So after the wonderful Masterclass which everyone seemed to enjoy and the test ride the CCI dressage starts at 1.00pm – and yes, it was worth the wait…

First out honours this year went to Tim Boland and 2001 NSW Horse of the Year Limitless. After a nice entry and square halt at A they go fast, slow then fast again through the M to E to F movement - the horse looks a little tense and the rhythm drops off a little. The pair redeem themselves with a lovely loose overtracking walk across the diagonal. 1^st change is a little abrupt but the 2^nd is nice. Overall it resembled the effort at Sydney five weeks ago – polished and professional. The three judges (Jean at C, Barry at M and Gill at E) mark an even 163-162-163 respectively to give them 52.4 and 4^th place out of a 10 horse field.

Next out is Nicky Turner and Warrie Hill. The former Kerry Packer polo pony looked fit but tense before the bell had even rung. The canter entry lacks any impulsion and the neck is very short. After swinging his quarters out on the 2^nd 10 metre circle the horse breaks his first trot transition with a quick canter at X before Nicky pulls him back into line. Not helped with his halt at A by some idiot in the crowd fiddling with a plastic bag the horse is looking everywhere but straight ahead. The 1^st change was huge but they managed it and after the 2^nd follows suit Warrie Hill moves up the centre line switching from a 3 to 4 beat canter and back again. A nice halt gives some comfort to the pair and they manage a 66.0 for 7^th.

Nina Clarke has proved me wrong!. In my preview I said you would find Lockley’s Park Monet in his "trademark" double bride. Then he enters the arena in a snaffle! Prove me wrong as it did, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to do the trick, Monet trying to move up into canter when he should have been trotting after halting at X and there was no overtracking on his R to V walk across the diagonal. The serpentine lacked any impulsion which was indicative of the whole test – it just wasn’t enough and gave you the impression Nina was holding 12 year old back somewhat. They go back to the truck in last place on 74.6.

Last start winners at the CCI*** at Brookleigh and all the way over from Western Australia, Rob Vlasschaert and the 13 year old warmblood gelding Sagamore Mistral didn’t make the trip for nothing. After a superb canter entry and lovely M to E to F movement the two 10 metre circles and the 1^st shoulder-in lacked a little in the way of that "I" word - impulsion. And it got a little worse before it got better folks, the horse breaking his trot extension into canter across the diagonal, the rein back at X rushed and the forelegs splayed off the track. The walk was very ‘bouncy’ with plenty of energy and Rob treaded the fine line between pushing the horse to its max and over cooking it brilliantly. Both changes were effortless and Jean and Barry were suitably impressed, having him at 5^th in their rankings but Gill with her vantage point at E had him down in 8^th. Still, it wasn’t enough to deny the pair 6^th spot on 65.6.

Olivia and GV Top Of The Line make their entrance and everything looks set for a stellar performance – rider looks calm, horse looks calm, they are a picture of sheer professionalism at the elitist level and that’s always a pleasure to watch. A forward M to E to F medium trot opened up their account with a bang and they kept up the impulsion where everyone else usually dies – the shoulder-ins and half passes. Good overtrack in the R to V walk and Olivia really went for it on the canter extension down the long side then was made to work hard to bring "Carlo" back into something resembling a working canter. Both changes were nice but the 2^nd came a little before V. 51.8 and they moved into 1^st place – the bench mark was set.

John Bird and Fifth Avenue Fame left nothing to chance, giving themselves every opportunity to get past Olivia and Carlo. The second of the only two Victorians in the field (Nina Clarke the other), Fame’s trot work was just superb and kept it coming through the 10 metre circles and shoulder-ins. The canter work was given expression through Fame’s flamboyant forelegs but the walk was a little rushed and uneven. The 1^st change was nice but the horse anticipated the 2^nd but recovered with a BANG dead stop halt at X – much to the crowds delight. All 3 judges had them in 5^th place and they went into day 2 on an aggregate of 57.8.

Next in were a combo who were part of Australia’s 1997 Trans Tasman team, Gendy Turner (sister to Nicky) and Chapel Hill. The pair went for it in the M to E to F and nearly pulled he trot extension across the diagonal off superbly but for a little dip by Chapel Hill towards the end. Not wanting to move down the gears, Chapel Hill threw his head around in the walk then took a very "I’m doing this but I don’ want too" stance in the rein back when he produced 5 pony steps. Gendy let him go in he canter serpentine and he responded well but then stumbled into the 1^st change at S and changed well before V for the 2^nd. They finish the day in 8^th place on 66.2.

