Lakes and Craters Three Day Event is upon us and that can only mean one thing. We’re in Roycroft country. Down here in Camperdown champions are made. The cross country is tough and the standard is high - it truly doesn’t get any better than this. With lots of changes made to the course this year, entries are at a record high. 291 combinations have been recorded, beating previous entry records by over 50 competitors. The majority of entries have come from the younger classes and with 140 combinations set to take part in the EA95 over the weekend; the competition is just getting started.
Riders prepare for the trot up amongst the lovely green grass in the crater
Megan Jones and Wendy Schaeffer have made the trip from South Australia and they join fellow Olympian Amanda Ross. Fresh from his 2* win in Adelaide is Will Enzinger who has two horses in the 3* this weekend as well as rides in the lower classes. Other familiar Victorian faces riding about the crater this weekend include Murray Lamperd, Katja Weimann and Yona Lloyd.
Samantha Cesnik and Ari De Gwaihir in the CCNEA105
Today saw the first horse inspection, with immaculately presented horses and riders dressed to impress. The trot up is always a nervous ordeal no matter how sound your horse is and riders worked together, giving advice and practicing as they lined up. Despite the stress it may have caused, only a few horses were held and every combination was eventually passed.
Elysha Walles and Rockogold in the CCNEAJnr105
Most of the dressage is due to get underway tomorrow but with so many entries this year, some classes began this afternoon. Both sections of the CCNEA105 kicked off with some beautiful tests produced. Shannon Cattlin and Jaybee Carillion put on a good show with some lovely extensions in a competitive test. Former 3* eventer Fiona Hawkes is back from a long break and performed a solid test with the gorgeous Isle of Tatiana.
Charlie King and Charlton Veeza
Our younger riders also started today with the CCIYR1* and CCNEAJnr105 classes completing their dressage phase. Charlie King and the beautiful grey, Charlton Veeza performed a beautiful test in the CCNEAJnr105 as did Sam Jeffree on Parklands Whizz Kid. In the CCIYR1*, Andrew Cooper was very happy with Mighty Delago’s performance after he finished a very accurate and controlled test.
Sam Jeffree on Parklands Whizz Kid
Whilst results of today’s dressage will not be available until tomorrow, the scores are bound to be close as combinations put their best foot forward throughout the afternoon. Tomorrow morning will begin with four sections of EA95 starting the dressage phase and they will compete over two days. Competition is bound to heat up as the CCI1*, CCI2*, CCI3* and CIC3* commences with the dressage taking place throughout the day.
A well dressed fence with a view
And while Emily was enjoying the first day’s dressage on the flat part of the crater, Deb and Paul Higgs slogged their way up the hill to check out the cross country course and great views
When they say in the course description that horses need to be fit for this course, they should also mention that anyone who is considering walking it should be fit too! Border collies with boundless energy seem to handle it well; we gave in half way round and got the 4WD. But it is well worth the hike to the top where you get a view of the lake and the lovely green hills rolling away. Yes, green. Thanks to recent downpours the grass is green and the footing is perfect; after the mid-thirties temperature forecast for Saturday it may brown off a bit but at the moment the hills are almost as green as the golf course that winds around the cross country course. Talking of golf, we bumped into a very sartorial Rob Palm making his way onto the greens for a few holes at the end of the day.
Golfer Rob Palm (no relation to Arnold Palmer)
“I always try and have a round of golf when I’m here” Rob admitted (note to Shane Rose - another good reason to come to Camperdown). After competing in the 4* in Adelaide, Rob has a less pressured weekend here with Koko Doro in the CCI 1* and some horses in the lower levels. So plenty of time for golf.....
Sadly, there are only two competing around the new CCI 3* course and we can pretty much guess the winning rider as Will Enzinger is the only competitor, riding Ruban Son and TS Jamaimo. As we walked the course (well, driving this bit..) trying to work out where to put the video cameras, we bumped into Edith Kane and Chris Height who were both sorry not to have 3* horses to compete at the moment as they thought that the course looked great and challenging. I guess that Will will be the only one who can tells us how it rides but there’s no doubt that more riders need to come and check out this course. Despite low numbers at the top of the board, there are record numbers in the other classes and there is a lovely relaxed, happy atmosphere as everyone is settling in for a good weekend at the final event of the year, starting tonight with the welcome dinner and auction
