Will any of these riders be heading to Taupo?
WAYER (Western Australian Young Event Rider) is an innovative club developed by Pollyann Huntington. In 2014 the course relocated to Brigadoon in Western Australia (WA) where Polly had a vision for creating a top class event that matched those run in the northern hemisphere; with that in mind John Nicolson was approached to visit WA and design a CIC2* and CIC3* new cross country course in 2014 and this year there was the addition of the new CIC1* track. John’s brother Andrew Nicolson is one of the leading eventing riders in the world and inspiration drawn from overseas events has complemented his creative design; Australia is extremely lucky to have one of the best course designers in the world on our back door step. This event was also delegated as a selection event for the Oceania Eventing Championships (previously known as the Trans Tasman) adding some excitement with several riders competing for a spot on the team. After all John will be the designer at the Championships in Taupo.
With the CIC classes dressage held on the International Arena, it gave the horses a chance to perform a test with an atmosphere you would expect at a bigger event. The guest judge Christina Klingspor from Sweden was extremely complimentary of the event and very impressed with the high standard of horse and rider combinations in the star classes.
In the CIC3* Holy Bruce and Belinda Isbister led the dressage with a lovely test on 48.08, closely followed by Early Days and Makayla Wood on 50.58 and the up and coming talent Misty Isle Valentino ridden by Sonja Johnson on 56.35. In the CIC2* Touchstone Felix and Tegan Lush convincingly led the class on 44.22, followed by Venture Sky High and Shenae Lowing 50.48 and Bindaboo and Lindsay Honey on 52.81.
The CIC1* dressage saw DVZ Chevalier and Emma King leading on a competitive score of 40.6, second on the leaderboard was Boris Campbell ridden by Tegan Cook on 45.31 and then Brooklands Brew and Philippa Oversby on 46.63. The riders were extremely lucky to get fantastic feedback from the judges and get some invaluable tips on the future of eventing dressage. The relaxed horses that clearly displayed self carriage were rewarded by our European judge.
Belinda and Holy Bruce Photo courtesy RedFoto
The show jumping phase was held on the Saturday in the C Quest arena with designer Kevin Tully. Unfortunately with a European surface and a dry week in the lead up to the event some horses found the going a little deep resulting in some uncharacteristic time penalties and rails for many horses. Subsequently the placing changed a little leading into the cross country. In the 3* only Holy Bruce and Misty Isle Valentino left the rails up, with the other horses just having one rail down each. With a couple of time penalties for Holy Bruce, the lovely black mare Early Days snuck into first place. In the 2* Rebecca Thomas and DVZ Debonaire were the only combination to jump clear and under time, moving her up to 2nd place behind Touchstone Felix and Venture Sky High slipping into 3rd position. In the 1* DVZ Chevalier and Boris Campbell retained their positions with just one rail each, and moving into third position was Two Chances and Jessica Manson.
Leading into the cross country there was a chance for some riders to move up the placing’s again if they jumped clear and under time. John is an extremely artistic designer and has his finger on the pulse when it comes to modern eventing trends. John’s use of the terrain and lighter rails was the stand out difference compared to many tracks Australia wide. John definitely encouraged forward riding the minute you left the start box and the course very much told a story, with some interesting combinations testing accuracy, balance and focus.
In the CIC3* it was a tight competition as time proved difficult to get however all the 3* horses jumped classy clear rounds with some real super star horses coming through the ranks. Belinda Isbister and Holy Bruce were the only pair to go clear and under time to finish on 55.8 and to win the Olga Reveler Memorial class, very closely followed by Makayla Wood and Early Days 56.18 and Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino on 69.45. In 4th place was Jessica Manson ad Legal Star finishing on 73.28.
Kenya Wilson and Winifred Fair
The 2* class saw numerous changes to the leaderboard. The leader of the class Touchstone Felix had a copy book ride until a slight mishap towards the end of the course, subsequently Kenya Wilson and her own Winifred Fair who were 5th after the showjumping moved into 1st place to win the LattitudeXL CIC2* running clear and under time cross country finishing on 63.33. This should put Kenya into the spotlight for selection for the Young Rider Oceania Championships. Unfortunately Shenae Lowings and Venture Sky High picked up 20 penalties to move out of the placings, however it was her second horse Ballyhoo who stepped up to the mark taking out 2nd place on 65.64. Rebecca Thomas and DVZ Debonaire finished in 3rd position on 70.44.
The 1* class also saw a few changes to the leaderboard. DVZ Debonair having his first start at this level picked up a ‘green’ 20 penalties resulting in the final winner of the Kerb Doctor CIC1* being Boris Campbell and Tegan Cook (below) on 52.11, 2nd place went to Brooklands Brew and Phillippa Oversby on 53.03. It wasn’t Jessica Manson’s day with Two Chances as a difficult line caught the pair out, seeing Sarah Venn and Megapixel taking out 3rd place and finishing on their dressage score of 56.42.
Overall the WAYER committee were delighted with the event and are excited for what the future holds, aiming for it to be bigger and better in years to come. We are now lucky enough to have a truly International event that would be the envy of the east coast. With four riders in contention for the Senior and Junior Oceania Championships selection WA has truly stepped up to be a force in Australian eventing. Hopefully this event will have allowed Jessica Manson, Kenya Wilson, Shenae Lowings and Emily Grey an opportunity of selection.
Article by Belinda Isbister