Back for another shot at the title after coming 5^th in 2001, Blair Richardson had his 10 year old Souvenir on song to better their Sydney test of a month earlier. Blair opened his account with a lovely forward canter, halt and trot departure from X. They continued to put the judges in the right frame of mind by nailing the M to E to F movement and keeping the impulsion through the shoulder-in’s and half passes. What the horse lacked in his overtrack during the walk and his pony rein back steps he more than made up for with his attitude. That magical "C" word that is such a rare quality in eventers that are ready to run was so evident in this horses test. He was CALM. They had a few false starts on the 1^st change, no, no, then yes the legs finally swapped over but the 2^nd was no problem and they saluted Jean with a square halt. It was close to Olivia but not enough to overtake her. Still they went into 2^nd on 52.2, just 0.4 behind the leaders.

In my preview I mentioned I would reserve judgement on Pauline McKee and Mister Moss until I saw them enter at A. Well, they did and here’s the judgement!

After opening the days CCI proceedings Tim Boland comes back to close them with the very rich bay Kildonan Tug. A beautiful opening down the centre line then into the most superb trot work for the entire class – ground covering, balanced and expressive - this stuff is liquid gold.

After the well structured program provides us horse-nuts with a break, we pile back into the indoor for the draw card at Melbourne this year – the World Cup Qualifier.

You can imagine it – the scene is set, the arena is raked clean and the judges are preparing themselves - Jean brushing some fluff off her fluff-attracting coat, Gill tending to some stray hairs on the shoulder and Barry, well, Barry was just sitting there.

The 2002 CIC Three Star test was used with the only main changes being no halt up the centre line as you enter and the counter canters through the long side of the arena used in preference to the serpentines.

With Megan Jones and Bay Repeater scratched Sydney champ Kadi Eykamp opens proceedings on the 14 year old mare Iz’bella Roselini. The F-X-H extended trot had plenty on it, the halt at X nice and the rein back straight. The immediate strike off into canter was textbook stuff and Kadi kept the mare coming forward - the canter circles big, the flying changes good and the 2^nd halt at A was like they say in the test, "immobile". The judges liked it and they set the "catch me if you can" benchmark with 45.9.

Under Georgia Clifford, the omission of the initial entry halt at X from the test seemed to help the finicky Let It Rain – she looked a much calmer horse than Sydney but still had her "this is too hard mum" moments. The trot work was average but the canter was a lot more ‘together’. The 1^st change was early while the 2^nd was ‘big’ – in other words, Georgia had to work damn hard to get it. The halt at A was lovely and the 13 year old stayed so still you had to look twice. The only other majors putting them into last place once again was the rushed walk work and slipping back into the 4-beat canter up the centre line to Jean. 65.9 with her two best phases to come – remember - last after day one in Sydney CCI*** but 5^th after day three. There not out of it just yet.

Some nice trot work, especially in the medium and extended and a solid rein back helped Rebecca Braitling and Just A Lady to 12^th place with 56.7 while Boyd Martin and True Blue Toozac also showed how to ride the extensions and went one better to grab 11^th on 54.8.

Fiona Hughes and Enchanted didn’t have quite the crowd support they received at Sydney but they did their best with what they had and what they had was plenty. Like Sun Shades the 9 year old was a little stop/start through the rein back but the medium and extended trot and canter work was very forward. It seemed that the clever little mare was anticipating a few of the movements which took the polish off just a tad - especially in the changes of leg which you had to look really hard to see.

After having been campaigned over the past few years by Andrew Baird, owner Michael Baker has taken the reins back from G.S. Chevalier and prepared the horse for Melbourne. Chevalier, with his trademark rounded but high head carriage, is forward from the moment he enters at A. The halt at X into the rein back wasn’t square but the 5 steps were solid.

Chevalier changed legs before the 1^st counter canter was finished but made up for it with big big canter circles (in case your wondering not as big as Wendy’s but close) and a perfect walk-to-canter transition at S. The pair are rewarded accordingly – 51.1 slides them into 5^th spot.

