The water jump in Rymill Park is a feature of the cross country course that everyone loves to gather around on the Saturday of the Australian International 3 Day Event. The beautiful jacarandas provide a lovely backdrop, the shade is a perfect place to picnic and the green water is …………… well, interesting.
Yes, it’s green. But before you worry about the riders taking a ducking (actually there are plenty of ducks to keep them company) and imbibing some alien water, let’s hear what the experts say.
Professor Michelle Waycott, Chief Botanist of the State Herbarium of South Australia sent staff to check out the water recently and in her blog Biodiversity Revolution, assures that the water contains nothing worse than duckweed and harmless green algae.
These provide great eating for local birds and Professor Waycott suggests that there may be plenty of waterbird activity around the pond – however the birdies may decide to ‘duck’ for cover when a host of horses start splashing through the pond on Saturday
So, don’t be concerned when the riders head towards the jumps at Fence 26, including the aptly named Rymill Park Duck In and Duck Out, as the water will do them and their horses no harm at all. No doubt the riders will have plenty of other thoughts on their mind as they head towards it. Here's some water jump footage we took last year - a duck's eye view
