The proceedings got underway today at the NSW State Eventing Championships with the Baxter Boots CCI3* riders doing their dressage tests along with the Imax Gold CIC2* and Alltech CCI* riders.
Edith Kane and Serious Business in the CIC2*
The original field of 11 riders in the 3* class was reduced back to eight, with three riders scratching for various reasons. Tim Boland and Lord Limmerick, who won the CNC2* at Wallaby Hill last weekend, were the first combination to ride their test in front of ground jury members, Helen Christie, Beth Turner and Cheryl Cameron. They put together a good test, which earned them a score of 51.7, putting them in the lead but only just ahead of the next three riders who are all within three marks of the leader.
Bella Mowbray (above) looked pleased with her test on Star Vision and goes into tomorrow in second place while Madison Simpson and Major James are lying third on a score of 54.
With fierce fires affecting many areas of NSW we may find that some riders have opted to stay and home in case they come under a bush fire threat and indeed some riders and supporters who were at the event today spoke of driving through burning embers left behind by yesterday’s fires.
"At one point I did wonder what I was doing," admitted Jean Findlay. "I could see smouldering embers and flames as I drove over Picton road but once I got through the Southern Highlands area there was a lot less smoke around so that was good."
After doing the test ride Kiera kept busy videoing a friend's test
Kiera Byrnes who rode the test ride for the CCI3* on Foxhill, is one rider who wasn’t too far away from the fires yesterday.
“We had a fire about 10kms away so it was a pretty stressful day wondering what was going to happen next. My partner builds trucks and we ended up moving all his trucks to a safer area, only leaving the horse trucks at home so we could move horses if we had to. Luckily we were all fine and there was no need to do anything but the forecast doesn’t look good for Sunday and Monday. But I’m really pleased that I have been able to come to Lynton and ‘school’ Foxhill through a test. He has been a bit naughty lately and it gave me the chance to not let him get away with anything. At this stage I’m still undecided if I will go to Adelaide or not – but as entries close on Monday I’d better make up my mind quickly!”
Jack Hayden rides Sandhills Bounce in the CCI2*
At the time of writing we don’t have the scores for the 2* and 1* classes but one person in the CCI* class who is sure to be up near the top of the leaderboard is young rider Isabel English, riding Grand Andi. Isabel kept her cool when just before she was due to go into her arena there was a mix up with dressage sheets and she had to spend an extra ten minutes warming up until she could start.
Isabel gets plenty of time outside the arena
“I didn’t worry me,” said Isabel “I think my horse quite enjoyed just trotting around.” Isabel is a young lady with lots of good young and experienced horses on her ‘yard’ so we asked her to tell us a little more about the one she was riding – Grand Andi.
(To explain - before you listen to Isabel, yours truly jumped in to do a spot of penciling to help the day move along!)
As the dressage took place many other trucks and floats started rolling in with riders, including Shane Rose and Natalie Blundell (below), getting set up and then giving their horses a bit of a leg stretch in preparation for tomorrow.
If you are coming to Lynton this weekend we look foward to seeing you there (make sure to pack your hat and sun-block) and if you can't make it we will bring you all the news throughout the weekend.
