Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress finish their Sydney trip on a high
There were plenty of changes in the leader board of the Randwick Equine Centre CNC3* today, proving what a tricky (and thrilling) sport eventing can be while keeping everyone on their toes until the last moment
Prue Barrett started the day in the lead of the 3* on Sandhills Special but during the first class on course Prue and her grey homebred mare were eliminated for a fall. Annoyingly it was the very last fence on course
“I don’t think I’ve ever fallen at the last fence before” said Prue “She felt great all the way around but at the last fence, it just didn’t come together; I’m not sure if she got distracted by the officials at the finish but she just didn’t seem to see the fence and we both went down”
Christine Bates had already decided to give Adelaide Hill, lying second in this class after the dressage, a spin around the CNC1* instead of the 3* course and, with third placed Napoleon ridden by Tim Boland retiring on course, the lead after cross country went to Stuart Tinney riding Carlchen. Stuart had jumped a lovely clear round with only 6.4 time penalties but it was discovered that Carlchen had trodden on the toe clip of his rear hind shoe and needed vet attention, so he too was withdrawn from the 3* before the show jumping started.
Stuart finished third on his other imported German horse Queen Mary but the win went to Megan Jones and her chestnut mare Kirby Park Impress. The pair were seventh after dressage then picked up only 2.8 time penalties on cross country (only one rider went under time and no prizes for guessing who – Shane Rose on both Another Biscuit and Glenorchy South Park blitzed the field) and Megan had just one fence down in the show jumping.
Christine Bates may have opted to withdraw Adelaide Hill from the 3*cross country although they jumped one of only four clear show jumping rounds but her 10 year old thoroughbred Ned O’Reilly had a strong finish, moving into second place after a good cross country and one rail in the show jumping
Megan also finished fourth in the Mitavite CNC2* on History, making for something to celebrate on the long drive back to South Australia after their extended stay in Sydney
Megan Jones
However it was a new combination that clinched the 2* with Gemma Tinney and Annapurna, a horse she only started competing a few weeks ago, taking the win, and it was Gemma’s first win at this level.
Annapurna, previously campaigned by her father and the half sister to Stuart’s WEG mount Pluto Mio, both owned by John and Jane Pittard, has become lucky Gemma’s top ride for this year and they have certainly started well together
While Gemma and Shane Rose were the only two to put in clear cross country rounds under time, Shane had one rail down on Swiper to finish in third place while his other Contenda progeny, Mighty Mouse finished in fifth place with both horses having a good start to their 2* career. But it was Andrew Barnett and Bradgate Park Fonzie that put in a very good clear show jumping round and incurred only 8.8 time faults on cross country to take second place overall.
Andrew Barnett and Bradgate Park Fonzie
Shane also took third place in the Bounce Back Fencing CNC1* on Wisteria Lane behind second placed Emma Mason and APH Marina and the winner Sam Lyle. Sam led from start to finish, adding nothing to his dressage score of 47.90 on Silent Destiny, a nine year old thoroughbred previously ridden by Peter Gillies.
Sam also rode in the Horseland Advanced/Intermediate, a class won by Tim Boland riding GV Billy Elliott and, although Sam opted not to ride Satch Hill on the cross country, they put in a very stylish round in the show jumping. We’ll hear more from Sam and his wife Nicky, who won the Randwick Equine Centre EvA95 A on Haunui Hill, in our next article from a big weekend in Sydney
Sam Lyle, helped by daughter, accepts his rug from Chris Elliott representing Randwick Equine Centre, sponsor of the event
