Mike Dagostino and Kendlestone Park Jive Photo courtesy WayLib Photos
Last weekend saw the 2019 Pryde’s EasiFeed Alcoa International Horse Trials again take place on the Alcoa farmlands at the back of Fairbridge Village in Pinjarra. The event is renowned for being one of the West Australian riders favourite events and this year was no different with over 300 horses entered the event, which was the largest numbers for an event that runs EvA80 to 4* in Western Australia (WA) this year.
The event is one of WA’s premier FEI events and serves as an important lead up for many riders to the Australian Three Day Event in November. The event also saw over 210 horses start in the three lowest grades making it clear that it is an important event on non-FEI riders’ calendars too
The Organising Committee recognises and values the contribution of all riders but especially their lower level riders as they understand that you can run an event of this scale without all the riders, not just the top-level riders. With the backing of some very generous sponsors, the Committee introduced three new classes which were very well supported by the riders
The Off the Track WA sponsored an EvA95 class was made up entirely of off the track horses! There were 34 starters in the class and at one stage, there was well over 40 entries, which far outshone the entries in the usual EvA95 class. Thank you to Off the Track WA for supporting this initiative.
The Off the Track WA EvA95 winner Ruth Ellis and Heart on a String Photo courtesy WayLib Photos
EquineWorld sponsored an Amateur EvA80 class which was the largest class of the weekend (close to 40 starters). This class had to close early as it was at 45 entries, showing just how popular the concept was with riders.
This class was introduced to support and encourage those avid event riders who love the sport, love their horses and enjoy spending the weekend with good friends. They may be hard core eventers who enter every eventing start for the year, or they may be returning to the sport after having children or they could even be first time eventers. Either way, they are incredibly important and valued.
For the first time, a Combined Training 60cm class was offered, which was kindly sponsored by Ambrose Estate. This class had 30 entries. The class was introduced given the popularity of the event with lower level riders who didn’t feel their horses were ready for an EvA80 class but desperately wanted to ride at the event.
The event is held at a world class venue in the most picturesque setting, located atop of a hill, which during spring is covered by dandelions. Olympian and CCI4*-S competitor Sonja Johnson said perfectly, “I have been fortunate enough in my life to compete at some fabulous venues around the world, there may be no stately home here but Alcoa’s farmlands, home to the Pryde’s EasiFeed Alcoa CCI-S, is right up there as one of my favourite venues”
What makes the event so special, is that the organizing committee are all riders themselves and are focused on making the event “for the riders”. Kate Ingham, event director and team leader, emphasized how the events really are a team effort and is so thankful for how cohesively and wonderfully the whole Committee works together. It also takes a team of great sponsors to make the event possible and the riders and committee members are so grateful for all the sponsors support, and warmly welcomed Pryde’s EasiFeed coming on as a new naming sponsor this year.
Something that the average person may not know is that this venue is infamous for turning even the quietest of event horses into something unrecognizable … worthy of an exorcism. The speculation grows every year as to why. Suggestions include “It’s the spring grass,” or “It’s doing dressage on top of the hill near the cross country!” they even go as far as “It’s the haunted farm village!”
If you are lucky enough to have a horse that is not affected by this, then thank your lucky stars.
Emily Gray and Jocular Vision Photo courtesy WayLib Photos
The Mike Caplehorn Memorial CCI4*-S class, sponsored by Broome International Airport, was won by Emily Gray for the third time on board her seasoned Jocular Vision. Jocular Vision (also known as Pedro) is a 15-year-old WB x TB who has spent the past five years at 4* level and finished 4th in the CCI5* at the 2018 Australian Three Day Event. Kirsten Twining riding Max Almighty finished in 2nd place following great show jumping and cross country runs, Sonja Johnson aboard Tokyo hopeful Misty Isle Valentino finished in 3rd place.
Emily reminisced that whilst Pedro is a jumping machine now, he wasn’t always the cross country machine he is today, with Emily swimming in multiple water jumps at the start of Pedro’s eventing career. Emily’s main challenge is containing Pedro in the dressage, he finds the atmosphere challenging but she stated that this weekend was Emily and Pedro’s best dressage test, she almost teared up towards the end as he was so rideable! Cross country Pedro was a fantastic and Emily challenged him with a couple of lines “I don’t think I could have done it on any other horse, he’s so honest”.
Course designer, Ewan Kellett once again built fantastic, rideable cross country tracks in the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S. The CCI3* was slightly tougher than previous years, with a big first water question after the recent remodel of the water complex. Ewan thought the riders rode it well and the accuracy questions were well picked up by the riders.
