Everything is looking very 'schmick' at Wallaby Hill
Wallaby Hill has once again excelled everyone’s expectation and provided the perfect first day for their popular Horse Trials. The day started early with dressage for the lower levels kicking off at 8.30 and ran until 8pm as the final rider in the EA Exhibition Eventing completed their test.
One of the lower level judges commented that although she had judged quite a big class it didn’t feel like hard work because they had been so well looked after. “We all love coming to Wallaby Hill,” said Andrea Webb, who judged the EvA80 junior class. “We kept well supplied with drinks and food and everything ran so well we even finished a few minutes early.”
Technical delegate for the event, Vince Roche, was also complimentary about the event. “If all events were as well organised as Wallaby Hill we would all be very happy. Everything looks great here and everything is done as it should be, which makes my job much easier. The only thing I would have to say to the committee is that maybe next time could they give me a motorbike with more wheels!”
Luckily TD Vince Roche is a Doctor!
Every member of the Wallaby Hill team were out working hard this morning putting the finishes touches on the course including Derek Pascoe (below) who owns the property with his wife Alex Townsend. One of the several new fences out on the course was the Train fence with individual carriages for the CNC2*, 1* and EvA105 classes.
“I’m really pleased with the way everything is looking,” said course designer Ewan Kellet. “The ground is hard in places but we have done everything possible to make it as good as it can be. We have been irrigating using the dam water and have put down sand and sawdust where necessary.”
Ewan Kellet with some flowery finishing touches for the cross country the course
Having not boarded a plane for overseas Shane Rose was in full force at Wallaby Hill with a team of 11 horses from Bimbadeen Park. “I was meant to be riding Virgil at Pau but he injured himself a few days before I was due to get on the plane to UK. So Virgil is now in quarantine and we’re looking forward to him coming home soon. But looking on the bright side we’ve managed to bring a lot of horses here this weekend and it’s always nice to enjoy the hospitality of Wallaby Hill.”
Tim Boland had a busy but rewarding day and goes into tomorrow leading not only the Gow Gates CNC2* and ANZ Private CNC* but also the Horsegym EvA95B. Riding Napoleon in the CNC2* Tim was the only rider to impress the judges enough to make it into the 40’s … just … and goes into tomorrow on a score of 49.7. In the CNC* it was the turn of Waratah Astronomical to shine while in the EvA95B Dynamic produced the winning test for Tim, with a score of 43.2.
Jeanan Yasseen finishes her winning test on Superleggera
In the PMH EvA105 class Jeanan Yasseen was happy with her test which scored 46.8 and put her into the lead at the end of the day. “I’m happy with that,” said Jeanan who was sporting a few facial brusies from an incident at Scone last weekend. “I didn’t even get them when I was riding it was just one of those things that happen when you are on the ground dealing with horses.”
The Macarthur Urology EvA105 junior class is being led by Jordyn Faint riding Double S & Evergreen Jackpot but with only 18 points between first to last in this field there may be a few changes to the positions tomorrow.
In the Open EvA80 second placed Bruce Farrar, recently appointed as CEO for Equestrian NSW, was enjoying his weekend. “I bought Anzac from Judy Clarke and he is just a dream to ride … 72% how good is that! It’s so nice to ride a horse that has been so beautifully schooled and I now get the pleasure of getting on and really enjoying all Judy’s hard work.”
The Exhibition Eventing started at 7pm and ran on into the dark with the Wallaby Hill Solar lights (above) shining brightly as riders made their way from the warm up area to the indoor arena. We’ll have a full report on the Exhibition Eventing class tomorrow.
Crystal Conning and Mustang take part in the Exhibition Eventing class
With temperatures set to rise above 30 degrees c tomorrow it’s going to be a day for sunblock and sun hats while spectators try to find any available piece of shade to watch the show jumping and cross country.
