SMZ JB Tooradin Estate Pony Club and Open Horse Trials – order or view XC Videos here
It was another hot weekend in Victoria for the annual SMZ JB Tooradin Pony Club and Open Horse Trials on 16th and 17th March but an early start for cross country meant that the horses and riders were happily hosed off by lunchtime on Sunday!
The colourful combination of Durani Hart and Vanaheim Ice and Fire (watch their winning video above) tackled Mike Farrell’s Open Grade 1 cross country course with ease to win the class, moving up from third dressage thanks to two good jumping phases.
Chiara Stuart riding Perfect Partner (could this be the same horse ridden by Andrew Barnett a few years ago?) won the Open Grade 2 and were well very received by their welcome party at the end of cross country (see the video below).
The course is quintessentially Australian as it winds through the bush across the dark sandy terrain typical of the coastal town of Tooradin, perched on the foreshore of Westernport Bay near Melbourne.
Other Open class were Open Grade 3 winners: Georgia Truong riding Warramate Revelry, Open Grade 4 winners: Jacqui Murfett riding Overtake (OTT) and Open Grade 5 winners: Gaynor Brown riding Rusty (OTT).
There were four Pony Club Horse Trials sections with Mikayla Dickinson riding Magic Park Irish Spell (Healesville Pony Club) taking the Pony Club Grade 3, Tiyana Trang riding Mister Mojo (Pakenham Pony Club) winning the Pony Club Grade 4, Alisha Mizzi riding Truth Syrup (Berwick Pony Club) on top of the Pony Club Grade 5 and Pony Club Grade 6 won by Isabella Hardman riding Osory Honeycomb (Cranbourne Pony Club).
The Grade 4/5 Teams event was won by Team Yarra Glen – well done to all winners, the event organisers and volunteers who pulled it all together on a hot weekend!