After coming 9^th here in the two star 2 years ago The Kings Romance is back with Ian Balfour. Looking relaxed and ready they enter at A and begin…Trotting up to C everything looks fine but "Molly" shies away at Barry’s box turning the corner and she becomes just a little worried. Ian keeps his cool and they continue on. The rein back had 5, the strike off into canter great and the 1^st change was good. The canter circles very forward and the 2^nd change was better than the 1^st. A great halt to finish but apart from the canter circles everything was a little too ‘safe’ and they end up in 16^th on 62.6. Like Let It Rain, this mare has her two favourites days to come…

After having his parents fly in from Bangkok for the event, Thailand’s Pongsiree Bunluewong has the brilliant buckskin Eliza Jane, now ridden in a double bridle, as ready as can be. A great entry and extended trot gets them off to a good start but they fall undone when Eliza Jane has problems with her 1^st change. Then Pongsiree challenges Wendy Schaeffer for the title of "most forward canter circles" when he totally goes for broke, resembling for a moment a very fast motorbike wizzing round the round-a-bout. The horse copes but a little tussle occurs between the pair before Eliza finally relents and gives Pongsiree his 2^nd flying change. Gill liked it better than Ian and The Kings Romance but Jean and Barry didn’t – they go into 17^th place on 63.5.

Christopher Burton and Deo Juvante get the third sub-40 when they hardly put a foot wrong and show us how to keep it forward when they get 47.0. Jean and Barry liked it more than Kadi’s test but Gill preferred Chris and marked him 13 points higher. Not enough to pass her though, and they have to settle for 3^rd.

After a lovely test in the CCI class on Souvenir Blair Richardson has a crack at the world cup field with his wife Nicki’s (make that pregnant wife – and we wish her well) 2^nd string horse after Wishful Dreaming, Makinground. If you ever wanted to see just how ‘bouncy’ a canter could be look no further than this horse – coming up the centre line it was like looking at a boat bobbing up and down, just beautifully executed. A bit of a leap into the 1^st change costs them dearly and the shoulder-in and half passes a little slow but Makinground wins the "I’m standing so still I look like a horse stuffed and mounted in a museum" award when he doesn’t move a whisker during his halt A. Barry gave them 14 more on 142 than Gill’s 128 while Jean was leaning more towards Barry on 138 to put them up into 15^th place on 61.3.

With the crowd eagerly chatting away after the announcement Nick Roe comes in on Wondaree Hooley Dooley (don’t you just love the name??) to make his presence felt, scoring a 51.1 to share equal 5^th with Michael and Chevalier.

I have to start day two’s proceedings by stating the obvious –Michael Creber has done a fantastic job as course designer. Like Badminton stalwart Frank Weldon says, the aim of the course designer is to create fences that scare the hell out of the rider but are actually quite within the horses ability.

And if the Vicarage Vee didn’t scare the pants off of rider, spectator and I dare say horse, there were plenty of other options on course!

The CCI class went ahead of the world cup field and first to christen the track was Tim Boland and Limitless who took the direct line over the apex at fence 5, the first real question on course.

The major test was of course the Vicarage Vee, reminiscent of Badminton’s huge corner table top, and with the crowd just 5 metres from the fence your line was crucial to making it to the other side. That and a good wip.

Limitless jumps cleanly into and through fence 11, the Camel Water, then picks his line onto the Vicarage Vee. Having just three to four strides after coming out of the water and picking your line, Limitless hesitates for just a second but Tim pushes hard and they are over in no time. The pair go on to jump clear and one of the fastest rounds of the day with just 8.0 time to move up 2 places to 2^nd.

Nicky Turner and Warrie Hill come in very strong to the Camel Water but hold up well on landing and have just enough air to clear the Vicarage Vee. Clear with 18.4 time sees them retain 7^th place.

The round of the day goes to Olivia Bunn and GV Top Of The Line. This is what we want at Athens - fast, efficient, fantastic. Superbly through the Camel Water and a better line than some to the Vicarage Vee (she swung out towards the crowd – on her left – to give Carlo more time to get his line). It was the only double clear of the day in both Three Star classes. They move up to 1^st.

It’s official – eventing has reached new heights with what would have to be Australia’s first fan club, banner and all. For whom you ask? I’ll give you one clue, a teaser if you will…the horses name warrants it.

Nothing? Well you would have heard them if you were there as none other than John Bird and Fifth Avenue FAME (uh-huh you say…) made their way through the camel paddock. It wasn’t exactly plain sailing for John or the fan club for that matter, Fame getting in very close to the water jump but once he saw he was safe he pulled the forelegs up and kicked out the back end quickly to recover well. On to the Vicarage Vee and the horse stood of a little but John got the right stride in the end and they too cleared it well. Clear and fast with just 3.2 time to move from 5^th to 4^th.

Gendy Turner and the half warmblood Chapel Hill took the long route at the apex at fence 5, were a little sticky through the sunrise/sunset pair of fences then seemed to run out of steam mid-air over the huge tabletop corner and just (and I mean just) cleared it by a whisker. Gendy too comes home clear but racks up 21.2 to be one behind her sister in 8^th.

