie ridden by Leyla Crowhurst was one of those (although Leyla admitted that Ollie could get a little strong) but it was Lucy Barker riding Mr B Cool who took the win on their impressive score dressage score of 8.0, ahead of Thomas Harrison on Brampton Infinity (13.5)
The Open Grade 3 saw some larger horses taking to the course and it another off the track thoroughbred, Michelle Pap’s Aruriteson (as in Areyourightson?) that took the win on their leading dressage score of 31, well ahead of second placed Emily Glass and All Dolled Up (43) and Penny Dunster on Tolstoy, who were second after the dressage but picked up penalties in the show jumping
Michelle works with racehorses for a living and admits to having a passion for off the track horses
“I have been riding since I was four and I got my first OTT thoroughbred at 13 and have always had them since. They are the most versatile horses and I love them”
Aruriteson (Charlie) raced until he was nine years old, with 93 starts to his credit and many over those over jumps, then came to Michelle in July last year
“He hasn’t been an easy horse to deal with as he can’t be left alone on competition days or his anxiety goes through the roof and our first few competitions reflected that. So now he has to be permanently babysat which makes the days long and tiring and I am extremely grateful for my family/friends support crew who come along and help”
“However, since we figured that out, the last few events have been good and we have done well. We came second at Mentone Horse Trials at the end of last year and won at CDPC supercross and Langwarrin this year”
“Charlie is my eventer as he is really bold but can also put a nice dressage test together when he is in the right headspace. My other OTT (Rock Wizard) who I have had for two years is a wonderful dressage and Combined Training horse but is completely the opposite to Charlie personality-wise. He lacks the boldness for cross country so that is why I went on the look-out for Charlie as I love eventing”
Tamara Caspersz and Miss Bailey had a great run around the Grade 4 Open cross country to win this class on their dressage score of 27, holding off Alexandra Greenhill riding WG Goldilocks who was in second place all the way (28) , also with clear cross country and show jumping rounds and Erin Dunne riding Chevaux in third (34)
Alexandra Greenhill and WG Goldilocks
Mention must go to Darcy Closey in the Grade 5 Open who produced the lowest dressage score of the day with a 5.5 riding Pride but a few wobbles on cross country dropped them down the leader board while Samantha Comerford riding Terra Mia Donbriar moved up from third after the dressage to take the win.
Samantha added nothing to her first phase score of 10, finishing just in the double digits ahead of Sarah McInnes riding the unusually named Baz The Spaz (12) and Jade Dickinson on Storm Trooper in third (21)
