2009 Melbourne 3DE

Katja Weimann is pictured riding Vaughn and Rosemarie Hazzard Ellis' 'Tomahawk Tom' . Second out on the cross country first thing this morning, they jumped a double clear to head in to the showjumping phase in 10th place on 53.1. Katja also leads the One Star field riding Elizabeth Pittard's 'Pluto Mio' with 43.1.

Well known and successful NSW eventer, Tim Boland is pictured riding Alan Bell's 'Grand Armee'. Now if you think that name sounds familiar, you would be correct. Grand Armee by Hennessy, won over five million dollars including seven Group One races and the 2004 Doncaster. The racing star took a bit of a dislike to a couple of skinny fences today, but it will be interesting to see in time if a great horse is a great horse at everything it does.

Twenty-four year old NSW rider Emma Scott, had a good day at the office today. Emma is pictured with her, 'Jenbern Monyana' by Hegamony that is currently second in the CCI* on 48.9 penalties after a clear cross country run. Emma is also fifth in the CCI*** riding her well performed, 'Mustang' by He's A Bear.

Jamie Lee Hill rode her Luskin Star gelding, 'Broadway' to incur just 0.4 cross country time penalties over the "Strong" CCI* track. They head in to the showjumping phase in 26th place with 63.7 penalties.

Victorian rider, Amanda Habjan improved her chances in the CCI* riding her Irish Sporthorse by Woodmount Carrick, 'Ellesmere Storm'. Ninth after the dressage phase with 52.2, they added no further penalty to head in to the showjumping phase in sixth place.

Tasmanian rider, Rebecca White improved from sixth after the dressage to fourth place after a penalty free cross country phase of the CCI* riding her 'Spy Master'. They head in to the showjumping with 51.2 penalties.

Samantha Wood is pictured during the CCI** making a careful jump with her Thoroughbred, 'Saddle Up Star Odyssey' by Dolphin Street. They paid dearly for just one mistake to be in 39th place heading in to the jumping phase.

Experienced and successful eventing rider, Niki Chapman looks well in control of Alex, Deborah and Graham Aldridge's 'Milford Monarch' during the CCI* cross country phase. Clear across country, they head in to the showjumping phase in seventh place with 52.5 penalties.

Frances Hughes and her 'Argentum', a Holsteiner gelding by RiptideTer Brokeford, make a super jump over the Breast Cancer Network Roll Top during their CCI* cross country run.

Second after the dressage phase, Brett Davey and 'Goolcoola Montage' by Gymnastik Star, slipped to 29th in the CCI* competition after and unlucky run out on the cross country course. However tomorrow is another day and there is always room to move up with a good showjumping round.

Olivia Townsend and her 'Kendalee Hitch Hiker', a Warmblood by Wongalea High Design, moved from third after the dressage to first in the CCIJ* following a penalty free cross country. They head in to the final indoor jumping phase with 50.9 penalties.

At just 14, Jamie Sitchel from South Australia did a super job with her Quarter Horse/TB, 'Scotch Mist'. They added just 6.8 cross country time penalties to head in to the CCIJ* jumping phase in 14th place with 6.8 penalties.

Bonnie Price from Queensland and her 'River Range Coppergate,' a Warmblood by Northern Classic, make quite an effort over this fence during the CCIJ* cross country. They jumped penalty free to hold second place going in to the final jumping phase tomorrow.

Isabel Houghton's 'Virulent', a Thoroughbred by Albany Bay really has his eyes focused on where he is going. A stop across country has them in 24th place heading into the showjumping phase of the CCIJ*.

Nicola Hayes is a successful showjumping rider and as this photo attests, a good eventing rider as well. Nicola is pictured with her 'AEA Abel Rex' a Warmblood by Edwardo Rex. They jumped clear to move from ninth after the dressage to fourth on 57.7 heading in to the final indoor jumping phase tomorrow.

Georgina Cameron and her 'Harry Hatchett' look to be walking on water. Well, almost; they jumped penalty free to move from sixth after the dressage to third place in the CCIJ* going in to the jumping phase tomorrow on 54.1 penalties.

Tarsha Hammond and 'Rio Lobo,' a Thoroughbred by Eagle Eyed make a copy book jump over this corner during their CCI** cross country run. They moved from 16th to seventh on the strength of it with 59.1 penalties.

