Amanda Ross and William Wordsworth competing at Tonimbuk 2011
In the past few years, Tonimbuk Horse Trials has had its fair share of bad weather. Two years ago a freak storm hit on the Saturday afternoon and hundreds of horses huddled into the two huge indoor arenas to shelter from the golf-ball sized hailstones. Despite the fact that it has been fairly damp weather recently for (supposedly) the end of summer in Melbourne, there haven’t been the torrential downpours that northern Victoria and NSW have been getting and the weather forecast for the weekend is reasonable; around 22 degrees and cloudy. So fingers crossed that the weather gods are kind to Tonimbuk Horse Trials this weekend.
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish competing at Tonimbuk 2011
The event includes the first CIC 3* of the year in Australia and draws competitors from all over Victoria as well as visitors from interstate keen to get their first hit out. The big gun who usually attends and is back again this year is the lovely Megan Jones who is starting her two top horses; back-in-action-superstar Kirby Park Irish Jester (Jester) and Kirby Park Allofasudden (Floyd). Floyd is of course on the EA 2012 Eventing National A Squad which is part of the London 2012 Shadow Squad so it will be interesting to see how he goes and, of course, everyone loves Jester and is really hoping that he can make a huge comeback after doing so well as the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide in November. It is so good to see him back in action. Megan also has rides at the lower levels with Kirby Park Irish Stout and Kirby Park Irish Apollo in the Preliminary but not as many rides as she has had here in previous years. Hopefully that will give her time for a quick interview with us!
Seamus Marwood and Wild Oats at Tonimbuk 2011 Photo: Toni-anne Collins
Other 3* starters include ex-Australian selector Seamus Marwood who now has the shoe on the other foot as he will be riding the very talented Wild Oats, a horse listed on the National Futures Squad; Seamus gave up his position as a selector due to his ambitions to take Wild Oats as far as he can and will be out to make his mark. However, Mrs. Marwood (Dani) may give him a run for his money riding Bumble Bee. Other local riders include Katja Weimann, Edith Kane and the evergreen and ever-fun, Del Ogilvy; among the interstate riders is Jade Findlay, owner of elite listed horse Holstein Park Leilani, being campaigned by Chris Burton in the UK.
Del Ogilvy and Grey Smudge at Tonimbuk 2011 Photo: Toni-anne Collins
In the CIC 2*, local rider Will Enzinger will have a busy weekend riding four horses; Mouse Trap, TS Jamaimo, Wyuna Clear Image and Ruban Son. Will is on a bit of a roll at the moment with a very good team of young horses; he is also riding Wenlock Aquifer in the CIC 1* who won the CNC1* at Geelong Horse Trials last weekend by a massive 14 points. His wife, Emily Anker will be riding some young ones here too in the lower sections.
Will Enzinger at Tonimbuk 2011
Indeed, although the top classes are always the drawcard, it is the grass roots riders who really make this event what it is. With 360 horses entered for the weekend, it is always a well attended event by professional and amateur riders alike.
Keen amateur eventer and ABC Radio National Presenter Libby Price competed at Tonimbuk in 2011
We’ll be keeping an eye on them all – so stay tuned on the web site for lots of photos and coverage from Tonimbuk Horse Trials over the next few days
Look out for our photographer Toni-anne Collins during the weekend and smile!
All Dressage will be on Saturday, 10th March and all Cross Country on Sunday, 11th March. Introductory and Preliminary Show Jumping will be on Saturday and Pre Novice, CIC*, CIC** & CIC*** Show Jumping will be on Sunday
