Police Officer and Olympic Silver Medallist Winners at Wooroloo

Following the cancellation of the WAYER’s CIC event earlier this year due to flooding, the addition of the CIC classes at the first Wooroloo event for 2017 was welcomed by WA riders seeking qualifying scores.

Conditions at Wooroloo, located on a Prison Farm in the Perth Hills, were the driest in more than 30 years with no rainfall in the six weeks leading up.

International course designer Wayne Copping shook up the design of the cross country track by changing the direction and moving the start and finish to different areas.

“I thought about it on the plane over here and I’m really pleased with the way it worked out,” explained Wayne. “The course had a rhythmical layout to it, with some good areas for new combinations near the start and it eased off towards the end as the horses began to tire a little. The new finish area worked well as it was quieter which helps the horses and riders as they cool down.”

Spectators were also considered, with this new layout enabling supporters to stand at the water jump and view a number of different fences.

“It’s the first time we have aerovated the ground too - riders seemed happy as we tried to aerovate a number of different areas and will continue to do more of this in the future,” added Wayne. Wayne also instigated the redevelopment of an old lambing pen to give four new fences and has plans to renovate the water complex for the next Wooroloo International event in August.

CIC3* winner and Australian international rider Sonja Johnson expressed the riders’ thanks to the Wooroloo organising team at the prize giving ceremony.

“We are so lucky to have this event – but can we have some green grass next time please?!” Sonja’s 3 star winner was the smart 8YO Warmblood x Quarter Horse x Arab, Misty Isle Valentino. A double clear elevated Lauren Browne and Sky’s Da Limit to second, less than half a penalty adrift.

Emma King’s CIC2* winner is a horse she knows well, having bought the now 9YO DVZ Chevalier directly from his breeder, Dolly van Zaane, as a four-month-old foal.

”I’ve done almost everything with him from the start – he’s strong across all three phases and a real extrovert who loves people,” explained Emma, who is based in nearby Gidgegannup.

CIC1* winners Katherine Joyce and The Diamond Thief led from the dressage to win a competitive class. The police officer from Harvey in South West Australia credited her saddle fitter Leigh White for her part in securing her first win since she was a teenager: “The Diamond Thief is an Off the Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) and he’s only seven so he is changing shape all the time – Leigh refitted his saddle the night before his dressage test and he felt great,” explained Katherine.