Charlotte Lalak and Barrelyn Warlord
It wasn’t just the International classes that were well attended at the NSW State Championships at Lynton, Goulburn but the EvA95 and EvA105 levels were also busy with three divisions of 105 and four divisions of 95.
Charlotte Lalak – one of the seemingly many Lalak children that must do a story about as they are such lovely riders - won the Goulpro Power Pumps 'n' Sheds EvA95 Junior class on Barrelyn Warlord, having added nothing to their dressage score of 47.90. Ruby Haylock was ahead of Charlotte after the dressage but a show jumping rail cost them the win when the leader after dressage, Jordyn Faint on Bradgate Park Don Palermo was eliminated during the cross country
Isobel Williams and the mouthwateringly gorgeous Heatheron Park Chocolat (above) and Claire Hewson riding another lovely horse, Waratah Astronomical (below)
Isobel Williams and Heatherton Park Chocolat, previously ridden by Nina Griffiths in Victoria, won the Gavin Rowley Building Contractor EvA95 A and Claire Hewson riding Waratah Astronomical won the Baxter Boots EVA95 C ahead of Nat Blundell and her very pretty palomino Riverside Princess and Jess Grossman in third on Jirrima Eureka
Jess Grossman with and without her 'lucky' plaits with Noblewood Cloudbreak (left) and Belmont Backstage (right)
We love Jess' hair when she is on cross country and her ‘lucky’ plaits obviously worked for her this weekend at Goulburn, also winning the Goulpro Power Pumps ‘N Sheds EVA95 B on Noblewood Cloudbreak on their dressage score of 36.90. Christine Bates and Bluebirds Sandpiper led the dressage but a rail in the show jumping gave them a score of 37.60 to finish in second and Sam Fasher on Furst Fiachra was third
Jess Grossman
Luke Harmer and Cullendale Ricochet
In the Wariapendi Farm Nursery EVA105 A, Luke Harmer riding Cullendale Ricochet won the class by a country mile on his dressage score of 37.90, way ahead of second placed Caroline Bew (54.40) and Christine Bates (54.70). Sadly we didn’t get the chance to chat to Luke as he was ready to hit the road back to Queensland, but we certainly will the next time we see him and the beard means that we’ll recognise him (please don’t shave it off Luke)
He has the look of Totilas too - Wimborne Constable and Heath Ryan receive their prize
Despite not having a beard, Heath Ryan is certainly not one to be easily missed, nor is his stallion Wimborne Constable. This horse is by Contenda but also has some serious dressage bloodlines with Bolero on his sire’s side and Gribaldi (sire of the famous Totilas) his dam sire. Not surprisingly, Heath and Wimborne Constable led the dressage on a score of 35.10, a whopping 14.6 penalties ahead of second placed Kim Leibowitz riding Widgee Total Tribute. Heath didn’t need them – he added only two time penalties on cross country for an impressive win of the Australasian Rubber EvA105 B
Madison Gielen - winner of the Cardy & Co Encouragement Award
Thea Horsley and Fairview Rembrandt won the Chris Rowlands & Associates EvA105 Junior with Western Australia’s Madison Gielen in second and fifth places riding ESB Golden Elf and Devereaux Top up and another Lalak, this time Olivia in third place on Koko Bean. Madison also won the Cardy & Co Encouragement Award, created by Alan Cardy, the owner of Lynton, as an encouragement award for a Junior Rider at this event who shows sportsmanship and good horsemanship.
Madison was quite emotional about winning the award and also the great support she has received from her coach Christine Bates in recent times, saying “I can’t thank Christine enough for all she has done in the past five weeks while I have been staying with her. I’m just so grateful, she’s such a great coach, always there and offering help, it’s made such a difference”
Madison came over from Western Australia to compete at the National Interschool Championships in Sydney and has been based with her during that time; the $1,000 provided by the Cardy & Co Encouragement Award may well be spent on helping her to travel back here next year so that she can compete again on the east coast and be coached by Christine.
Christine Bates was busy coaching as well as riding - here on the second placed Bluebirds Sandpiper in the EvA95 B
