Sally and Richard Nagel (pictured above) are an instantly likeable couple. As such they are the perfect couple to be involved with a One Day Event where their cheery smiles, along with a their ability to see the glass half full rather than half empty, can go a long way to producing a happy event. The event in question is Mudgee, which takes place at the end of August (31-1 Sept).
Sally has been involved in the eventing scene for probably more years than she would care to admit and has competed across the state enjoying her sport. In 1998 a near fatal horse riding accident saw her once again looking at the bright side of life and, together with her husband Richard, she focused on the positive and began to raise funds for Careflight who had been crucial to her recovery. To date over $110,00 has been raised through the couple's ‘Black Tie Balls’. Sally and Richard have two grown up children, Benjamin and Jess, the latter of whom has followed in her mother’s footsteps with a love for eventing.
Careflight has benefited from the Nagels' efforts
Richard has a passion for the country life and runs his own business ‘Nagels Tables & More’ where he produces unique timber furniture and garden sculptures. In recent years Richard became interested in cross country designing, after attending a course at Tamworth to get first qualification in this field, he has spent much of his time designing and building fences for the Mudgee event.
One of Richard's unique tables
Richard has been working together with event riders Carlene Barton and Felicity Cribb, the latter of whom is the official course designer for the higher classes and with Sue Gunn keeping an eye on things riders can be sure of getting a course that not only looks good, but will ride well!
A beautiful finish can make all the difference
With Richard busy building fences Sally was given the job of fund raising officer, (it was obviously felt she had a talent for paperwork!) Her work paid off, and the club secured $5000 from the Mid Western Regional Council along with $15,000 from the NSW Government grant "Community Building Partnership". This money has gone towards building several new fences and local MP Andrew Gee will be coming out to the event to not only enjoy the experience but to see how the money has been spent.
A lovely inviting fence
“A brand new One Star course is being built,” said Sally “and the other courses are also being changed with new jumps for the majority of classes. We have increased our distance for the CNC* and EvA105 by obtaining access to a neighbouring property and other improvements include a viewing bank for the water jump and a spectacular view from the top of the course.
Thanks to sponsorship from Harbour ISP we are offering bonus cash prizes on top of our normal prize money including $500 for the highest placed CNC*, $500 for highest placed EvA105 and a bonus prize for riders finishing on a horse who is having its first start in 1* or EvA105.
We were hoping the additional class (CNC*) will attract more people who might have a young horse as well as a one star horse and it would make it more of a weekend if they can bring both. We took on board the comments from some riders that in the past there were too many skinny fences in the lower levels so the jumps are generally wider than they have been. This should make a very ‘green friendly course’ - ideal for any young horses making their way though the grades”.
Fewer skinny fences will be seen on the Mudgee course
The dressage, show jumping and camping for the Mudgee event is held at the Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC) on the Ulan Road, just outside Mudgee itself. The facilities at AREC are second to none with plenty of power points, water points and a good amenities block. The cross country course is, at present, on Shawwood estate owned by Charles and Melissa Tym, which is just over the road from AREC.
“The eventual aim is to move the cross country course to the AREC site,” explained Sally, “but this wont happen until we have built enough fences for all the levels, as at the moment a lot of them are owned by the Tyms family. We will also need money to put in a permanent water jump. In the meantime, the event runs very efficiently between the two venues.”
Sally and Richard are just two members of the Cudgegong Jump Club and would be the first to say that an event doesn't run smoothly without the help from all it's members. So if you haven’t been to Mudgee before, now might be a good time to think about it with classes running from EvA45 up to CNC*. The closing date for entries (via Nominate) is 14th August and the event is hoping to attract record entries just as the Havilah event (run in the same area) used to, when it ran back in the 1980’s.
PS … Anyone who volunteers as a jump judge will be invited into the VIP area between the end of cross country and presentation - now that can't be bad!
