It’s not just the competitors who are back at Tonimbuk – the volunteers are back too. Anthea Wood was busy stewarding and found the perfect spot to keep an eye on all the dressage arenas and warm-up areas at the Shark Net Apex, on loan from local rider Seumas Marwood
The conditions were perfect today for eventing in Gippsland, Victoria today for the first CIC event of the Australian season – a bit of cloud, cool and dry with recent rain having settled the new outdoor arenas and making the going good for tomorrow’s cross country on the new course designed by Ewan Kellett (listen our interview about the course with Ewan here)
Everyone seemed pleased to be able to attend the event that was missed off last year’s calendar due to the purchase of the venue by Hanson Quarry (listen to our interview with Kate Wallis about how the quarry plans affects the event going forward here) - the Pakenham Produce & Saddlery Tonimbuk Horse Trials. The large car park in front of the two large distinctive indoor arenas which have lain dormant for 18 months was soon busy with floats, trucks, horses and trade stands as riders milled around between the indoor and outdoor arenas on a day that saw dressage for all classes and some show jumping.
In past years the CIC1*, 2* and 3* dressage tests have been held in the second indoor arena but it was the lower classes today who had the fun of riding under cover and under scrutiny. In between the two large indoor arenas is a communal space which houses on one side a row of trade stands behind spectator seating while on the other side, behind a glass partition, is the VIP and officials catering area overlooking the other, slightly larger, indoor arena. Although not packed with people, there is plenty of coming and going which can cause some distraction for the horses and their riders. For more experienced combinations this is not a problem but for some of the riders in this morning’s EvA80 it was something new. Ashleigh Atwell rides the very cute and quite feisty nine year old Welsh cob cross Champagne Alfonso who, although he is only 13hh, has the presence of a much bigger horse! Ashleigh rode the nine year old Welsh cob cross really well today but he was a little bit tense in the indoor arena and he really ‘needed to take a breath’ says Ashleigh
“He has been ridden indoors at Werribee Park but today I just couldn’t get him to relax. He can be pretty hot and he started to relax in the outdoor warm-up which was good but then the change of venue to the indoor arena got him going again! It’s always frustrating when you know they can do so much better but that’s how it goes”
Ashleigh's expression says it all!
When asked if he is more focussed on the cross country course, Ashleigh laughed and said
“He gets very focussed on the cross country course, sometimes a bit too much focussed on the fences, rather than me! He just loves to jump and once we were eliminated for jumping a fence backwards – he just saw it and honed in on it; despite all my efforts, the fact it wasn’t our fence and the fact that we were approaching it from the wrong side, he was still sure it should be jumped and he did”
We can’t wait to see what Champagne Alfonso will get up to on cross country tomorrow! Vivienne Higgins and Delta Moon currently lead the Lowe Farms EvA80A, Linda Williams riding the delightfully named Linbil Fairy Steps lead the Regulator Thoroughbreds EvA80B and Emma Risely riding Mandalay Little Miss Naughty heads up the Ride With Elegance EvA80C after dressage and show jumping
The EvA95 classes also completed both dressage and show jumping today but some of the show jumping scores are not yet to hand. Megan Jones led the Hygain EvA95A after dressage on one of her new rides here today, the 9 year old grey History, who does indeed have a history as a show hack, prompting one person to remark as Megan came out of the arena ‘That horse looks like he should have a garland around his neck’.
Now who does this remind you of? Megan and History
“He’s lost so many kilos and he still has lots to go” says Megan but there can be no doubt that this is talented horse, leading the dressage on a score of 29.40, giving the very experienced Megan a personal best score, and adding nothing to it in the show jumping. The clear round is not surprising as this horse has not only had a show pony career so far but also competed in the Jumping with the Stars Young Horse class as a four year old and is, according to Megan, a real jumper.
In the Equissage EvA95B Amanda Ross is making a comeback on another impressive looking horse, a big bay mare called Sandy Creek Kiewa (above) who was in second place on a score of 43.70 behind Teegan Ashby’s stunning stallion Desert Storm who scored 41.10. We found out more about Sandy Creek Kiewa from Amanda
Amanda Ross interview
Teegan was also riding a new horse Tulara Don Moon in the Hard Az Concreting EvA95C to be in equal fourth place with Wendy Jeffree and Keniski but it was Kylie Pedder and Aris Amerigo who led this class after the dressage on 34.60. Keniski is of course a past 4* horse, ridden in those days by Emily Anker, and Wendy is thrilled to have the ride on him but today wasn’t their day in the show jumping and they opted to retire. They weren’t the only past 4* horse and new rider combination here today; Jemma Clark was riding Koyuna Tora Bora in the same class and they enjoyed a great show jumping round but not the best dressage so they too decided to call it a day and save the 17 year old mare’s legs for Wandin while Marlee Carter riding Adam Benson’s past 4* horse, the 19 year old Enthusiast, was 13th after the dressage in the EvA95B. While Jemma and Wendy may not have the best day it’s great to see these horses out and looking so good in their later years – we’ll be bringing you more stories about these talented ‘seniors’ soon
The EvA105 classes show jump tomorrow but after dressage it is Megan Jones yet again leading the Valley Horsewear EvA105A on Kirby Park Poseidon (38.30). Megan was one whose horse was certainly not distracted by noises in the indoor arena to produce a lovely test while Kelly McPherson and CP Thundercat are leading the Malcolm Byrne Performance Saddlery EvA105B on a score of 45.
This evening the fun continues with show jumping under lights for the CIC2* and CIC3* classes in an arena which has seen many World Cup Jumping shows. The effect of jumping indoors and under lights today could be seen for many combinations with quite a few sudden refusals but the new surface stood up well to the rigours of the many competitors and show jumping co-ordinator Paul Williams was happy that all the work put in to restore the surface had done the job.
Tania Harding and Jirrima Yorkshire put their best foot forward but couldn't beat Will and Wenlock Aquifer
The FEI classes were dominated by Megan Jones and Will Enzinger after the dressage with Megan leading the CIC2* on Kirby Park Impress and also third on Kirby Park Invader with Will in second place on Mousetrap (another evergreen equine) and fourth on a relatively new ride that many of our New Zealand readers will know, Britannica. Will also leads the CIC3* class which only had four riders in it today but the riders of the two ‘newbies’ to 3* level, Nat Davies and Nina Clarke were pleased their horses LP Boudin and Chatswood Captivate, both having their first 3* start here. Will has a fairly good lead (42.80) riding Wenlock Aquifer, a horse that was recently named on the long list for the Oceania Championships, over second placed Tania Harding and Jirrima Yorkshire (53.70) but we’ll have to wait and see what the show jumping brings this evening
In the CIC1* Linda Williams and her big Linbil White Russian (no fairy steps here) lead after the dressage on 41.30 ahead of Tania Harding and Jirrima Yabba Dabba Doo
Tomorrow we'll be videoing all riders on the cross country course but in the meantime, here's how Will and Aquifer strutted their stuff in the dressage today
Interim results available here
