View our Grand Prix gallery here
View our Diamond class gallery here
Tayah Andrew and Silver Force on their way to a win in the Grand Prix
The McInerney Ford Kluger car won by Tayah Andrew in the Eventing in the Park Grand Prix class on Saturday 10th December will certainly come in handy for the 17 year old rider who will be donning P-plates soon
Tayah made it a clean sweep, winning not just the 115cm class but was also the Highest Placed Junior and her horse Silver Force was the highest placed off the track thoroughbred. That earned Tayah an additional cool $2500 cash thanks to Off The Track WA
While Tayah was a local winner in this class it was an overseas competitor who took the top honours and another car in the Diamond 105cm class. How Harry Meade is ever going to get his new McInerney Ford Fiesta home to the UK is an interesting proposition which is equal to that of Esib Power getting her tractor home from Sweden but it’s a nice problem to have!
Harry Meade and X5 are out to make the time!
Harry was riding X5 who finished 35th here last year ridden by his owner Tenae Browning and, while his well-judged clear round gave him the win, it was a very close thing between Harry and second placed Tiarnna Robertson riding Phantom Hideaway who were separated by just 3.05 penalties (please don’t ask how the scoring works as arena eventing scoring around the world just does our head in!)
Another visiting international rider, Bettina Hoy, took second place in the Grand Prix class on her catch ride Parkiarrup Perrigine, owned by Sonja Johnson and her mum Phoebe
“Biggest thank you to Sonja Johnson for letting me ride her fantastic horse Perry” says Bettina on her Facebook page “What a cool jumper he is”
Bettina and Harry both had some Aussie adventures leading up to Eventing in the Park with Sonja organising for them to try their hand at camp drafting and Bettina even got to do some sheep shearing. For those who don't know Sonja well, the Olympic medallist that has helped keep the eventing spotlight well and truly on Western Australia for many years, her sheep are as close to her heart as her horses and this is one sheep shearing session we would have loved to see!
Bettina and Parkiarrup Perrigine
Bettina had less of a problem getting her prize money home as she collected $6,000 in cash thanks to sponsors Ambrose Estate and 300 Acres - so much easier to travel with!
Bettina was also impressed by the dress code for this unusual eventing competition which is closer to Ascot than Badminton when it comes to what you wear (until the point you hop on your horse). Eventing in the Park, which takes place banks of Perth’s Swan River, encourages spectators to dress up and be noticed by the talent scouts that are checking out the best dressed with some good prizes on offer for those that catch the eye and the Fashions on the Field Parade is one of the highlights of the day
There will hopefully be a full video available soon but until then, here is a little of the day thanks to Victorian rider Simon Tainsh who finished 10th in the Grand Prix class and our bumper photo gallery is coming up very soon .....
