Barry Roycroft on home ground at Camperdown
Camperdown is Roycroft country. The most famous family in Australian eventing settled in Camperdown when Barry Roycroft was four years old and he remembers riding his pony to school at nearby Cobrico. Barry and his wife Lyn still live locally (Barry points over one of the large hills behind us in a vague direction) and Barry has been involved with organising Camperdown Horse Trials since its inception in 1976.
The water jump dates back to the early days of the event
Started by the Progress Association of Camperdown the event was originally run by the Caramut Riding Club; a club with a venerable Olympic history numbering at least 6 Olympians amongst its members (Bill, Barry, Wayne and Clarke Roycroft, Vicki Roycroft and Phillipa Glennon). One fence still remains from the original course; a large oxer near the entrance to the Golf Club and the water fence which is handily located near the hub of the event was created in 1978.
The dedicated committee here run not just the One Day Event in April but also run the Lakes and Craters event, the final event each year on the Australian eventing calendar and one that signifies the start of Christmas celebrations. This year, due to the fact that the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide will be run slightly later, Lakes and Craters is now running on the 7th – 9th December.
The newly sown grass area used for Preliminary dressage and showjumping today
Dressage day for this year’s Camperdown Horse Trials was a perfect autumn day with sun and a slight breeze. Watching the dressage on the main arena, a cricket oval surrounded by large trees was the perfect way to pass a day. The CIC 1* and 2* and Pre Novice classes dominated this arena in the morning while the Preliminary classes used the newly sown arena slightly up the hill for dressage and showjumping in the afternoon.
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden
In the afternoon the crowd gathered to watch the CIC 3* class, in particular the Olympic hopefuls, Sonja Johnson riding Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Ben) and Megan Jones riding Kirby Park Allofasudden (Floyd). Camperdown was Megan’s first interstate event at the age of fourteen and she has attended every year since so she obviously has a soft spot for the event. This time she left Kirby Park Irish Jester, who is suffering from a muscle strain, at home and only had Floyd in the CIC 3*.
Sonja Johnson and Belfast Mojito
There had been some good tests; Sonja’s first horse Belfast Mojito performed a lovely test despite being green at this level; Del Ogilvy showed her experience and didn’t bat an eyelid when a cricket aficionado and his son started to bowl a few balls in the practice nets at the end of the arena. After a few overs they were asked to ‘cease and desist’ (not quite in those terms)and Del escaped unscathed by cricket ball missiles.
Del Ogilvy and Grey Smudge
Edith Kane and ESB Irish Justice
Edith Kane and ESB Irish Justice (above) always look a picture and their years of partnership show in their polished performance while Luke Jones and his horse Charlatan are also another combination which is starting to impress. The last three however were a real delight to watch and moved the competition up a notch.
Will Enzinger and TS Jamaimo
Will Enzinger could easily pass for a pure dressage rider and his up and coming team of young horses will hopefully be the ones that take him all the way. TS Jamaimo is a 12 year old by Bao Lack, the sire of Shane Rose’s Olympic horse, All Luck. He has expressive paces, possibly not yet fully established but with Will’s sensitive riding, this should turn from huge potential to reality in the very near future
Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison
Megan Jones too is the consummate dressage rider and she and Floyd strutted their stuff, showing some impressive movement and rhythm, which normally would steal the show but the last rider in, Sonja, this time on her Elite listed horse Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Ben) was also a star.
A few last words from Wayne and bandages off for Sonja and Ben
With coach Wayne Roycroft Looking on Sonja showed that she is seriously aiming for a spot on the team and Ben’s dressage seems to have moved up to a different level. As a slight framed, white stockinged thoroughbred Ben would not be the usual dressage star type but he showed impulsion, movement, obedience and more. At the end of the day, Megan was slightly ahead of Sonja but both girls were impressive and show that they are now settling in to 'Olympic preparation mode'
Will Enzinger and Ruban Son
In the CIC 2* Will Enzinger is also starring on one of his other horses, Ruban Son by Regardez Moi (photos from the CIC 2* are on the Photo Gallery). In the CIC 1* Chelsea Priestly and Blameitonthebear is marginally ahead of Adam Benson who again is marginally ahead of Rachael Lee; all three riders on very lovely horses who put in good tests today.
Ella Goenewegen and Johans Poem have a very healthy lead in the Junior PreNovice, Amanda Ross and Loxley lead the PreNovice A and Cassie Lowe on Koko Doro leads the PreNovice B
The Preliminary sections did both dressage and showjumping phases today on the new grass arena; Fiona Hawkes and Isle of Tatiana lead the Prelim A, Bill Chrisanis and Jaybee Catille lead the Prelim B and Taylah Lambert riding Sir Duell lead the Prelim C
For results of all classes today CLICK HERE
