Sunday 14 September

Heath held on to his lead in the Horseland CCI 3* by a narrow margin.  Heath had 3 rails down on the Medallion gelding but still won the class by 0.8 penalties.  Heath says the horse had a questionable start to his career (which was meant to be Dressage).  Mystery Whisper was so naughty that no one would ride it.  Heath decided to try Eventing the horse, and said for years it was it was really annoying as even at the lowest grades he was the one who had to ride it because of its behaviour.  After some years the horse came to the party and this weekend it looked like a dream ride.

Kerrie Bowman and Fox Hill Aphrodite had 1 rail to finish 2nd and Chris Burton and Unrepentant dropped one place to 3rd with 2 rails down.  Hamish Cargill and Sandhills Tiger also lowered 2 poles to finish 4th. There were no clear showjumping rounds in the CCI 3*, Jessica Mitchell was the only other 4 faulter on AEC Storman but unfortunately Jess also incurred 4 time faults.

Leaders after the XC Lauren Balcomb and Kootamootoo were deserving winners of the CCI 2* being the only combination to jump double clear today.  Christopher Burton and Kolora Stud Secrets retained their 2nd position with a clear jumping round but 1 time fault.  Sam Lyle was 3rd on Star Vision clear with 2 time. 4th Cassie Lowe and Bentleigh Gambler also clear with 2 time.

The showjumping in the Australian Sports Commission CCI 1* proved to be very influential.  Of the 35 combinations to jump there were only 4 clear rounds.  The first two riders were unaware of how difficult it was to make the time and incurred 14 and 21 time faults.  Another rider incurred 35 time faults. In all 8 riders had more than 15 time faults.  So with riders struggling to ride fast enough the quality of jumping suffered and rails fell readily.  It makes you wonder if the time for Eventing showjumping at this level is too fast and perhaps a slower time would encourage nicer rounds. 
Class leader Judith Clarke and Diablito withdrew at this morning's veterinary inspection.  Sam Lyle and Foxridge Aspen moved up from 2nd to win the class with 4 faults but a lovely round.  Chris Burton and Capricorn Zenith moved up from 10th to 2nd with a double clear.  3rd went to Cassia Montgomery and Foxdale Illusion, 4 faults. 4th to Indonesian rider Endarjanto Sumarsono and Aswatama Frankie Jay.  5th, 6th and 7th placegetters (Madeline Wilson, Andry Prasetyono and Madeline Wilson again) moved up from their post XC positions of 13th 15th and 17th places demonstrating how a good round on the final day can really alter the placings. 

The EFA NSW CCN Pre-Novice was won by Chris Burton on Jaybee Calypso with a clear round.  So that means Chris won the Pre Novice and was 2nd in the CCI 1*, 2nd in the CCI 2* and 3rd in the CCI 3* - an amazing effort. Tarsha Hammond and Gatineau finished 2nd also with a clear round. Bella Mobray was 3rd after the XC but sadly withdrew at the veterinary inspection.  Emma Mason climbed into 3rd on Tainui Lad with a clear jumping round. 4th Stevie-Jade Shakoff Tickety Boo again with no jumping faults.  Claudia Graham dropped from 4th place to 7th with one expensive rail.

Korea's Sung-Soo Kim was a convincing winner of the Eventing NSW Asian Pacific Challenge aboard Kylie Robert's Costalot.  Sung-Soo Kim jumped a clear round but with 3 time over what was a modified version of the CCI 1* track to win by 11.2 penalties.  He was coached by Sandy Lucas.  2nd was Japanese rider Masanobu Ito on Bandman who had just one rail.  Also with one rail down was 3rd place getter Gurvinder Singh Gill of India riding Rancho Tallahasse who improved his position from 6th.  Unfortunately for Japan's Naoki Okawa who was in 2nd place after the XC Mr. Apples  favourite phase is apparently not the showjumping, he incurred 48 jumping faults and 1 time fault but still only dropped to 7th place.

Saturday 13 September

Heath retained his lead on Mystery Whisper in the Horseland CCI 3* class jumping clear and just adding 8.8 time faults to his score which is now 47.1.  His lead is now 7 points over Christopher Burton Unrepentant (54.1).  Chris was the only rider home within the time moving him up from 6th place.
In 3rd place are Kerrie Bowman and Fox Hill Aphrodite (55.9) who jumped a lovely round but 5.2 time dropped them down one place. Also clear with 5.2 time was Hamish Cargill on Sandhills Tiger to hold onto 4th place (56.9).

The rest of the field jumped clear with the exception of Emma Armstrong and Voortrekker and Craig Barrett and Sandhills Darcy who each had 20 penalties.

