Well the eventing season has been up and galloping since early February and a lot of the post festive season kgs. have melted away from both horses and riders in the sauna that is Aussie summer/Autumn competition.
Riders were loving the new scoring system for dressage which gave most of us penalties that only Ingrid Klimke or Bettina Hoy were ever previously privy to. The SIEC Summer Classic in sweltering mid-February was a real test of endurance for man and beast. The toll of one of the driest seasons on record was obvious with even the usually lush and tropical SIEC looking a lot like the back-o Bourke. Nevertheless, entries were huge, the grass show jumping arena and the xc course were super and a credit to the team behind Sydney Eventing and the SIEC ground staff. Notable performances were young Golly ‘Mark Todd’ Barton finally being old enough to compete and complete and win her 1st CNC 3 star on APH Bertie Bad, Christine Bates being the 1st rider in the world to achieve a dressage penalty score sub 30 under the new system in the CIC*** and Stuart Tinney winning the CIC* with Diabolo and CIC**; Celebration, 2 very lovely youngsters . This event also marked the long overdue return to competition of Head Honcho and Captain of the good ship Sit Tight; Fi Hughes! Taking on the very hotly contested 60cm class on the well photographed Palomino mare “Pia”, not having had an eventing start before Pia took to the jumping phases like a duck to water. The square dancing not so much, stay tuned for Pia’s next start.
Speaking of Stuart, don’t forget to tune into the interview with our new eventing team Chef d’equipe as well as a super informative chewing the fat session with Jade Findlay where we discussed all things to do with Bomber Bits. These interviews are available right now for subscribers by heading to the app, clicking on Listen and then click Interview, see “Pulling the Stick on all things Eventing”. Also, to anyone who isn’t yet a subscriber, we do offer ‘try before you buy’ where you can listen to all 2017 content for free!!
Early March saw a convoy of eventers converge on Quirindi for the second CIC of the year, taking the place of the drought-stricken Scone event. The main class, the CIC** was won by Emma Bishop and her Wallaby Hill CCI*** winner, CP Issey Miyake. The ladies of our sport are really at the top of their game as finishing 2017 and kicking off 2018 with a hattrick (and no ball tampering in sight) was the super star team of Christine Batesy Bates and Adelaide Hill “Spooks”, 3 x CIC*** wins in a row – Adelaide, SIEC Summer Classic and Berrima!!
Berrima was another event that saw record numbers with classes ranging from 60cm up to CIC***. The 3 star was more like a progressive dinner with the entree and dessert held at Araluen on Saturday and Sunday and the main meal at Wallaby Hill on the Monday. This inventive format was born out of the need for another 3 star before Sydney 3DE after the cancellation of Scone. A very creative idea as Berrima no longer has a 3 star course and one that the riders supported well.
Now for the best bit- get your bluetooth speaker charged, find up your ear phones and make sure you have paid your internet data bill as Sit Tight Radio will be broadcasting live from Equestriad this coming weekend the 7th and 8th of April. Don’t miss a single minute from arguably the biggest ODE in Australia. Everyone will be there strutting their stuff before Sydney and Melbourne 3DE’s and we will be there to oversee and commentate on it all.
OMG – we can’t wait!!!
