Volume
1 - 19th April 2003
Our new Eventing newsletter with all of the latest
news and competition information.Welcome to the first edition
of Eventing Australia, a collaboration between myself and Cyberhorse designed to provide
Australian eventing competitors, spectators and enthusiasts with as much up to date
information on the sport as possible.
It
is our hope that you are kept informed of the latest news, results and anything else we
can get our hands on to keep you up to date.
Sydney International Three Day Event Preview
CCI***
This year’s Sydney event will be an interesting one for several reasons:
Selectors, media and the public will be analysing the performance of Catherine Davies’ Queen’s Ransom and Lydia Lawrence’s Scrumpy Jack. Given that they are likely to be under a microscope as the only national squad combinations entered, their performances will be closely monitored and it will be interesting to see how they handle the pressure.
The other main attraction is the number of combinations desperately seeking the glance of a selectors eye with fast approaching Athens in mind. Established riders with new horses (Stuart Tinney), established riders with not-so-new horses (David Middleton, Tim Boland and Co) established riders on borrowed horses (Megan Jones) and up-and-coming riders knocking on the door (Will Enzinger and Penny Challacombe) all make for an exciting event.
So lets start with a look at the CCI*** class, who’s competing and what we can expect…
[No. 68] Blair Richardson and Souvenir
Souvenir has had recent runs at Albury where he took it easy cross country then Berrima a few weeks later where he picked up the pace but still clocked 24 time (no one went clear at Berrima, the fastest still bagging 12.4 time). Stablemate to the more fancied of Blair’s rides, Makinground, Souvenir needs to improve his showjumping if he is to have any chance on the final day – at Albury he dropped 2 rails when most went clear and at Berrima he was the only horse to drop 2 rails in the advanced.
[No. 69] David Middleton and Armitage Downie Warlord
Now is the time for David to bring Warlord and the grey RUNVS out of the shadows of the recently departed Willowbank Jack, who now calls home with British rider Eddy Stibbe. After taking 2nd behind RUNVS in the Advanced at Wandin in 2002 Warlord came back to his favourite hunting ground in 2003 to take out the CIC***. Like all of Middleton’s horses, Warlord very rarely clocks up time. His flat work is solid and usually produces something special – which should see him lying in the top ten after day one. Many used to say that Mark Todd’s little Charisma would showjump by grade – he would tap everything – and Warlord is much the same, showjumping is this horses Achilles heel (or should I say fetlock?). If he can master that phase he will be up there with the best of them. Look for a top five finish from Warlord.
[No. 71] Tim Boland and Limitless
Like Warlord, Limitless is another knocking on selectors doors. A horse with an impressive resume, in 2002 Limitless took 2nd at the advanced at Scone, 3rd at the CIC*** NSW State Champions at Goulburn and finished the year with a 2nd at Puhinui CCI three star in New Zealand. More recently Tim had success with a 6th place at the 2003 NSW State Champs with one of the faster rounds at Albury but did not take the usual path and compete at Berrima. Reliable cross country and rarely has more than a rail showjumping, Limitless is a genuine contender for Sydney but has to make the top five or six after day one to be in with a chance, a feat which this horse has proved he is capable of.
[No. 72] Will Enzinger and Wenlock Ben Ivor
This horse has had an interesting run into Sydney this year – a 5th at the Victorian State Champs at Tonimbuk then two weeks later a retire on course at Wandin. Will got the big bay going again though, taking him up to Albury to take out the CNC Advanced division then holding that form for one more week to take out the Advanced at Berrima with the fastest round. At Tonimbuk, Wandin, Albury and Berrima this year Ben Ivor placed in the top six after the dressage. Despite some problems at Wandin where he retired cross country, the horse has shown he is a capable of handling a big track but problems will come on day 3 – if you sorted the classes on showjumping performance alone you would find Ben Ivor in the bottom third at all his events this year. Unless every horse pulls 3 rails at Sydney this year Will and Ben Ivor need to improve in the showjumping phase of the competition.
[No. 75] Penny Challacombe and Apparition
This combination is my dark horse for Sydney. Their major outing for 2003 was the NSW State Championship at Albury where they pulled themselves up from 6th after the dressage with the 2nd fastest cross country round and had only the 1 rail to consolidate 2nd place. Apparition produces a solid test as shown by his 2nd place after day one at Adelaide three star last year before incurring elimination cross country. After Adelaide last year, Penny bought Apparition back down to two star to take out the Berrima three day event. This year, Apparition was entered for Berrima as his final run before Sydney but was scratched prior to the event. Penny should now have the horse ready for another three star run. Look for a top ten finish from this exciting pair.
[No. 76] Dale Frew and Supreme Court
Dale and Supreme Court’s claim to fame is their 8th place in the four star at Adelaide last year. Another horse who works well over day 1 and 2 but lets himself down on day 3. At Adelaide he had 4 rails and Sydney three day 2002 he pulled 3. Always in the top ten after dressage Supreme Court can be trouble cross country (he had a refusal at Adelaide and retired on course at Albury this year) but Dale should have ironed out any minor problems ahead of Sydney.