In all the 3 star rode very well and the horses coped well with the hot conditions (over 30 degrees!).

The EFA NSW CCI 2* was marred by the tragic loss of Rachael Lee's Freestyler.  Freestyler collapsed between fences on course and at this stage the cause of death is unknown.  Rachael was dazed and bruised and was taken to hospital to be examined but was given the all-clear.  We offer our sympathies to Rachael and all the people who knew and loved this magnificent horse.

The CCI 2* faired the worst in regard to performance.  Of the 20 starters there were 8 clear rounds. 4 combinations had jumping faults, 4 were eliminated and 4 retired on course.

Lauren Balcomb and the reliable Kootamootoo are now leading (54.4), Georgia Clifford and It's Monty and Christopher Burton on Kolora Stud Secrets are equal 2nd (54.8), these two not only got the same Dressage mark they both incurred 0.4 time. 4th is Sam Lyle and Star Vision (55.6).

There is not a single rail separating the top 4 combinations which will make tomorrow's Showjumping very exciting.

The Australian Sports Commission CCI 1* was much less dramatic.  The placings barely changed with 35 horses (out of 43) jumping clear and most of them within the time.  The top 5 positions remain the same.

The NSW Institute of Sport CCN Pre-Novice was also smooth sailing for most riders. 28 clear rounds (out of 38 starters) mostly within the time. The only change to the top 5 positions was Emma Mason and Tainui Lad slipping form 4th to 5th with 0.8 time faults.  A nice result for the horses and riders at this lower level.  There is less than a rail between the top 3 combinations, Christopher Burton Jaybee Calypso, Tarsha Hammond Gatineau and Bella Mobray Ganesh.

The majority of Eventing NSW Asia Pacific Challenge Trophy riders enjoyed a good day.  The leader remains  Sung-Soo Kim of Korea on Costalot (47.4), 2nd is still Naoki Okawa of Japan riding Mr. Apples (51.7). Overnight 3rd place was lost by Rajesh Pattu (IND) when he missed the last fence therefore eliminating himself. 3rd is now Masanobu Ito of Japan on Bandman (57.6).

10 out of 14 combinations in this class jumped clear rounds 6 of them within the time.

Friday 12 September

Heath scored 38.3 penalties to take a commanding lead.  Trailing by 12.4 points is Kerrie Bowman and Fox Hill Aphrodite (50.7) followed by Jessica Mitchell and AEC Storman (51.5).  Currently in 4^th place is Hamish Cargill on Sandhills Tiger (51.7).

The rest of the field are in the 50’s, with Craig Barrett and Sandhills Darcy in 9th on 57.8 penalties.

Keira Byrnes and Fox Hill are leading the field of 20 horses in the CCI 2* with 49.4 penalties.  In second place is Freestyler ridden by Rachel Lee (54.0), third is Lauren Balcomb on Kootamootoo (54.4).

The CCI 1* was a tough class of 43 horses.  Judy Clarke and Diablito took the lead on 45.2 just ahead of Sam Lyle Foxridge Aspen (45.9).  Georgia Clifford Kolora Stud Falkrich 11are currently 3^rd (51.0).  Cassia Montgomery and Foxdale Illusion  are in 4^th place (51.9).

The Pre-Novice class is also a large field of 40.  Christopher Burton and Jaybee Calypso are leading 43.8, 2^nd is Tarsha Hammond riding Gatineau (46.8).  Bella Mobray and Ganesh are in 3^rd (47.8) and Emma Mason on Tainui Lad is 4^th (49.4).

The Asia Pacific Challenge Trophy is being run with a CCI 1* Dressage test and Showjumping but with Pre-Novice Cross-country.  14 riders from 4 countries (Korea, Thailand, Japan and India) are contesting the Trophy all of whom are on borrowed horses. Korea’s Sung-Soo Kim rode a lovely test aboard Costalot to take the lead on a score of 47.4.  Naoki Okawa of Japan and Mr. Apples are second on 51.7. 3^rd to 1996 winner Rajesh Pattu of India riding Rancho Illinois.  

However, it proved a very tough day in the office for some of the class with penalty points mounting up to 3 figures for one rider.  Three of the Indian riders had their hands full and only just managed to control their horses enough to stay in the arena.  Let’s hope they have had the worst of it and enjoy a better time tomorrow and Sunday.

The Cross-country courses look superb and the going is ideal.  Best of Luck for a safe and fun ride for all tomorrow. 

Thanks to Main Event Photography for the photos.

Bates Sydney Three Day Event web site

Results page