Scotland’s Pauline McKee and the Irish bred Mister Moss (previously campaigned in the UK by Polly Stockton) didn’t open up well with a refusal at fence 2 - the very ‘open’ Invincible Polo Mallet. But they continued on and after just getting into the water (it was a struggle) they did the Vicarage Vee rather well. A few minutes later Pauline was pulling like buggery to slow Mister Moss down before the downhill Slope Hollow – she got him back in time to take the fence and took it steady from there to come home with 20 jump penalties and 30.4 time.

Tim Boland and dressage leader Kildonan Tug followed Olivia’s lead at the Vicarage Vee by swinging out to the left right along the crowd fence line to give the horse more time to see where he was supposed to go - it worked a charm, Tim home with 8.0 time to fall behind Olivia and Top Of The Line and Tim’s other ride Limitless on 60.4.

First off in the World Cup was overnight 3^rd place getters Kadi Eykamp and Iz’bella Roselini who had no real problems and came home clear but were a little slow with 15.2 time to end up in 5^th position.

The move up from last place to serious contender was once again the case with Let It Rain who taps front and back legs over the Vicarage Vee but gets through to come home clear jumping with 12.8 time to move from 18^th to 10^th – there not out of it yet.

Rebecca Braitling’s Just A Lady backs of coming into the water but Rebecca gets positive and drives her in, out, then a few strides and up and over the Vicarage Vee and makes nothing of the Peppermint Grove Pier – a fence that caused some concern with its stark white paint reflecting heavily into the water in front of the fence. They have one of the fastest rounds of the day to jump clear with 6.8 time.

Wendy Schaeffer is out to come home clear and right from the word go time is of the essence – cutting across the dressage arena’s between fences 1 and 2 for starters! (well, why go round them anyway?). Coming into the water Wendy pushes Sun Shades hard who says "right o’ then" and goes in without a fuss.

Then Vicarage Vee and the horse was not quite sure where to go then sees the opening to the left and that’s where he goes – or tries to go before Wendy gets hold of him and tugs that right rein hard. They take off close to the left flag, Wendy continues to correct mid-air and they land way off to the right (talk about an angle) pulling the left flag down with them.

There’s talk of elimination in the air but then it is announced she has copped 20 penalties for not jumping between the flags and I cannot work out how the jump judge could do that - either does Seumas Marwood who confirms over the speakers that I haven’t lost my mind – she either has to be eliminated for not retaking the fence (or the option) or go clear. 10 minutes and a few more riders go by before it is announced that Wendy and Sun Shades have been eliminated. Sitting directly in front of the fence I was sure she jumped to the right of the left flag and positive Wendy would win a protest if lodged. And she most certainly does - more on the appeal later…

So while this drama is going on Fiona Hughes and Enchanted have a hiccup at the water when the young mare dips her head on landing and Fiona is out of the saddle and on the neck, in the saddle, on the neck then back in again as she finally pulls Enchanted up and regains the control.

Fiona does her best to add more fuel for thought to the Wendy Schaeffer issue when Enchanted brushes the left flag on her way through the Vicarage Vee. As if they weren’t playing with fire enough today Enchanted takes a huge leap a the Peppermint Grove Pier and unseats Fiona who slides off rather casually, stands up grinning ear-to-ear (she is safe) - and elects to retire.

Luke Jones has no chance of getting Interloper into the water – he’s content just to look and there being no other alternative in, retakes the fence kicking for life until Interloper finally jumps but barely clears the fence. If horses could talk Interloper would surely have said "well if we must." A fall at the Lake Arrows puts them out of contention.

Ian Balfour has no problems through the water with The Kings Romance but she doesn’t like the look of the Vicarage Vee and says "not today dad". A disappointed Ian takes the option and continues on, upping the tempo to come home with 20 jumping but just 6 time to move up 4 places.

Pongsiree has Eliza Jane very forward and very fast and the relatively inexperience mare gives him no trouble through the Vicarage Vee but Pongsiree has to pull like crazy to get her back for the downhill Slope Hollow. He eventually does and gets home without any more problems and just 0.8 time to climb 10 spots from 17^th to 7^th. His parents would be more than proud!

Poor Emma Mason has a fall on Starstruck at the apex at fence 5 and with her elimination from Sydney no doubt in her mind bravely remounts and continues. Coming up the hill to the water and Starstruck just wants to look at what he’s jumping into, gets his head over the log into water, sees the water, and says "are you for real?". A quick tap of the whip reminds the horse just who is in charge and they scrap through the second time. Starstruck leaps his little heart out over the Vicarage Vee and bangs his hindlegs on the table top but recovers to finish the course with 85 jump and 62.8 time to slide out of contention and into 16^th place.

