Nicky Lyle and Haunui Hill on their way to a win
Sam Lyle is well known in Australian eventing circles, both as a rider and assistant coach to Australia’s eventing team, but his role last weekend at the Sydney Summer Classic also extended to a ‘caring husband’ according to his wife Nicky
Nicky beat her husband in the EvA95 Division A on the lovely New Zealand thoroughbred Haunui Hill when Sam and Tinseltown, leading after the dressage, dropped a few rails in the show jumping and went at a leisurely pace on cross country.
Nicky and Haunui Hill took advantage of Sam’s drop down the leader board to take the win on their dressage score of 46.2 ahead of Emma Mason riding Aramatai Fox (47.7) and Amy Roberts riding Ironstone Strongbow (50.8).
Sam was also riding Silent Destiny, the winner of the CNC1* and Satch Hill (above) in the Combined Training, both of which are aimed at Sydney International Horse Trials in April while Nicky, who has ridden at 4* level in the past, says that her year will be slightly more relaxed ‘getting to events when it fits in with the children’.
We chatted to Sam and Nicky (joined by a little one!) at the presentations
Sam and Nicky Lyle
It is at times a bit like an eventing crèche at NSW competitions when the many families get together and share child minding responsibilities in between riding – there must be some amazing upcoming talent in these Rose, Barrett and Lyle gene pools for the future!
