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by Sharon Ridgway
It was definitely a weekend for the girls with all four classes being won by
the fairer sex! The One Star was won convincingly by Georgia Clifford and her
own It's Monty. She led the dressage and added nothing to her score all weekend
finishing on a 45.7 to win the 50 strong class. She was being chased by a notorious
bunch of talented young men, with Kevin McNab on Frankie Jay 2nd, and David
Middleton on his stallion Mr. Shirvington 3rd. The next three places were filled
by Boyd Martin, Blair Richardson and Craig Barrett so as you can see hats off
to Georgia for a great win.
The Two Star was won by Amanda Howell and her own Zoom, a lovely Crown Law gelding
bred by Seamus Marwood out of his good mare Ruby Tuesday. Amanda won in the
same convincing style as Georgia with a start to finish victory. She had no
rails in hand going into the Show Jumping and kept her cool to pull of a stylish
clear round. Queenslander Natalie Siiankoski was a close second on the fancy
chestnut, Kolora Stud Archie, that I think we all wanted to take home, and third
to Kevin McNab on Emma Dougall's 6 yo Game Play. The minor places filled by
those boys again Craig Barrett and David Middleton with the ever-consistent
Stuart Tinney in 6th and 7th.
The Three Star competition was divided into two sections, the CCI 3* and the
CIC 3* World Cup Qualifier. The difference being the CCI has a longer Cross
Country course with more jumping efforts and the CIC has a shorter track but
the Show Jumping phase on the final day has 4 obstacles raised to a maximum
height of 1.30m. This is the first time Melbourne International Three Day Event
has run with the new format of no Roads and Tracks and Steeplechase, thus falling
in line with many of the International competitions worldwide. There were 20
starters in each of the two classes, which provided some very interesting comparisons.
The dressage standard was much higher in the CIC World Cup with six people scoring
below 50 penalty points, lead by everyone's favourite Olivia Bunn and GV Top
Of The Line on an exceptional score of 40.0. Carlo, (to his friends) did the
kind of test we've come to expect from him, leaving nothing to chance and giving
the judges little room to mark him down. His canter work was superb and changes
soft and easy. Olivia, fresh from a win in the first World Cup Qualifier at
Warwick last month, is under pressure here if she is to secure that prized trip
to Malmo in Sweden later this year. The CCI was lead by Boyd Martin on Ying-Yang-Yo
on a 48.3 and he was to be the only starter in this class to go sub 50.
On the Cross Country there were 12 clear rounds in each class but the time penalties
were radically different. The shorter CIC Cross Country Course proving very
hard to get anywhere near the optimum time. Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Magic
the quickest with 9.6 time followed by Olivia on 12.4. In comparison four people
made the time on the CCI and several more with less that 10 time penalties.
The Wayne Roycroft designed course, brilliantly built by the hard working Ewan
Kellet, rode really well and the Gods of Eventing shone by providing as sunny
day and superb going. There were a few hiccups all round the course with perhaps
the new water complex at fence 7ABC causing the most problems, a brush fence
in, curving line to a skinny out of the water then curving again to another
skinny. Several combinations jumped in too boldly and struggled to get the line
to the narrow B element, "Save of the Day" going to Blair Richardson
on his super honest Money Store Equity who jumped it on an amazing angle without
batting an eyelid! At the end of Cross Country Day we were left with Olivia
and Boyd still leading their respective sections.
Show Jumping day and all the Three Stars make it through the compulsory trot
up in the morning and the stage is set for an exciting finish. The CCI's jump
first over their slightly, and emphasis on the slightly, smaller track built
beautifully by Victorian super star course designer David Shepherd. There is
very little change in the last few to jump until we get to the final three.
Janelle Pitts rides a smooth, cool round on the perfect Mr. Showoff, who always
gives 100%, living proof that this sport is all about partnership, a clear jumping
round to secure third place, not realizing that her one time penalty was to
actually lose her 2nd spot. Megan Jones is next to go, lying in 2nd with her
own and her parents Kirby Park Irish Jester. The little grey Irish Sport Horse
is doing what he does best, jumping for fun! Magic clear round masterfully ridden
by Megan, one of the four clears in the CCI. Boyd, with the added pressure of
jumping last, does a great job but has 2 unlucky rails, dropping him to a very
creditable 2nd on Ying-Yang-Yo.
The World Cup Qualifier CIC class gets under way and it becomes clear that 4
fences at 1.30 sure do make a difference! It may have been the pressure cooker
of the 38 jumping efforts packed in to a 7 minute track the day before that
left them a little flat on Show Jumping day but rails are falling thick and
fast. Heath Ryan riding his own and his wife Rozzie's Flame are in third spot.
They do one of the best rounds of the CIC with just one rail down to secure
their placing. Heath looking like he is really relishing the Show Jumping phase
nowadays riding a very polished round. For poor Kadi Eykamp and Maximum Overkill
things could not get any worse, after a solid performance all week leaving her
in 2nd spot, she has a stop at the first fence, then a second stop on course
to be unfortunately eliminated. Heath, the hardest working man in the industry,
is now elevated to a well-deserved second and this certainly gives Olivia some
breathing space, as if she needs it! Undoubtedly one of the World's leading
riders in this phase of the Three Day Event. Liv has 18.6 penalties in hand,
and despite Carlo feeling exceptionally well, resulting in a spook as he headed
to the packed VIP tent for the last down of the treble, a convincing win and
a place in the World Cup Final in Malmo, Sweden. We wish Olivia and Carlo all
the best and we wait to see if Heath Ryan who is the second highest points getter
in the series, is to join her there in August.
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