I was delighted that Trumpet and I managed to perform one our best tests to date in New Zealand
After a week and a half of settling in and training here at the Tinney's in NSW at the beginning of April, I packed up my bags and prepared for the biggest competition of my life so far; my first (and hopefully not last) Trans Tasman event.
The Trans Tasman, held in Christchurch, New Zealand, was an incredible experience to say the least and I spent the Sunday night before the event at SIEC with teammates Ben Leahy and Juana Andreou. The horses all enjoyed some light work Monday morning before Isabel English arrived with her horse and we were then introduced to team vet Kirsten Neil. The horses were prepared for the plane and then it was left to my Ben to load up. Meanwhile the three of us girls and our team of parents, grooms, coaches and supporters headed off to the airport so we could be in New Zealand to meet the horses when they arrived.
Just as I was sitting on the plane ready to switch my phone off I recieved a text message from Ben with a photo of Just Corona (Trumpets) bum in the crate and the words...'Just so you know, Isabel's horse and Ollie (Bens) loaded really well onto the crate. Trump had to be blindfolded but it’s all good, and I don't think Sy (Juanas) wanted to leave Aus ha ha ha'. I shuddered slightly at the thought of my horse being blindfolded and terrified but switched my phone off and tried to enjoy the flight across to New Zealand.
There was little sleep to be had as we arrived into Christchurch in the early hours of Tuesday morning. After getting through customs we set off in the 'Team Van' to a local Motel to sleep for a mere 2.5 hours before getting up again to head back to the airport! It was about 5.30am and Isabel and I were running around Christchurch airport, like two mad ladies, trying to locate where the horses were and if we could get a look at them! We were very unsuccessful and settled on a team vote to head across to the grounds at the South Islands and hope that the horses would arrive safely. After an 'interesting' encounter when we woke up the man who lives there, stumbling around in the dark trying to locate the stables and some sort of light and realising we had no buckets or feed...the horses arrived … without the gear. Problem number one!
Thanks to Kirsten Neil - team Vet, but also supporter and the brains of this stressful day, we left Isabel with the horses and a small water bucket to share around to them all and headed back to the airport to find all of the gear.
That was when problem number two arose when I discovered that half of my gear had been confiscated! A few rugs and boots from the other guys were missing as well but I was convinced that I must have had the most thorough person ever check my bags. I discovered they had not only taken rugs, but cross-country boots, work boots, bandages … the list went on. I had been warned it was tough to get your gear into New Zealand however I didn't realise you were better off buying brand new stuff! I managed to get my cross country boots sprayed and released (which required ANOTHER trip back and forth to the airport to pick them up - thanks Kirsten) but spent the next two days shopping around for some new things. What a trip it was turning out to be already. The most important thing however, was that the horses were all in top shape and the plane ride had obviously not affected them very much.
Thursday gave us the first 'sneak peak' at the course we were expected to ride in a few days time. As assumed, the Kiwis had provided us with a very big and tough track with quite a few questions and we were all excited yet anxious to get this phase underway! That night we attended the 'Welcome Party' meet and greet of the New Zealand team riders and officials. It was a super night and straight away we felt very welcomed by the Kiwis. Off to bed relatively early, as Friday saw trot up begin early in the morning before the 2* dressage, which started at 11am. All combinations in the 2* passed through the vet inspection and with that we were off to watch Juana ride the first test for the Australian team. Her beautiful moving horse did a nice test and received around 55 penalties. Ben was the next rider to go and he did a super test on Ollie and achieved 50 penalties. With that I was off to prepare Trumpet for the dressage phase and during my warm up Isabel performed her test on her cheeky Connemara gelding for 54.
We were looking in good contention but I had a nervous gulp when I was about to enter the arena and I heard the commentator say that the teams competition would be down to my test and the other last Kiwi rider - Australian based Joe Waldron. No pressure then! Trumpet however definitely performed a super accurate and calm test and we saw ourselves go into the lead for the class on a 46! This is one of my better scores for a CCI class and I was very happy and proud of my horse. It consequently put Australia into a narrow lead over the Kiwis.
20 penalties for us - but I was happy to have completed the course
That afternoon we had another team course walk with Chef d’equipe Sam Lyle and the team. It was certainly a big and long track - the optimum time being over nine minutes but it was all looking quite do-able. We made some final decisions on a few lines although we did go into cross country day still a little anxious about what exactly would happen out there. There were quite a few questions that our horses had never really been faced at yet!
The results unfortunately proved that too with the elimination of Ben and Ollie after three refusals on course, a 20 penalty ride with time for both Juana and Isabel and a very frustrating 20 penalties for myself and Trumpet, although we did make it to the finish on time. The three of us girls were definitely happy to have got round and managed to come away with some positives about the course. 'That’s what eventing is all about' people kept telling us that day!
Saturday night saw another dinner function hosted by the Kiwis and another fun evening. All the kiwi’s we met were so friendly and I can safely say that we all came out of the event with some new friends.
Sunday morning was an early one (although earlier for the grooms) as we were up for a morning trot up before the showjumping commenced. There was a scary moment when Juana's horse was held, however upon second inspection they were passed and the Aussie team were set to complete the event. Unfortunately the Kiwi team did not go so well, with one of their horses being vetted out. It was a very sad moment, even for the Australian team because we had got to know each of the Kiwi riders pretty well and felt very sorry for them.
We prepared ourselves for the show jumping phase and walked the course. The track was similar to Adelaide in that it was quite open and spread out, so I thought it would suit my horse, which I was pleased about. First to ride was young gun Isabel for the Australian team who went clear, then we had Juana who also jumped a clear round with many more cheers from the sidelines where the Australian team were gathered. I was the third last rider for the event and headed into the arena on my 'hot orange horse' who was very keen to get going … obviously the cross country hadn’t taken too much out of him. The showjumping was definitely the highlight of the event for me as I also managed a clear round and this was a big feat for both of us. I couldn't have been happier at that moment, finishing the event in third place individually for Australia!
Showjumping into third place
It was the Kiwis time to shine for the 2012 Trans Tasman event as they took out the title. They put some super scores on the board and really deserved their win.
Each of the horses arrived safely home on Tuesday morning and went their separate ways. So much had happened in just one week and I had enjoyed every moment of it. It is something I will never forget. Thank you to the people who have helped me to get to this stage, in particular Mum and Dad, groom Natasha Williams and sponsors Prestige Home Loans, Northam Auto Electrics, Insite Commercial Interiors, Latitude XL, Aurora Projects, Fox United Building, Project West and last but by no means last the Possingham family.
With that it was back to the Tinney's and since then I have attended (as a spectator) the Sydney CCI, which was a super event to watch at. Outings wise Trumpet and Daisy (my young mare) have attended the local jump club for some training rounds, which was a super day with fellow WA rider Belinda Isbister. Trumpet jumped a clear round in the 1.10m and the 1.20m and had a go at our first 1.30m round, which went relatively well. Daisy jumped clear around the 95cm and the 1.05m and proved that she needs something a little bigger next time. On the horizon I have a very busy schedule commencing with Quirindi CNC in a week and a half. Trumpet will have a 'casual' run around the CNC 2* and Daisy will be competing in the Pre Novice. From then it will be Camden Equestriad CIC the weekend after with both horses and then Berrima CNC with Daisy. Hopefully my next blog can post some successes....
Til then
Makayla
The Young Rider Trans Tasman Team:
Ben Leahy and Le Directeur
Makayla Wood and Just Corona
Isabel English and Feldale Mouse
Juana Andreou and Sunvalley Donnerhe
