Murray Lamperd and Under the Clocks through The Quarry to win the RACV CIC 3*
The weather held up in the Yarra Valley today for the showjumping and cross country phases for most of the classes at Wandin Park. The Preliminary and Introductory classes were well attended and competitors from these sections tackled the ‘Little Wandin’ course with gusto.
Natalie Davies, well known for her ‘Chatswood’ horses including Chatswood Sharp Move who sadly recently died, took the Bank of Bendigo Introductory Section 1 with Chatswood Captivate, adding nothing to her dressage score of 50.40.
Brooke Searle stole hearts with her little Forestway Royal Consort as well as the Bank of Bendigo Introductory Section 2 title thanks to a dressage test with a cracking score of 41.40 and a double clear cross country.
In the Maroondah Printing Preliminary Alyce Darling and King of Hearts won after a double clear cross country and clear round showjumping, so adding nothing to their dressage score of 51.10.The four visiting Japanese riders mentioned in earlier articles performed well in this section with all riders completing on their borrowed horses and Kazuhiro Yoshizawa riding Rosemarie Hazard's Flynn finishing in 6th place.
In the afternoon the top guns came out for the ‘Big Wandin’ cross country course. In the Ignite Your Brand Pre-Novice Natalie Davies once again showed that she has some lovely up and coming horses with a win on El Grado, followed in second place by Emily Anker on Glenwood Park Nichols & Dimes, who was also fifth in the MecWorma Young Event Horse class. Before the event, Emily told me that she thinks that Glenwood Park Nichols & Dimes is ‘rather special’ and it looks as if she may be right. Kate Tasker and the seemingly not appropriately named Scallywag won the Pryde’s Junior Pre-Novice
Kate Tasker and Scallywag - winners of the Pryde's Junior Pre-Novice
Another local rider who had a busy day was Katja Weimann, coming third in the Pre-Novice on BP Escapade and 8th on BP Limited (both home-bred horses I believe). Katja then rode a good cross country round with only a few time faults to place second in the CIC 3* class on BP Gallantry. Katja will head to Albury next weekend before being part of the Trans Tasman team in New Zealand which we will be reporting on.
However, it was Murray Lamperd who took home the honours and the Stubben saddle as the winner of the RACV CIC 3*class. Although Murray was rather disappointed in his dressage he was very pleased with Under the Clocks’ cross country and showjumping and they ate up the cross course with only 3.6 time. Due to business and family commitments, it has been a few years since Murray has been competing at this level at Wandin but certainly felt it was good to be back in the winner’s circle.
Will Enzinger and TS Jamaimo were the only combination to have a refusal in the CIC 3* at the Quarry, dropping him down from the leading position after dressage and showjumping but he still had a pretty good day at the office, winning the Equissage CIC 2* class on Ruban Son and placing 3rd on Wyuna Clear Image.
Will Enzinger and Ruban Son - winners Equissage CIC 2*
In the Stubben CIC 1* Chelsea Priestly and Blameitonthebear improved on their third place in the CIC 1* at Tonimbuk to win the class today. While the leader after dressage, Adam Benson unfortunately dropped to 19th place after showjumping and cross country, Chelsea took advantage of her second place after dressage and added nothing to this score to win on 46.60.
Wandin Park introduced a Young Event Horse class in 1989 as a way to recognise and encourage breeders and trainers of top eventing horses. This year the MecWorma Young Event Horse was won by Koko Pop presented by Cassie Lowe , a horse I am assuming to have been sired by 3* eventing horse Koko Black, also owned by Cassie Lowe and ridden by Robert Palm. Rob and Koko Black took third place behind Megan Jones in the Tonimbuk CIC 3* recently and looked very impressive.
From the cocktail party on Friday night to the well attended presentations on Sunday afternoon, the event combined a friendly atmosphere with good organisation, not to mention good footing and interesting courses. If Wandin Park isn’t on your calendar for next year, it should be!
The Australian CIC calendar of events now moves to Albury in NSW next weekend when we’ll be bringing you all the news from the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre. In the meantime, check back here for lots more photos, videos and interviews from Wandin Park to be uploaded over the next few days
