Wendy Jeffree fills us in on what we’re missing back in Australia at the Lakes & Craters 3DE in Camperdown where the sun has finally come out!
So while some of the team are off sampling what an international event in New Zealand feels like, we are back at Camperdown in the town’s multi-purpose golf/cricket/equestrian venue and our all-time favourite green shed. Luckily the people here are so nice and lots of others, like us, choose to end the eventing season for the year in Victoria’s Western District!
Unfortunately it was a wet, cold and miserable start to the Lakes and Craters event. The rain persisted through the first day and night, putting a dampener on the initial horse inspection trot up and the first sections of dressage. Thankfully Friday has been a lot better, so the remainder of the dressage sections were generally able to get their test done in dry conditions. Whilst the organisers were a little disappointed in the entry numbers at the higher levels, the lower levels were very popular and certainly made up for it, with four large sections of EV95 (Prelim) riders taking advantage of the two day competition at this level. The Junior Pre Nov and Pre Nov also proved to be popular sections.
Some of the riders in the Coprice Junior Pre Novice in their polo tops
After the dressage it is Nina Griffiths who leads the way in the CCN EAJ 105 class of 35 riders, whilst Katja Weimamn and Samantha Cesnick lead the open sections at this level. Also to ride on the first day was the Young Rider section of 1*, and it is Ella Groenwegan who will lead these riders leading into the jumping phases.
On the second day the open 1* riders got to strut their stuff in the dressage arenas, and it was Bill Chrisanis on Jaybee Castille who finished as the number one.
After this the numbers start to get quite thin on the ground, with only four riders in the CCI** and five in the CIC**. Nevertheless these riders still need every accolade for completing at this level, and it is Rebekah McDougall and Chelsea Priestley who particularly deserve this as they are in the lead going into day two. Jamie Stichel is ahead of Adam Benson as the only two riders to be tackling the 3* this weekend.
With the sun now shining it promises to be a fabulous day of cross country tomorrow. The course has a few classic fences as well as a few new additions and changes and, with the damp conditions previously encountered, the going should now be ideal. So good luck to all riders tackling a gallop up and down the crater face tomorrow!
Click here for results after dressage