[No. 78] Catherine Davies and Queen’s Ransom
Catherine should be pretty happy with Ransom’s performance this year, after leading the Victorian State Championships at Tonimbuk on a score of 47.40 the horse was a little slow cross country and surrendered the championship to David and RUNVS, Ransom taking home 3rd. Yet another Australian combination that have, shall we say, “issues” with the showjumping. At Melbourne two star last year they were lying 1st after the dressage, 1st after the cross country but somehow ended up in 10th place on the Monday. How could that be you ask? 2 words to answer your question: 6 rails. Then again they did win Adelaide two star last year so… Back to 2003 and NSW almost had a Tasmanian take home their state champs when Catherine lead going into the final phase but a fast-tiring Ransom pulled 3 rails (the only horse to do so) and they slipped to 3rd. Queen’s Ransom is a very fast horse when Catherine puts the pedal down and you should see them in the top ten on day 3, but the point that Catherine needs to prove to selectors is whether Ransom can consolidate and hold his form through to the 3rd day.
[No. 86] Lydia Lawrence and Scrumpy Jack
Scrumpy Jack and Lydia were placed onto the national ‘A’ squad in January this year. At Wandin two star this year Scrumpy Jack was first after the dressage (they came home with 3rd place) but a week later at Albury he had a bad day at the office to finish in last place after the dressage! Back to his best at Berrima after jumping clear in the showjumping Lydia decided not to run him cross country. The twelve year old chestnut by Raise a Stanza is a beautiful horse to watch and should be fresh for Sydney. Look for a top ten finish.
[No. 87] Georgia Clifford and Let It Rain
A funny horse this one. I had the pleasure of watching this energetic (and I use that word lightly) mare at Wandin this year and I honestly thought Georgia was lucky to stay on in the dressage phase. The big bay mare gets extremely tense and her score makes it hard for Georgia to make any impression on the leader board. At Melbourne last year they were lying in last place, Adelaide 3rd last, Wandin last and Albury 2nd last. Strangely, showjumping seems to be her strongest phase (rarely pulling more than 2 rails) and if Georgia can keep her under control in phase 1 and 2, which would be a triumph in itself, Let It Rain could certainly be in there with a placing.
[No. 88] Megan Jones and Jose
Lyn Coombe’s gorgeous 11 year old by High Courage is Megan’s only three star ride at Sydney this year, the elite squad listed Irish Jester being saved with the Trans Tasman in mind. This horse, who competed in the intermediate Victorian state champs this year with Lyn and was eliminated cross country, was handed to Megan for Wandin where he was lying 5th after the two star dressage before giving Megan two refusals cross country to finish out of the placing’s. Stepping him up to a three star after two disappointing two star runs is a big ask for the horse but if anyone can do it, Megan can.
[No. 89] Stuart Tinney and RL Taxman
Previously ridden by Guy Wallace and Christopher Burton, RL Taxman is a product of Hawkesbury Eventing Centre now being campaigned by Stuart. He is a proven performer taking out the advanced at Goondiwindi in 2001 and 2nd at Melbourne two star with Guy in 2000. Taxman’s weakest link is his dressage phase – at Albury and Berrima with Stuart this year he was lying at the bottom of the field. But what this horse lacks in dressage prowess he more than makes up for in his jumping ability. Save for some time penalties RL Taxman has jumped clear at both Albury and Berrima this year. And that includes both showjumping rounds folks, which, given the problem our Aussie horses are having with this phase, may lift him up a few spots when in matters.
[No. 90] Blair Richardson and Makinground
Another horse who has international potential and is solid cross country and showjumping. At Berrima this year he showed why he is ready to step up to three star and make an impact after a brilliant round cross country and showjumping which he jumped clear to take out 2nd place in the highly competitive advanced class ahead of Will and Wenlock Ben Ivor. With his recent form and pending his dressage performance he should, on paper, finish somewhere in the top ten.
[No. 91] David Middleton and RUNVS
Out of the field of 24 vying for three star honours at Sydney, RUNVS is the horse with the most impressive resume. In 2002 he won the advanced at Wandin and was leading the four star dressage at Adelaide when David pulled him up during the cross country. He opened his 2003 campaign by taking out the Victorian advanced state championships at Tonimbuk then backed it up with a close fourth place at Wandin CIC three star. RUNVS is a competent horse who can produce a leading dressage test, be accurate and fast cross country and back it up with a solid showjumping round. If everything goes to plan you could expect a top five finish for David and the grey.
So there you have it. If you have the chance to go to Sydney, do be sure to get yourself down there and witness the best Australia has to offer, drag your parents, beg them if you have to, just get down there and be part of it. With Adelaide on the rocks it’s important to ensure we give as much support as possible to our remaining international events – and the best way to do that is to provide your attendance and pay the entry feel.
If you have any comments on this issue or would like to share some eventing news such as rider or horse injuries, horses with new riders, new sponsorship deals, event news from secretary’s etc, top horses sold or for sale and anything else you think the eventing community would be interested in, please email me at afawcettjournalist@hotmail.com and I will include it in the next issue.
Until next time, have a safe and happy Easter.
Adam Fawcett.