As temperatures soar and the wind blows in NSW organisers of the Wallaby Hill Horse Trials will be hoping that the weather settles down before their event this weekend. As it stands at the moment and if the meteorological office can be believed the temperature on Saturday will be in the high 20’s while Sunday should see things cool off a little and drop back to low 20’s – either way it’s not going to be cold at Wallaby Hill … famous last words!
As well as running classes from EvA80 up to CNC2* Wallaby Hill are also playing host to a qualifying round of Equestrian Australia’s Exhibition Eventing. This will make for a long day on Saturday with dressage tests for the lower levels starting at 8.30am while the dressage for the Exhibition Eventing doesn’t get underway until 7pm. Hopefully by doing this those riders who are staying on the grounds and have finished for the day will be able to enjoy some evening entertainment watching this class in Wallaby Hill’s impressive indoor arena.
At the end of the day Wallaby Hill is a lovely venue to chill out and enjoy a beer or a pick of grass
The Exhibition Eventing has attracted a field of nine with Shane Rose and Tim Boland running two horses each. Many of you may be thinking that Shane Rose should have back in UK heading for Pau with Virgil but it seems that those plans have come a little undone - we'll find out more from Shane on the weekend.
Tim is also running his Exhibition Eventing horses, Umunga and Lord Limmerick, in the Gow-Gates CNC2* along with a third 2* ride Napoleon – gee his back up crew are going to be busy! Alice Scamps-Goodman, like Tim, is also doubling up her Exhibition Eventing entry by running As Tully in the ANZ Private CNC* as well.
The EvA105 class has been split into two divisions with our own bloggers, Kate MacKenzie and Michelle Robson riding in the PMH sponsored section. Michelle is not long back from her trip to UK with Shane Rose and horses and I’m sure will be keen to get out there and blow away the cobwebs while Kate will be as determined as ever to finish in the top half rather than the bottom half of the leaderboard – go Kate!
Another blogger, Jaymee Tinney, is riding Gossip Girl in the Macarthur Urology Junior EvA105 class while Jordyn Faint will be kept busy riding two horses in the nine horse field.
With two sections of EvA95 class and three sections of EvA80 the lower level classes are as popular as ever and those riders will have their busiest day on Saturday where there complete their dressage and show jumping, coming back for their cross country on Sunday morning.
The VIP tent at the last Wallaby Hill event
While everyone will enjoy the outstanding facilities that Wallaby Hill has to offer those who have bought VIP tickets are in for a treat with catering provided by Pheasants Nest Produce (who also catered for Equestriad) and wines by the Southern Highlands Winery St Maur. The VIP tent will be situated by the water-jump in the heart of the action for cross country day and in prime position for the jumping phase of the Exhibition Eventing.
An Eventful Life will be there trying to keep up with everything that is going on this weekend so keep checking back for photos and report.
