I enjoyed a good cross country round on Rudolf in the CCI*
Blair and I recently made the trip to ‘sunny’ Werribee where Blair and I were competing in the CCI* … it was not without its dramas!
We had decided that I would drive the horses down to Werribee in Blair’s ute towing a borrowed float as our truck, which we are building, is STILL not ready (definitely another story for later on). Blair would follow fly down two days later so he could get some more work done at home (photo below). I happily agreed on one condition, that he fixed the fuel gauge before I left. Well that didn’t happen did it!
The first day of driving went well, no flat tyres and no breakdowns. The second day of driving however was not so hassle free. I had just been speaking to Blair on the phone about how many kilometers per tank of diesel I could go before getting even remotely worried about running out of fuel and he assured me (very convincingly) that I had at least another 100kms before I needed to panic. Literally moments later the vehicle started hiccupping and we (Zoe our groom was with me) ran out of fuel on the Hume Highway! After a very rude phone call back to my husband (who said ‘what can I do I’m back in Scone’) I rang the equivalent of the NRMA in Victoria and asked for their assistance. They kindly said they would come within the hour.
But things got worse because the Victorian services rang back 15 minutes later to tell me that my NRMA membership had expired and the vehicle I was in wasn’t even on the list! Another very rude phone call back to my husband, it was his ute remember! After about 20 minutes of discussing whether or not our membership had expired with the NRMA they somehow found a different button on their computer to press which showed that our membership was actually up to date and current, phew. I also managed to get Blair’s ute added to the list which now meant they could come and rescue us!
The only problem was that it had taken about half an hour or so to sort all that out which meant it would be at least another hour before they arrived. Two hours spent on the side of the Hume highway and we were off again. And guess what, after we got over the rise with our 10 litres of new fuel, there was a sign ‘Next service station 5km’!
Werribee was cold and overcast with showers throughout the week but we were well prepared as this type of weather is pretty much the norm for Melbourne 3 Day Event. I realised once I got there that exactly 20 years ago in 1992 I competed in my first ever 3 day event held at Melbourne. I couldn’t believe it was that long ago, I still remember riding each phase as if it was yesterday (wish it was!).
The horse I took down this year was Rudolf, a 6yr old gelding by Regardez Moi out of a Brilliant Invader mare. He was having his first CCI* event and he went reasonably well. The dressage and showjumping need improving but I was happy with the cross country. We ended up 18th out of 74 starters, which was ok.
A happy Richardson team at the end of cross country
Alison (Duthie) caught up with me after my cross country round - I hope I said the right things.
Blair on the other hand didn’t have such a great time cross country (hmmmmm, maybe this was payback!), his naughty little horse didn’t want to get its feet wet at the second water jump. Three refusals and he was out walking home with his tail between his legs. There is nothing worse than hanging around Werribee for another day when you have nothing to ride in the final phase, or any 3 day event for that matter. I did actually feel sorry for him.
The owners of Blair’s horse,Tony and Barb Harris, had flown from Sydney the night before cross country to watch their horse stop three times at the water! Luckily they are extremely understanding owners and friends of ours so all was ok.
We decided to meet for dinner on cross country night in the VIP marquee to watch the Freestyle dressage. What Blair and I didn’t realise was that Tony and Barb couldn’t get a rental car at the airport and had to borrow some push bikes from the Werribee mansion, where they were staying, and pedal in the dark and the rain to get to dinner! They said they giggled the whole way there and had so much fun that they rode the bikes back after the dinner in minus something degrees! That’s what you call good owners.
Tony and Barb enjoyed the pedal power
The up side of the weekend for Blair was that he got to fly home and was back in his own bed on Monday night – lucky him. As for me I had quite a pleasant, non-eventful trip home with no more dramas to add!
Blair and Summer (Bright) working some of the pre trainers
Catch up with you soon
Nikki and Blair
