The beautiful Brookleigh Estate has hosted many top eventing competitions in Western Australia over the years but WAYER at Brookleigh on 20th & 21st April 2013 was the last one. Thanks to Sonja Johnson for her report (and congratulations on winning the 3*!) and thanks to the lovely Nikki Harwood for the many events held at her property over the years
Sonja Johnson, winner of the 3* with Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison, owned by Nikki Harwood Photo: Red Foto Event Photography
Western Australia may have farewelled Nikki Harwoods’ Brookleigh Equestrian estate as an eventing competition venue but at least it went out with a great event. The weather was kind, the organisers friendly and everyone seemed to enjoy the weekend.
The 2* and 3* did their dressage in front of GJ Gill Rolton, Helen Christie and Elaine Greene under lights indoors on the Friday night. There was a distinct difference between the standard of the 2* and the 3*. Many of the 2* looked like new combinations recently upgraded while the top four tests in the 4* were really very good.
In the 2* Gabby Pither had a lead over Bec Thomas while in the 3* Sonja Johnson’s Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison edged out her other horse Belfast Mojito from Belinda Isbister on Holy Bruce and Lindsay Honey on Bindaboo.
The 1* and EvA105 dressage was all on Saturday as was all of the show jumping. Tegan Lush on Touchstone Felix (a stock horse by Black wood Mikado who is also the sire of Belfast Mojito) was in the lead in the 1*from Deon Stokes on Koyuna Levi. Cindy Lyle on the lovely GI Joe took then held the lead to the finish in the EvA105 class A. As this is Cindy’s second win from two starts this year no doubt many riders will be delighted she is upgrading at the next event.
In the EvA105 class B Laurelle Hayes took the lead after dressage but this super young horse having its first start at the grade was overtaken by Kate Jankowski on Brookleigh’s Cascading Colours. This was very apt as Colours belongs to Nikki and is the only horse to ever be bred at Brookleigh
Kaitlyn Oldfield was victorious in the junior division.
The show jumping course was designed by Peter Cooke and was tough enough. The arena is not big and Peter had 12 fences including a double and a treble in for the 3*. Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison produced the only clear round to extend his lead while in the 2* there were no clear rounds. Out of the 35 1* starters there were 9 clear rounds.
The cross country course looked great with a question that had the ground jury scratching their heads (particularly when as they said the 3* made it look like a training fence). Ewan Kellett had two years ago built a copy of a fence seen at Saumur, which was angle up a bank with a hedge set at 90 degrees to the bank on a bounce distance. Interestingly in the four competitions it has been used for it has never caused a problem
Other good 3* fences included a solid bounce into water with a drop landing then three strides to a triple brush water to water, a three stride 90 degree blind turn skinny T to skinny T and the second water which was big brushed drop in curved four strides to a bounce of steps out of water with a curved three strides to a narrow chair.
Fortunately the aerator purchased with rider funds raised by rider levies was, thanks to Ian Isbister, put to very good use, which made the going acceptable. Even so only Belfast Mojito made time (rider error resulted in Illicit Liaison having 0 .8) Apart from a silly stop at the skinny T jump all riders went clear on cross country so it was a clear win to Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison from Belfast Mojito and then Holy Bruce.
Rebecca Thomas - winner of the 2* Photo: Red Foto Event Photography
In the 2* Rebecca Thomas kept her lead from young rider Lauren Browne.
Sad as it is to lose the venue, Western Australia has been incredibly lucky to enjoy Nikki’s hospitality at her beautiful property. Wayne Copping did the initial design then Ewan Kellett took over while Tom Compagnoni did the course for this final event.
It was fabulous that Nikki’s two horses both won the grades they were in and a fitting conclusion to a great chapter of WA eventing
