Under a brilliant sunny sky there were smiles everywhere at Horsley Park as Ariat Sydney 3DE concluded a very successful first day. Huge congratulations to all our riders, officials, committee members and volunteers for an amazing team effort with plenty of stories of managing covid isolation, flooded paddocks and keeping horses fit amongst the mud.
La Nina certainly has been throwing a few curve balls, but you couldn’t tell with Sydney International Equestrian Centre looking superb.
Today saw our eventers looking sharp as they tackled the dressage phase. Main Arena’s 1 and 2 gave spectators a wonderful view of our top combinations
The leading combination in the Bates Saddles CCI 4*L long format is Shenae Lowings on ‘Bold Venture’ finishing on an excellent 27.4 penalties. Heath Ryan on ‘Bronze Boy R’ (30.2 penalties) and Sam Lyle on ‘BF Valour’ (31 penalties) round out the top 3 riders
The Equestrian NSW CCI 4*S short format is being led by Shane Rose on ‘Easy Turn’ with 28.9 penalties, followed by Jess Rae on ‘Rascal’ with 30.8. Shane backs up his leading position sitting third with his olympic partner ‘Virgil’ on 31.4 penalties
Kohnke’s Own CCI 3* – L is also lead by Shenae Lowings on ‘Dotti’ with 28.5 penalties, Andrew Cooper with ‘Sharvalley Thunder’ is in second position on 28.9, followed by Sam Fasher on ‘Sulitanos’ with 30.1 penalties
Ceva Equine CCI 3*- S features Emma Bishop on ‘Cassilis Park Figaro’ sitting first with an excellent 26.6 penalties, Oliver Barrett on ‘Sandhills Special’ on 28.9 and Tara Rogers with ‘Denison Park Smooth’ third with 31.9 penalties
4Cyte CCI 2* – L is being led by Natalie Bundell on ‘Tarburra Puss n Boots’. Jess Somerfield on ‘HB Zara’ leads the Bowral Kubota CCI 2*- S short format.
With tomorrow looking like it will be another stunning day the conditions are perfect for the cross country phase. The track, designed by Stuart Tinney (CCI4*-L) and Chris Ross (CCI4*-S through to CCI 2*) is intended to be a challenging but fair test given the preparation conditions faced by many. Chris Ross explained “the tracks are designed to hopefully be challenging with good flow and fun to ride, whilst being conscious that most horses won’t have had many starts in recent times because of the weather. Good luck to all riders”
Cross country day kicks off at 9am with a CCI 4* course walk lead by the one and only Wayne Roycroft. His wisdom and depth of understanding to explain how our top riders will tackle the course will be invaluable.
