Read our Saturday morning CCI2* cross country report here
View our full Saturday photo gallery here
At lunch the guests in the VIP marquee were enjoying some sultry sunshine but by early afternoon the brollies were up
The weather bureau had warned of pending rain and possible thunderstorms in Adelaide today and of course the forecast came true as the first few riders in the CCI4* headed out on course. After a few very hot days this was almost a relief but, when combined with a long hold on course, the drop in temperature and rain took its toll.
Our own AEL blogger Tegan Lush was the first rider on course and there was a big smile on her face as she flew over the large Stag Corner Brushes at 20ab that was to cause problems for a couple of riders later on. Belinda Isbister picked up 20 penalties here and later took a tumble from Holy Bruce over the solid Channel 7 Logo at Fence 26.
Tegan and Tempus Fugit completed without any jumping penalties but picked up 23.2 time penalties (how time flies when you’re on course) which, as it later turned out, was not too bad leaving them in fifth place.
However it was Jess Manson, the second rider of the day that proved to be the speed demon. Jess and her Australian Stock Horse Legal Star (above) zoomed around the course with only 2.8 time penalties to move from sixth place after dressage to take the lead despite Jess nearly being tipped out the front door coming out of the second water complex. Although it was not realised at the time, some of the footing had caved in just at the exit to the water complex which caused Legal Star to stumble but Jess recovered well and put it to the back of her mind as she carried on
Jess Manson
When the same thing happened to the next horse, Madison Simpson’s Major James, the organisers quickly swung into action to repair the damage. Several riders were held on course with Tarryn Proctor being stopped just before the water jump; after a 25 minute hold in rain, Tarryn opted to retire her grey Irish Sport Horse ESB Irish Quest rather than continue on. Event Director Gill Rolton explains what happened
Gill Rolton, Jess Manson and Libby Lowery in the press conference "It's nice to see some new faces at the top" says Gill
The next five riders all experienced problems at Fence 6AB An Eventful Life Sports Field Corner Brush. For Seumas Marwood, who identified this as a tricky combination in our interview with him after the dressage, it was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy but he had certainly spotted the bogey fence. Isabel English, Soigne Jackson and Charlotte Price each picked up 20 penalties here while Jamie Stitchel had two refusals. Soigne would be rueing her run-out here as, with the second fastest time of the day adding only 4.4 time penalties, she would be in second place without this jumping error. Jamie and Image Blue Ice later had a fall at Fence 20, the Stag Corner Brushes, but were both fine
Katja Weimann and her homebred BP Cosmopolitan also had a problem at the Stag Corner but managed to scrape through the flags and stay upright to finish without jumping penalties and 31.2 time penalties in ninth place.
No wonder Libby's breeches were wet!
The recently crowned NSW CIC3* Champion, Libby Lowery and KL Kismet, came to their first CCI4* with the hope of completing so Libby was still a bit in shock to realise that she had moved up to third place after cross country when we spoke to her. Libby and Jess Manson share the same coach, Christine Bates who is leading the CCI2* so no doubt some celebrations will be happening tonight in the Team Bates camp. Coach Christine was on hand to not only help cool KL Kismet down at the end of cross country but also suggest that Libby changed out of her sodden and now transparent breeches before the press conference
Megan Jones had an exciting time in the Starter Box with Kirby Park Allofasudden feeling rather frisky and it took all of Megan’s skill and experience to get the big chestnut home without jumping penalties in the rain. They had some interesting moments, especially at the very upright 25a SATC Toll Gate which, despite not claiming any scalps, caught a few horses seemingly unawares. The 19.2 time penalties that Megan and Allofasudden incurred dropped them from first to second place giving Jess a 6.1 lead going into the show jumping.
But the last rider of the day was probably the most jubilant as she finished. Keira Byrnes and her 19 year old thoroughbred Fox Hill have completed another CCI4* and Keira was quick to give credit to her ‘legend’, reminding us yet again how amazing all of these horses are
Results after cross country here
