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Libby enjoys the moment
“You always come to an event in the hope that you might win but when that hope turns into reality it’s amazing,” said Elizabeth Lowery after she took out the Equestrian NSW CCI3* title this afternoon.
Despite there only being six riders to show jump the class still had its share of excitement as rails fell and it was hard to keep up with who was placed where. Sadly the drama of the class came when young Isabel English, who had been lying third coming into show jumping parted company with Feldale Mouse. For some unknown reason this talented little horse chipped in a short stride in front of the first part of the treble which led to a very akward jump giving Isabel no hope of staying on board. Obviously upset, Isabel still took her place at the presentation as winner of the inaugural Rod Winchester Award presented to the Best and Fairest Young Rider. This award aims to recognise young riders who have demonstrated the qualities of good sportsmanship and horsemanship and Isabel was a worthy winner and we’re sure that she will put the disappointment of this weekend behind her, learn from the experience and come out at the next event as an even better rider. Isabel’s mum, Sarah, also took home a prize, winning the Mike O’Callahan Grooms Award – again well deserved.
Isabel receives her award from eventing's much loved personality Rod Winchester
As Isabel left the arena Elizabeth (Libby) Lowery started her round and after taking three rails down she must have thought her chances of winning were gone as overnight leader Makayla Wood had over three rails in hand. But it wasn’t going to be a win for WA as Early days couldn’t quite keep the fences up and with a total of 20 penalties the pair dropped behind Libby, but there was some consolation for Makayla when she took home the Holstein Park Leilani Trophey for the highest placed mare.
We spoke to Libby Lowery (and her ‘amazing’ cousin who is very much part of ‘Team Lowery') after the win.
In the Tarraleah Park CCI2* Hayley Frielick held onto her overnight lead and won the class finishing on her dressage score. Hayley’s horse, My Happiness, was well named as he really put a smile on his riders face!
Hayley (above) was one of only three riders to go clear over John Vallance’s course the others being Christine Bates and Cooper Oborn. Christine had a mixed weekend that saw her finish fourth in the CCI2* although she wasn’t happy to have been given 11 penalties for breaking a frangible pin with Ned O’Reily on the cross country course. The removal of the those penalties would have seen the pair finish second. In the Berrima Horse Trials CCI* Christine led the class, riding Brightnight, up to the show jumping phase but three rails saw them drop back to fifth. Nevertheless this horse looks an exciting prospect for the future as does Ned O’Reily.
When we spoke to Hayley after her win we found out that she puts much of her success down to the help she received a few years ago from Chris Burton and also to the six years she spent in Scotland going through the Pony Club system. We also discovered that My Happiness has coped with two colic surgeries during his life and can still come out and win!
Shaun's muddy jods proved it had been a weekend of ups and downs
After a ‘character building’ weekend Shaun Dillon (above) finally got his reward for perseverance when he won the CCI* riding TS Fantasia. But his win didn’t come without some pain after he suffered a fall yesterday in the CCI3* and then another fall today when he rode his first CCI* horse Kinnordy Rubino. We’ll let Shaun tell you all about it …
Second to Shaun was Rosanna (Rosie) Cohen riding The Investigator. Rosie was one of four juniors in the class and her second placing secured her the title of Junior One Star winner. The Cohen family have been long time supporters of eventing with mum, Angie also a keen event rider.
Rosis on her way to a win
After the presentations had been made it was time for some fun with several of Australia’s top jockeys pairing up with top eventers and show jumpers to compete in the Jockey’s Jumping Challenge. While the jockeys rode some lovely event horses including Christine Bates’ Brightnight around a show jumping track, the eventers and show jumpers leapt on a couple of borrowed ponies to try their hand at pony racing. To be honest we had no idea of the rules (if there were any) and we equally can’t be sure who won, but the whole spectacle certainly got the crowd going and thankfully all the riders and horses finished in one piece!
Glyn Schofield looking serious as he starts his showjumping round
Shane Rose leaps onto his grey steed but wasn't quite fast enough to win the race
Many thanks to Allira Fontana for her wonderful photos - check out our gallery for more photos from Sydney
