Avenel International Horse Trials
&
Ellesmere Equine Equipment National Horse Trials
"Limerick Lane" Mangalore, Victoria, Australia
27th & 28th April 2002 - Page 2
By Melissa Dey

Unfortunately the CIC** was marred with tragedy. Wendy Christensen lost her faithful grey gelding Baldrick after he fractured a hind leg at Fence 10. Baldrick was humanely destroyed and I am sure that many will join me to send our condolescences to Wendy.  We are thinking of you during this time.

John Bird (left) riding Rhythm N' Blues clears the last fence in the showjumping section of CIC ** and in to 4th place.

Clem Mann (left) riding Irish Warrior fights for the title of CIC** winner.  A clear showjumping round puts the pressure on to the first place leader.

Rowena Lewis (right) went in to the showjumping with less than a rail in hand.  Unfortunately that rail did fall and today she had to settle for second place  to Clem Mann.  Congratulations for a great effort.

Avenel Horse Trials CIC** winner Clem Mann (left) with her lovely horse Irish Warrior and her personal support crew!  I was told that Irish Warrior had been bought for her mother to hunt, but I think his career is well and truly established as an eventer now. Well done for a fantastic effort.  This combination shows a lot of promise and Clem is a young rider worth following. I am sure that we will see a lot more of this determined young lady.

This combination really caught my eye at the start of the cross country.  Resplendent in the royal colours of purple and gold were Janelle Duffy (right) and her stunning horse JenJan Bobby Dazzler.  Together they placed 4th in the Ellesmere Sporthorse Stud Novice Section 2. 

Originally from WA, Janelle told me that she bred this horse and trained him herself.  He is by the holsteiner stallion Wildfire.

Another warmblood competing today was AEA Abel Rex ridden by Natalie Davies (left) . They are shown here cooling down after their clear round cross country.  This horse is a 3/4 warmblood, by Eduardo Rex out of Michael Baker's eventing mare Abel Rose. This combination finished 4th overall in the Ellesmere Equine Equipment Novice Section 1.

Spectator numbers were up this year, helped by the good weather and the International status of the competition.  This group of young eventing fans had a wonderful day. We were all waiting for the final rider to jump this fence, but he withdrew before completing this one.  So we decided to take a photo anyway!

The Avenel cross country course winds it's way down to the banks of the Goulburn River. Here you can see the lovely weather we were fortunate to experience for the event.  The sun shone all day and the big river gums gave welcome shade away from it's heat.

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