Jenny Bowker and BMS Alexeah - winners EvA80 Section B Photo: Andrea Otto
Saturday at Lakes and Craters was the hottest day of the event but it was still a busy day with lots happening. In the morning the EvA95 riders were the first out on the cross country course, enjoying the most of the cooler weather with some welcome cloud cover.
All eventers know the saying that eventing is not a dressage competition, and that certainly proved to be the case at this competition! Time proved to be hugely influential; with many riders opting for a slower safer option that they were hoping would also advantage their horse’s recovery process.
The three large EvA95 classes went on to showjump in the afternoon on Saturday so were done and dusted that evening. The winner of the Camperdown Pets and Ponies EvA95 Section A was Evan Pettigrove riding Koyuna Tactician, who came up from 7th place after dressage after adding just 2.8 time faults to their overall score.
The EvA95 Sporthorse Saddlery Section B was more clear-cut, with Natalie Davies winning from start to end aboard Lucrezia Elmare, and the Koallah Farm EvA95 Section C saw a shuffle at the top end with Chloe Jaksic and Bain Park Nebiolo being eventual winners of the blue rosette.
Lilly Noles and Time to Play in the EvA80 Photo: Andrea Otto
The EvA80 classes proved very popular, with entries being around 35 in each section. These riders started the morning off with showjumping on the top arena, then headed out on cross county later as the final riders for the day on course. Even in these sections the majority of the riders gained time faults and these proved costly for the placegetters in many cases.
Congratulations to the winners: in Kelato EvA80 Section A Jill Ramsey and Statford Nori, Ride with Elegance EvA80 Section B Jenny Bowker with BMS Alexeah, and Leah Rodwell on Tickawarra Reno who took out the Barista on The Move EvA80 Section C.
Mirella Greco on Avalon Knight who finished 8th in EvA80 after double clear rounds – a jump of 18 places after dressage!
Photo: Andrea Otto
The other classes had the overnight wait until Sunday for the final horse inspection before they could begin the final showjumping phase. The Horseland Warrnambool CCNEvAJ105 class began with 17 Junior Riders, all of whom had to step up and deal with the valuable and yet often stressful experience of the three day format. It was clear rounds all round that paid off for Hannah McLean when she shot up from 7th place to finish as the well-deserved overall winner of the class!
The Nobel Outfitters CCN EvA105 saw Edith Kane take out both 1st and 2nd place, an awesome feat on any day, but considering the class was the biggest by far with 51 starters listed on the program, and suddenly Edith’s achievement just becomes even more awesome! The dressage winner Adele de Kretser was not far behind, ending in 3rd place overall.
Grace Contessi on Jumpin Jack in the EvA80 Section B Photo: Andrea Otto
Time was of the essence again in the Coprice CCIYR1* class, with no rider going clear of jump and time faults in both jumping phases! Overall winner Madeleine O’Callaghan moved up from 2nd place when she went clear of jump faults and added just 3.2 time faults to her dressage score.
The Castlereagh feeds CCI1* class is where the class numbers started to thin out, but nevertheless it is still full credit to winner Callum Buczak, who jumped Joie Du Lys clear around the cross country within the time and then backed it up with a clear showjumping round the next day.
Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats, winners CCI3* Photo: Andrea Otto
Jacqui Bladier and Ramirus did pick up time on cross country but completed a clear showjumping round to end as the winners of the CCI** class. Tarryn Proctor piloted ESB Irish Quest around the CIC*** course to take out that class, and of the two completions in the CCI*** class (Seumas Marwood and Keira Byrne), it was Seumas Marwood on Wild Oats who came out in front on a final score of 50.90.
Despite the fatigue and the thick layer of dust we brought home with us, this comp was, as always, a fun time. Thank you to the OC and all of the many volunteers, most of whom seem to be the same familiar happy faces back again year in and year out. In particular this event could not run without Troy and Jen Best – congratulations on another Lakes done so well!
Article by Wendy Jeffree
Our roving reporter Wendy Jeffree also managed to finish 2nd in the EvA80 on Keniski Photo: Andrea Otto
