Last year's CIC 3* winner Megan Jones will not be competing at Tonimbuk for the first time in many years due to a back problem
Although there have been a few CNC and training events around Australia in the summer months, autumn sees the real start of international level eventing (CIC/CCI) with Tonimbuk Horse Trials on the 9th and 10th March.
It may be autumn but the weather can still be pretty hot in Victoria in March and this weekend will be no exception. The forecast is for warm weather all week leading up to a sunny 33 degrees on Saturday and 35 on Sunday, which means that cross country day will be hot in more ways than one.
The Tonimbuk Horse Trials are held at Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, about 90 minutes south east of Melbourne. The venue boasts two huge indoor arenas with good viewing galleries, two large sand outdoor arenas and a grassed area which can hold up to four dressage arenas; there are also great stabling facilities for the many horses on site during the event.
This year there are over 350 entries which include nine riders in the CIC 3*, 22 in the CIC 2* and 51 in the CIC 1* while there are two Pre-Novice sections, three Preliminary sections and three Introductory sections. Let’s take a quick look at some of those in the CIC who will be aiming for a good start to the season ........
It will be good to see Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats back eventing
After his cross country round at Lakes and Craters in December on TS Jamaimo, a very happy Will Enzinger told me that they now had a qualification for the 2013 Australian International 3 Day Event; sadly this was not to be as they jumped the wrong course in the showjumping and were eliminated. Will and Jamaimo will be back at Tonimbuk looking for another good run and Will also has Ruban Son (last year’s 2* winner here) in this class. Murray Lamperd will be running the 2012 Australian 3DE CCI 4* third place getter, Under the Clocks, who he is aiming for Badminton, Rob Palm and the lovely Koko Black who were third in this class last year will be back and it will be a return to eventing for Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats who have been busy show jumping for the past six months.
Joe Waldron and Springvale All Black at Kihikihi 2012 Photo: Libby Law
Will and Murray both have horses in the CIC 2* but Amanda Ross and William Wordsworth would probably be the favourites in this class on their current form. Isabel Houghton had a great cross country run on Mohito at in the CCI 2* at Adelaide last year to finish the day in fourth place; sadly she had to withdraw the next day but let’s hope she makes it through here. Interestingly Joe Waldron, who now rides for New Zealand but did live in Victoria for a while, is riding two horses in this class – Springvale All Black (nominated by New Zealand) and Eminence. In January Joe was one of four riders named on the New Zealand high performance eventing accelerator squad
The CIC 1* is chock a block with talented horse and rider combinations but one we’ll be watching with great interest is Alex Townsend who will be making the trip from Wallaby Hill in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Alex will be competing two horses recently brought over from the UK, Bendigo and Mumbo Jumbo as well as the very attractive Parodie. This class is the first of the Alltech Equine Advantage Eventing Series which runs at 1* level at five events throughout the year; riders wishing to nominate for the Series starting at Tonimbuk can still do so until Friday 8th March
It’s going to be a big weekend so stay tuned for #eventinglive updates on our Facebook page and Twitter and of course our photo galleries, full coverage and results each night here on the website.
We’ll also be videoing every cross country round on Sunday and footage will be available to purchase here on An Eventful Life
