If she's not too busy organising, you'll probably find Alex competing one of here horses - pictured here with Geoff Spears, one of the Wallaby Hill team who,she says, make it all possible
“Sometime people have this idea that what happens overseas is always bigger and better but I don’t think that’s always the case” says Alex Townsend of Wallaby Hill Farm
There are certainly plans afoot at Wallaby Hill Farm in the Southern Highlands of NSW, Australia to create a showcase venue for eventing that rivals boutique events in any country. British born Alex, with the backing of her parents Anthony and Carolyn, intends to run a CCI3* at her property in 2016 and is moving heaven and earth (quite literally, lots of earth) to make it happen. In 2014 Alex and her husband Derek Pascoe bought the adjoining property, enabling them to create a full CCI3* course, and who better to create that than Mike Etherington-Smith? In December this year they will run a CIC3* and there was plenty of work in progress when we attended their CNC event in February, as you can see in the photos below.
We talked to Alex about their plans for the property and future events and how the work was going. The map below also gives an outline of the areas that Alex is talking about
Alex Townsend
Looking from the area where the new water jump and coffin complex will be built, the property Ridgeview (which now forms part of Wallaby Hill) will provide facilities for Will Forrester's breaking business including a round yard and stables (see below). Earthworks are currently underway for the new grass dressage arenas, which can be seen to the left of the picture above
The existing water jump, currently at the end of the course, will be in the middle of the new course designed by Mike E-S