Sally Morrison is pictured with her well named, 'In Your Dreams'. The handsome Thoroughbred by Cardinal (NZ) added just 1.5 time penalties to be in sixth place with 53.3 penalties in the CCI**.

The colourful combination of Tarryn Proctor and 'Newsman', a Thoroughbred by Good News Man, jumped well across country to move from 23 after the dressage, to head in to the jumping phase of the CCI** in eleventh place with 62.9 penalties.

New Zealand combination, Elizabeth Brown and 'Henton Attorney General', a Hanoverian gelding by Anamour, held on to first place with a super clear run across country to head in to the jumping phase of the CCI** with 49.8 penalties.

Felicity Braithwaite and 'Allegro Con Fuoco' by Allegro Con Brio, one of a strong contingent from South Australia jumped a good CCI** cross country round for the addition of just 3.6 time penalties. The effort pulled them up from 30th to 17th.

Experienced eventing rider, Natalie Blundell and 'Algebra', a Thoroughbred by Silver Dollar make a super jump during their CCI** cross country run. They added just 1.2 time penalties to head in to the jumping phase in fourth place.

Emma Dougall from Queensland rode the former Will Enzinger ride, 'Wenlock Ladore' to add just 4.4 CCI** cross country time penalties to head in to the jumping phase in 12th place.

Beijing Silver Team Medallists, Sonja Johnson makes a seamless entry in to the Palmer Higgs Puddle riding Olga Reveler's 'Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison' a Thoroughbred by Made Of Gold. CCI*** trail blazers, they produced their characteristic clear and under time run, to head in to the jumping phase in seventh place.

Eventing high flyer, Megan Jones makes a spectacular plunge in to the Palmer Higgs Puddle with Lauren Poulson's Rustic Amber gelding, 'Kirby Park Allofasudden'. With nothing to add they remain in second place and head in to the jumping phase of the CCI*** with 47.9.

Despite the winter fixture, the Melbourne 3DE now in its historic 53rd year always attracts a big crowd. Their attention is taken by Dale Flynn from South Australia riding his 'ESB Irish Eclipse' by ESB Irish Endeavour. With just six time penalties to add they head in to the jumping phase of the CCI*** in tenth place with 66.8 penalties.

Wendy Platts' 'For Pleasure' really has the undercarriage up over this log during the cross country phase of the CCI***. They jumped clear , but the addition of 25.6 time penalties was rather costly. They are in 13th place going in to the jumping phase tomorrow.

New Zealand combination, Clark Johnson and 'Orient Express' make a beautiful jump during their CCI*** cross country run. With a penalty free trip they remain in sixth place on 50.8, just over three penalties behind the leader.

The well travelled Emily Anker is pictured riding her own and Mary Jane Crabtree's Kenmare gelding, 'Keniski'. The former Melbourne One Star winner had an uncharacteristic run out across country to slip from ninth after the dressage to 16th.

Christopher Burton would win the style prize if there was one. He is pictured riding Jean Findlay's, 'Holstein Park Leilani' that posted a penalty free trip across country in the CCI***. They hold on to first place with 47.5 penalties, just 0.3 ahead of second place.

I don't want to bang on about style, but Stuart Tinney has for years proved the worth of "form following function". The Olympic Gold Medallist is beautiful to watch across country, and effective, very effective. He is pictured riding Sarah Ingram's 'Watermark Grayson' a Warmblood by Graff Landau. They added just 0.6 time penalties to head in to the jumping phase of the CCI*** in third place with 49.5 penalties.

Amanda Howell is another to give any style prize a nudge. Amanda is pictured riding the 2008 Two Star winner, 'Koyuna Tora Bora' by Koyuna Magestic Supreme. They jumped clear across country and moved up one place to head in to the jumping phase of the CCI*** in fourth place with 49.8 penalties.

Stephanie Bender has had the worst of times at Melbourne. Tragically Stephanie lost her promising CCI** horse, 'Gipsy Princess' to colic the night after their dressage test. Stephanie bred the mare, which always makes the bond and consequent loss that much greater. She is pictured riding 'La Li Lu 2' the dam of Gipsy Princess in the CCI***. Sadly a fall of rider late in the course saw the talented combination eliminated. This has been a sad and tough weekend for the young rider from NSW.