Christopher Burton’s Deo Juvante also does the Vicarage Vee "Peter The Red" style and slips out to the left but takes the option well and manages to keep the foot down enough to have only 15.2 time but 20 jump on the board which pushes them down seven spots to 11^th.

New Zealander Blair Richardson comes out again on Makinground but the horse doesn’t quite live up to his name when he is a little slow to gallop through the flags to take 23.2 time but no jump penalties is what matters and they move up three places to 12^th.

The world cup field ends with Nick Roe and Wondaree Hooley Dooley who have no problems through both waters but left the crowd huddled around the Vicarage Vee with something to gasp about when they horse leapt beautifully over the fence but seemed to halt mid-air before coming back down on the other side. Great stuff and a fast fast round with just 4 time to move from 6^th to 3^rd and a genuine crack at the title.

Monday means doom day, the day Australian’s in eventing circles have come to dread. That "s" word – showjumping. With the World Games still fresh in selectors minds riders had to work overtime to prove their horses can handle the third day at international level.

Not many of them could.

In the CCI Pauline McKee withdraws Mister Moss before the competition even begins and overnight leader Olivia Bunn surprises us all when she is eliminated on GV Top Of The Line – woops.

Blair Richardson has a round he would rather forget on Souvenir, pulling 8 rails to blow out to last place on 112.0 while Gendy Turner and Chapel Hill have 3 rails to finish 6^th on 100.4.

Sister Nicky comes next on Warrie Hill who jumps clear but pays the penalty with 7 time to finish 5^th on 91.4 behind West Australian Rob Vlasschaert and Sagamore Mistral who have just the 1 rail to take 4^th on 72.0.

John Bird’s chances of winning the CCI are dashed when Fame pulls 2 rails and give Tim Boland the quinella on Limitless who jumps with just a time fault to win the CCI*** on 61.4 with Kildonan Tug 2^nd and having 2 time on course to finish on 62.4 with John and Fame in third on 69.0.

Ian Balfour is the only withdrawal for the World Cup when he takes out The Kings Romance but the problems continue for Australia with only 2 clear rounds from a field of 16.

Chris Smith has 7 down on the tight track aboard Uptrend to move right down the ladder from 4^th to 8^th to finish on a final score of 86.2 while Kadi Eykamp and Iz’bella Roselini have 2 rails but a very slow and take home 14 time to move from 5^th to 7^th on 83.1.

Boyd Martin continues to climb the ladder with True Blue Toozac with just the 2 rails and no time to jump 3 spots into 6^th with a final score of 74.0 whie Pongsiree Bunluewong proves his international potential by keeping the inexperienced Eliza Jane, in her first three star, to just 2 rails to move from 7^th to a well deserved and fought 5^th on 72.3.

Despite making it look easy out there on the cross country yesterday Megan has a hard time bending the tall "Paddy" around the tight track and knocks 3 rails and scalps 7 time to relegate from 2^nd to 4^th on 70.6.

But the story of the one that got away belongs to Wendy Schaeffer and Sun Smart who after having a decent buffer of 10 points to their nearest rival, throw it all away when an excited Sun Smart pulls hard and knocks down 6 fences to finish on 65.5.

So it’s down to the last two and the only two who manage to jump clear clear. Michael Baker has made a phenomenal change over to G.S. Chevalier from Andrew Baird to move from 8^th into 2^nd with the clear that everybody wanted but no body managed but its not enough to take out Australia’s first World Cup Qualifer.

That honour ladies and gentleman goes to Nick Roe and Wondaree Hooley Dooley who jump the second clear of the day to finish almost 10 points clear of Michael and Chevalier to take the 30 points and pending their decision to go to Warwick, a possible berth at the World Cup Final in Pau, France in October.

It’s fitting to see a combination like Nick and Hooley Dooley when an event of such international significance with a clear round to defy the odds in the phase that is fast becoming Australia Achilles Heel.

The focus will shortly move to Warwick, Queensland, home of the only other Australian qualifier to be held from July 26 to 27.

With just 5 spots allocated to Australia for the final, Australian based combinations hoping to pay their own way to France will need to travel north for the points to get ahead of the overseas Aussies who are already waiting in the wings for their final berths…

A big thank you to Berni for the wonderful photo’s and to media liaison Gitte Donvig and results chief Geri MacGregor for all of your help which never goes unappreciated.

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.