Bella Mowbray and Star Vision are the 2013 Baxter Boots CCI3* NSW State Champions
Last night a full moon looked gorgeous hanging in the sky like a big orange ball as we drove into Goulburn, which was buzzing with eventers out for dinner. Sadly the distinct orange tint was due to the fires around NSW which have caused losses and grief so let’s start with our sympathies for those – most in horsey bush country – who have been affected.
Luckily, despite hot temperatures forecast today it didn’t reach the highs they were expecting and, although breezy (causing the traders’ flags to keep falling), it certainly wasn’t that horrible hot north wind that can occur in Australia. The condition of the ground however was undeniably hard (as discussed with course designer Neil Kennedy and rider Stuart Tinney yesterday) and quite a few riders opted not to run on cross country. Craig Barrett was one who chose not to ride today in the CIC3* on his horse Sandhills Brillaire, the defending Australian International 3DE champion.
“I would have loved to have gone out there today and had a ‘practice’ but I think it’s just not worth the repercussions of the hard ground” said Craig “It always exciting at this time of year because Adelaide is such a big event, it’s the focus point, everyone wants to go to Adelaide and the reason I’m not running here today is that the hardest thing about getting to these big events is actually turning up with a nice, sound horse”
We had a long chat with Craig about the forthcoming Australian International 3 Day Event and we’ll bring you that interview soon.
In the Baxter Boots CIC3* Stuart Tinney was another rider looking to Adelaide, as he kept his lead from the dressage phase with a cool clear round on Pluto Mio in the show jumping. Shane Rose riding CP Qualified also jumped a lovely clear, leaving them in second place and Rob Palm on Koko Black moved up to third place when Sam Lyle and Adelaide Hill pulled one rail.
Stuart only had 1.7 penalties in hand over Shane going into the cross country and after the show jumping we spied him returning a silver trophy – one of the ones he won here last year.
Stuart and Pluto Mio at the water
“I remembered the trophy for the NSW CIC3* State Championships but forgot the Limitless one," he admitted. Shane Rose won both trophies as Stuart and Pluto jumped a clear but steady cross country round, no doubt with Adelaide in mind.
Shane and CP Qualified
Shane not only took first place on CP Qualified but also second place on the homebred Shanghai Joe but he chose not to start his third horse Taurus, who is also Adelaide bound, on the cross country.
What a handsome trio! Stuart Tinney, (who forgot the Limitless Trophy) Shane Rose who won the CIC3*
and the Limitless Trophy and Tim Boland who would have presented the Limitless Trophy ...
had it been there!
Sam Lyle walked home after jumping most of the course on Adelaide Hill, having made a plan with owner and regular rider Christine Bates.
Victorians Will Enzinger picked up third place on TS Jamaimo with a clear round and only 7.6 time penalties while last year's CCI3* winner, Rob Palm had a couple of problems and decided to retire, saving Koko Black for another day. Will was the 2012 Australian International 3 Day Event CCI 2* champion riding Flowervale Maserati, a feat he hopes to replicate this year on Wenlock Aquifer and he will also be riding TS Jamaimo in the 4* class
"Did I win that?" asks Over the Limit
Earlier in the morning the Pryde’s EasiFeed EvA105 and Equiscape Junior EvA105 classes had completed their competition with the cross country phase. Rebecca Swinton and Over the Limit won the EvA105 Division B, finishing on their dressage score of 46.20, Annabel Armstrong won the EvA105 Division A riding Tandarra Sweet Talk (due in part, no doubt, to her able groom Hamish Cargill who was horseless this weekend) and Laura Bell riding Pyezano won the Junior class, also on her dressage score.
In the EvA95 Division C, Alex Townsend chose to withdraw one of the leading horses after dressage, WHF Montpellier. You could be forgiven for thinking that it was because Alex, who flew to the UK on Monday after the Wallaby Hill Horse Trials last weekend, then flew back to be at Goulburn might be a little tired but not a bit “I wouldn’t miss Goulburn for the world!” she said.
This left the door open for Sam Fasher riding Sulitanos (above) to move up from third place to take a win with a clear cross country round and only one rail in the show jumping when the equal leader after dressage, Susan Burnheim and APH Morocco unfortunately had 16 penalties in the show jumping.
Victorian rider Tanya Harding riding another of her lovely Jirrima horses, Jirrima Candyman won the EvA95 Division B and Soigne Jackson riding High Velocity won the EvA95 Division A, adding only 1.4 time penalties on cross country to her dressage score.
Emma Browne of Alltech, Tallara Barwick (with friend Norman) and Geordy Kennedy
One of the big classes this weekend was the Alltech CIC1* which was the last chance to qualify for the Alltech Equine Advantage Series final at the Sydney International Horse Trials in 2014. We’ll update the leader board for this early next week but there is no doubt that Shane Rose will be participating in the final as will Tallara Barwick and Copabella Visage who won the class today.
Tallara also finished in fifth on Like a Fairytale just behind the living legend Heath Ryan on Hygain GI Jo who said he rode like wildfire and was feeling very pleased with himself for picking up only six time penalties until he saw that the ‘young things’ ahead of him had got home faster than him. The other ‘young ones’ were Shane Rose on Fantastic Mr. Fox in third and Natalie Davies on Chatswood Captivate in second place.
Watch out - Heath isn't retiring yet!
However, unlike his brother Matt who we spoke to recently in the UK, Heath is adamant he has no intention to retire. “One of these days I’ll blitz them all again and take them by surprise” he laughed. Be warned!
Alltech also sponsored the CCI 1* which saw a bit of attrition during the weekend with two riders taking the wrong route and three retirements on cross country yesterday. Eighteen year old Isabel English, who withdrew her CIC3* horse Feldale Mouse before the cross country, won this class on Grand Andi
Bella Mowbray and Star Vision, who were second after dressage in the Baxter Boots CCI3*, put in a fast cross country round yesterday and added only four faults in the show jumping today to win one of the biggest classes of her career so far. 21 year old Bella purchased Star Vision from Sam Lyle a few years ago and last year the pair finished ninth in the CCI2* at the Australian International 3 Day Event last year.
Sheriden Sullivan finished 20th in the CIC2* but couldn't have been happier with Talent Thyme's cross country round, as you can probably tell from the smile
While Tim Boland may have been a tad disappointed with his elimination yesterday riding Lord Limmerick in the CCI3*, today he could celebrate a win in the Imax Gold CIC2* riding Napoleon. Tim has had mixed fortunes at this event; last year he incurred some injuries due to a bad fall but over many years he has enjoyed great success here with various horses including Limitless, hence the Limitless Trophy.
This year was the 35th anniversary of the Lynton Horse Trials at Goulburn. For 10 of those years the event has hosted international level classes and has been lucky enough to enjoy sponsorship from the Baxter Footwear Group for 23 years. Just a note for the lovely organisers at Goulburn - we think that next year an eventer’s boot scootin’ competition is a must ………….
Photo gallery from Sunday to come
Cross country videos available to purchase here and winners' videos will be uploaded in a couple of days. Winners' videos to be uploaded for free will be;
|
EvA105 |
172 |
Over The Limit |
Rebecca Swinton |
|
EvA95 |
103 |
High Velocity |
Soigne Jackson |
|
CIC3* |
324 |
CP Qualified |
Shane Rose |
|
CIC2* |
282 |
Tim Boland |
Napoleon |
|
CIC1* |
222 |
Copabella Verdi |
Tallara Barwick |
|
CCI3* |
126 |
Star Vision |
Bella Mowbray |
|
CCI1* |
112 |
Grand Andi |
Isabel English |