The CCI4* track was definitely a step up from previous years. Ewan said “The 4* was a bit of a mixed bag, there was no bogey fence and the faults were pretty well spread around and they were all little glance offs here and there, which I think is a really great result. The riders that picked their lines and were committed had a really great round” Ewan also says that the Alcoa farmlands are a phenomenal venue in Australia and we are so lucky to have it, the terrain and the viewing is unlike many other venues in the world.
The winner of the Perth Radiological Clinic CCI3*-S was Will Baxter on Kdale Mr. Collins, a 10-year-old Warmblood bred by Stephanie Sneyd. Will said “Collin was quite nice in the dressage, super Cross Country once he’d started travelling in a good rhythm and in show jumping, he saved my b*tt a few times!”
Will is planning on heading to the Australian Three Day event with Kdale Mr Collins to compete in the CCI3*-L, which would be Will’s first time competing at this event. Emily Gray finished 2nd on her palomino Barbie pony Rio Tonto with clear rounds cross country and show jumping and Tessa Sharman aboard ISH Kings Basil Brush rounded out the top three.
Tessa Sharman on Kings Basil Brush Photo courtesy WayLib Photos
Mia Mercuri riding the 13-year-old ESB Irish Nymph was the winner of the Horseland Kelmscott highest placed young rider and is looking forward to hopefully competing at her first Adelaide at the end of the year.
The United Forklifts CCI2*-S was won by Madison Gielen, riding GPH Valet De Carreau, a 10-year-old thoroughbred who Madison has produced off the track. Adam, as he is known to his friends, is a horse who is full of just as much attitude as he is talent but was on form at his first 2* this weekend, to lead from start to finish on his dressage score. Laurelle Hayes on another ‘Kdale’ horse, Kdale Mr. Knightly, a young black warmblood, finished on their dressage score just 0.4 penalties behind to finish in 2nd place. Sophie Warren finished in 3rd place on Hazid Road. The winner of the Anitone highest placed Junior was Isabella Draper on board the quirky Quality Street, which she is doing an amazing job bringing along.
Chris Edwards was responsible for designing and building the 80cm through to and including the CCI2*-S. Chris is a young and upcoming course designer who builds fantastic rideable tracks. Chris said, “We really improved the 2* track from last year and it rode really well, I’m very proud of that one. There were a lot of changes out at the water to make it more of a spectator area and it went well!”
Cindy Lyall was the winner of the CCN1*-S, sponsored by Tuscany Bridal, riding the experienced 16-year-old Venture Sky High owned by Shenae Lowings. Cindy finished on her dressage score of 25.6. This was a catch ride for Cindy who had only ridden ‘Squiz’ for a week as she took on the after her son, Zane Lyall broke his wrist. Tamblyn Park Sharatan ridden by Josh Brown finished in 2nd place just behind the leader and Louis McWhirter riding DVZ Fanya finished in 3rd.
The Junior CCN1*, sponsored by Leader Equine and Horseware Ireland was won by Tara Harding riding the familiar Parkiarrup Illicit Liason, a horse that was ridden to 5* level by Sonja Johnson. Tara finished on her dressage score of 26.9. Sara Harcourt Smith finished in second place on Radagast the Brown and Eva Shore riding the part Clydesdale, Eliva Oberon finished in 3rd.
The EvA classes were all hotly contested with many great up and coming horses and riders to watch out for. Thank you to HFW, Off the Track WA, GrainCorp Oilseeds, EquineWorld, Saddles Plus, Ramsay’s Horse Transport, Ambrose Estate and Horseland Kelmscott for their generous support of these classes.
The committee would like to acknowledge the long term generous support of the event, Alcoa, without which the event would not be able to run. The event also has a number of
generous major sponsors who help to make the event a success and the committee would like to thank Pryde’s EasiFeed, Broome International Airport, Perth Radiological Clinic, United Forklift and Access Solutions, Leader Equine and Horseware Ireland, Off the Track WA, HFW, Horseland Kelmscott, GrainCorp Oilseeds, Ramsay’s Horse
Transport, Saddles Plus, Equineworld, Anitone, Ambrose Estate, Budget Stockfeeds, West Coast Vets and Midstream Trade Hardware for their generous and valued support.
Article by Madison Gielen, photos courtesy WayLib Photos
Madison Gielen and Equineaffair Bogart Photo courtesy WayLib Photos
