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Sunburst Equestrian Newsletter - September 2009

Newsletter September 2009

A whirlwind of showjumping, two Royal Shows interspersed with the Sydney 3 Day Event.! Gawler Agricultural Show ran a round of the World Cup qualifiers with a very much up to standard course built by Richard Bruggeman but only 11 competitors with fewer interstate entries than last year. This was Sun Set’s first major test since back from injury in New Zealand, although she had won the Guley Cup on the previous weekend as a good lead up. First round had no clears with Lia and Bradley the only 4 faulters. Lia went on to jump a super clear fast second round to win her second World Cup qualifier.

Royal Adelaide Show started brilliantly for me on the first Saturday with two wins. Sun Set won the Section 1 class and Sun Dancer won the Section 2 class, while my coach, Jamie Coman, riding my horse, Lord of the Sun, placed 3rd in Section 3. Dancer had another win from his 4 starts, while Sun Shine finished just out of the placings. Sun Set won again before I had to fly over to Sydney to trot up my event horses competing in the Sydney International Three Day Event, Sun Storm in the CCI*** and Kirsyl Sun in the CCI*. Then both horses had a couple of dressage sessions with on ground help from Megan Jones Wednesday and Thursday very early and I flew back to Adelaide Thursday to compete Sun Set in the World Cup qualifier. All this organisation and interstate jetsetting nearly fell apart when I nearly missed my flight to Adelaide and could not have happened without my parents being persuaded to drive the truck and eventers to Sydney while I jumped at Adelaide Royal. The sight of the top interstate competitors arriving for the World Cup as I was leaving, was too much, I had to come back to ride against Chris Chugg’s 2 stallions, Vivant & Conquistador, Animate and Wirrigulla Nicklaus. In the end it was a worthwhile effort as Sun Set finished in second behind Becky Allen & Koyuna Ted by a mere .4 of a second recording two double clears and another part CoC for the WEG over a testing course set by NZ’s Gerrit Beker.

Back to Sydney and dressage day started very well with Kirsyl Sun recording a 48.9 and eventual 4th, while my mare, Sun Storm did what I thought was a pleasant accurate soft test but failed to score with the judges recording a 60 and her worst ever mark.! The feedback said “boring” as she lacked the movement of the warmbloods with Heath Ryan and Georgia Clifford leading, equal on 47.3. Cross Country was another story as my fast little thoroughbred flew around clear and was the only round under time, to take the lead. The course designed for the first time by Ewan Kellet differed from the previous Wayne Copping tracks, but had enough questions early in combinations 4A,B ; 6A,B & 7A,B then significant tests at both waters to influence the result, together with an unusually hot day which also took its toll. Of the 14 starters only 9 faced the showjumping which was to be highly influential over a John Vallance course. The good careful showjumpers, Storm, Mystery Whisper and Its Monty stood out as they were all clear in 1st, 3rd & 4th respectively with Amanda Howell & Koyuna Tora Bora retaining second, while the rest of the field recorded 12, 24, 28 and even 44 penalties, only 5 of which were qualifying scores. Kirsyl Sun also jumped well to have only the last fence down, but retained his second place behind Claudia Graham & Park Street Vision in CCI*.

Drive home, change horses and rush off to Royal Melbourne Show by Wednesday! Another round of the World Cup qualifiers and this time Lia has one rail in each round in the fastest time but is beaten by two slower clears from Vivant & Chris Chugg and Animate & Michelle Lang-McMahon, so settles for third. She also wins a Group A class while Sun Shine is my star for this show with a win and 3rd in Group B and 3rd in Mini Prix. Dancer has a 3rd and a 5th in Group B, while Lord of the Sun & Jamie have a 4th but do jump clear in the Mini Prix, promising well for the future. The combined placings of my 3 horses wins me the “Most successful rider” in showjumping classes for Melbourne Royal 2009, to go with the same award at Royal Sydney Easter Show 2009 and Royal Adelaide in 2008.

Next week its over to Canberra for the NSW State SJ titles, some coaching from Gilbert Bockmann then the National SJ Championships also at Canberra and a week later the Eventers, that also showjump, will compete at the CIC*** as a final lead up to Adelaide 3DE 4* and the Trans Tasman teams competition.