What better spot to cool off than the water jump ...................
Despite the fact that temperature was set to reach 34 degrees in Gippsland, Victoria today, the start of autumn means that, at least early in the morning at the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, there is a slight hint of crisp, cool weather. It didn’t last long however and by midday the sun was strong and, although the CIC riders and lower levels doing their showjumping in the indoor arenas were protected from the sun, it was still pretty muggy indoors. But there is nothing that the organisers can do about the weather and the Tonimbuk committee have successfully dealt with a lot with in past years including dramatic hail storms and torrential rain storms. This year it’s definitely more a case of dealing with heat and hard ground.
Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre is a great venue for an event, as retiring Tonimbuk Horse Trials President Stephen Weir points out in his report in the programme. Two huge indoor arenas separated by viewing galleries and a canteen provide a central hub for riders and spectators while there are also great facilities for the four legged attendees, from secure stabling and wash areas to good surfaces on the outdoor arenas. With over 350 competitors this weekend, they are all well used. Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre is currently on the market so let’s hope that the future owners are sympathetic to holding horse trials here.
The Pakenham Produce CIC 2* kicked off proceedings in one indoor arena at 8am while the other arena was busy all day with the Introductory and Preliminary show jumping classes. The two outdoor sand and two grass arenas hosted the rest of the dressage.
It's not all Serious Business - Edith Kane is very happy with third and looking forward to tomorrow
Victorian riders featured strongly in the CIC 2* top six after dressage. Local rider Katja Weimann riding BP Flamboyant led the charge on a score of 46 with NSW rider Jack Hayden riding Jaybee Calypso second on 48.4 and another local, Edith Kane riding Serious Business, in third place on 48.9. Edith was delighted with her test on ‘Jasper’ and told me she is ‘really going to go for it’ tomorrow.
The impressive looking gelding Jaybee Calypso by Carbine was previously ridden by Chris Burton and had a brief sojourn overseas with Chris where he, amongst other things, placed second at the Festival of Eventing, Gatcombe Park in 2011. His owner, Alex Townsend of Wallaby Hill in NSW, first rode him but after being bucked off and breaking a vertebra in the process Alex gave him to Chris to ride for a while.
“At least it wasn’t just me” says Alex “He managed to buck Chris off too!”
23 year old Jack Hayden (above), who works for Alex, has been riding him for the past 12 months and seems to be staying on quite stylishly!
New Zealand rider Joe Waldron is visiting his old stomping ground in Victoria but didn’t have the best of tests – poor Springvale All Black found his equine friends outside the arena very talkative and kept up the conversation throughout much of the test, as did quite a few of the horses who found it interesting to be competing alone in an indoor arena and wanted their friends for company.
Alex Townsend also has another couple of horses at Tonimbuk who have had extensive overseas campaigns; Bendigo who represented Australia at the 2012 Olympic Games with Clayton Fredericks and Mumbo Jumbo, previously campaigned in the UK by Sam Griffiths. Alex is competing both horses here in the Alltech CIC 1* (part of the Alltech Equine Advantage Eventing Series) and is in 20th place (Bendigo) and 10th place (Mumbo Jumbo) in this very hotly contested class of 83 competitors. Will Enzinger on Wenlock Aquifer (above) and Jonathon McLean on Brinkin Fitzwilliam share the top spot after dressage, both on a score of 41.4 with Cassie Lowe doing a lovely test on Fair View Metalica for third place on a score of 43.40.
In the lower levels one horse which caught my eye in the dressage was Andrew Heseltine’s six year old Isle of Troy (below) by Magnetic Isle in the Mal Byrne Introductory Section A. Leading after the dressage on a great score of 22.5, the judges obviously liked him too. A powerful looking horse but with a kind eye, Isle of Troy started his career with dressage rider Anne Smith at Sunbury Lodge but proved to be a bit too enthusiastic for pure dressage and is another one, according to Andrew, capable of putting in a few good bucks. Andrew has had him for the past 12 months and they won their first ever event at the Top Horse South West Horse Trials recently.
Andrew hopes Isle of Troy has the makings to go to the top and says he has a great jump but his dad thinks that it is his great plaiting that has made them so successful! Close behind Andrew in this class after the dressage was Catherine Davies on another good score of 25.5 riding Leroy.
As the other classes were winding down in the late afternoon, the Pakenham Produce CIC 3* riders prepared to strut their stuff under lights in the indoor arena from 7pm. They were allowed an arena familiarisation time during which Under the Clocks (above) took the chance to show his new Hidez suit, organised for his forthcoming trip to the UK, looking smarter than Black Caviar.
Amanda Ross (above) slipped out of her riding gear and into shorts to provide commentary for the CIC 3* which saw Murray and Under the Clocks take the lead on a score of 45 with Chris Height and Adam Benson tying for second spot on 52.50.
Murray Lamperd and Under the Clocks lead after the CIC 3* dressage
The 3* riders will be first on course tomorrow at 8am in a change to schedule due to the heat and we will be bringing you all the action tomorrow night and videoing all of the competitors in all classes on course tomorrow.
Tomorrow is going to be another hot day for cross country which An Eventful Life will be videoing
