The cross country control room at Wandin Park is a sight to behold when it is in full flight. With a great view over the course the commentator paces up and down the room and follows the riders’ progress around the course providing great commentary thanks to the radio team directions. It feels a bit like being at Mission Control in Houston except you’re in an old woolshed in almost suburban Victoria watching eventers fly around the unique course. Next door, also in the Woolshed, the scoring team have their job down pat; this event is like a well oiled machine which is not surprising as it has been going many years. Even the Shetland Pony Grand National held between the end of classes and the presentations is a tradition that has been going over 30 years
John Anker, owner of Wandin Park along with his wife Angela, is like a proud father when he talks about the course at Wandin. Rightly so, as it is his initiative and drive that keeps the event going and improving. The property cuts hay (hence Fence Number 2 – William’s Hay) but otherwise is dedicated to events of this type and this year John and his course designing team headed by Ewan Kellett, has introduced two whole new courses to Big Wandin. Inspired by UK cross country designer and builder Tony Symonds, who visits each year, it was decided to add new Preliminary and Introductory courses to Big Wandin this year and they have gone down a treat with the riders.
Christine O'Hanlon and Crystalite Park Versace over one of the new portable Preliminary fences
“We didn’t make it too hard as we wanted it to encourage riders to Wandin and for them to say ‘I may not have won but I’ve completed Big Wandin’ ” said John, adding with a wry smile “I’m getting a bit soft in my old age. We even made the CIC courses a bit softer this year with less downhill jumping”
John says that most of the new course building work was thanks to a ‘convict’, meaning Ben Cook, who has migrated from England and has spent the past six weeks, ably assisted by Jarryd Stanley, building the course. Some of the new fences are portables, enabling them to be moved to Little Wandin for training purposes and John says that, over time, they will build more permanent fences on these new courses.
Not sure how Murray could miss these whopping cups and saucers
Wandin is well known for its decorative fences – one of my favourites is the CIC 2* Picnic Table, complete with Alice in Wonderland style cups and saucers. As I was checking out whether the huge crockery was real (it is) and if it was fixed (it wasn’t), Murray Lamperd was walking the course just before his ride and I asked him if he was worried about smashing the crockery.
“What cups?” he asked. Now that’s what I call focus!
Naomi White and Mighty Tosca, second in the CIC 2*, show how to leave the crockery intact
The riders who had a good weekend and took home the goodies included the following winners;
In the Intro 1 Cassie Lowe stepped up to win with Santi, the Intro 2 winner was Georgia Stephens and Sheeba, Intro 3 was Sharlene Wilson and St George Future Sailor and Intro 4 was Jennifer Peck and Aurum Lithium.
Avalon Park Toncat just loves the camera - winner of the PreNovice 2 with his mum, Leesa
Emily Anker rode a lovely cross country round on Glenwood Park Nichols & Dimes to maintain the lead in the Pre Novice 1 while Leesa Clausing won the Pre Novice 2 on the very photogenic Avalon Park Tomcat, moving up from 7th place. The Junior Pre Novice was won by Hayley Purcell and Kilburns Black Smoke
Will Enzinger and TS Jamaimo through the Quarry
With the main classes finishing off the afternoon, Will Enzinger once again triumphed in the CIC 3*. Jayne Hansen and Brookfield Sabre went into the cross country phase in poll position after dressage and show jumping but lost her lead when she had a stop. Katja Weimann, who was lying in second place, moved up with a clear round and 13.6 time penalties but the last rider to go, Will on TS Jamaimo bettered that with a clear round and only 10 time to snatch victory. He also placed third on his other 3* ride, Ruban Son, taking home a new Stubben saddle and some Domaine Chandon champagne thanks to the sponsors.
Rohan Luxmoore riding Bells N Whistles (above) won the CIC 2*, Natalie Peacock and Roskymar Prince Noreah won the CIC 1* Section 1 and Amanda Ross riding Loxley won the CIC 1* Section 2.
The MecWorma Young Event Horse class judged by Barry Roycroft (Conformation), Sue Tufnell (Dressage), Margaret Sperrin (Showing of Paces) and Mary Jane Crabtree (Show Jumping) was won by Callum Buczak’s Joie du Lys. This is a very exciting looking young horse and we’ll be bringing you more information about him in a future article.
Unlike many other events, everyone hangs around for the presentations which are done properly and it almost seems like everyone who entered got a prize.There are garlands, gifts, rugs, photos, trophies, bags of feed, champagne and saddles for the winners. As Ewan said, Wandin is a very special event
Click here for Wandin Park Horse Trials 2013 final results
