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Fast and Fearless Lyle Wins Top Two Classes ahead of Dual Olympic Medallists at the Canberra CIC
The country course at equestrian park in the heart of Canberra city looked stunning. X country course designers Ben Smith and Dan Olsen having made a huge effort across the levels to improve the flow of the tracks. Despite the ongoing drought, Wallaby hill’s aerator helped ease the going and the 20 mls of rain the week before settling the dust.
With over 300 entries that included two Olympic medallists Rose and Tinney competing large teams of horses across the levels of competition, a podium finish needed a stella performance. The fast and fearless EA Coach of the year Sam Lyle produced the goods to snatch the lead in both the feature classes.
The Wallaby Hill CIC 2* class had a strong field of 35 entries from across Australia, the smaller CNC 2.5 showing equal depth of talent. NCHTA club president and event secretary, Kate Mackenzie had tipped the inform Sam Lyle to take out the CIC 2on WIN TVs pre event segment on Friday, which he did in amazing style riding Super class. He also took out the Kasun logging 2.5 riding BF Valour. In form doesn’t do justice, he was on fire, being the only rider to be under time in both classes x country.
The Horseland CIC 1* was tough, the XC taking its toll and seeing big changes on the leader board. Many combinations being stumped by that skinny after 10 a and b. However ,we also saw some fabulous riding, a highlight was Tori Doak riding her lovely Blackall park Paris steaming across country to climb from 20th to 6th in her first FEI start at 1*.While the top place went to stylish Tim Boland riding his stunning Menlo Park, 2nd and 3rd to Olympian Shane Rose, the only non elite rider in the top 5 was Katrina Silk and the magnificent Dunrostan coming 4th ahead of Stuart Tinney in 5th.
The Imperial floats and Powel stockfeeds EA 105 A and B saw both winners finishing on their dressage score, Katie Taliana riding Revelwood Wynston and Kim Leibowitz riding Widgee total tributethe latter having done a cracking 26. 70 dressage.
To be in the placings for both the EA 95cms and the EA 80 Cm levels, the dressage score had to be under 30 and incredibly a fair few achieved this. Hanson rural contracting EA 95cm A taken out by NCHTA member Katy Doak ring her own Mon Rieve Cottrell. Katy won the class by a margin of 0.40 finishing on her dressage score of 25.20 Katy is thrilled to be stepping up to EA105 at Lynton. River view farm EA 95 B was won by Judith Clarke and UKa, they had an amazing 22 dressage score allowing room for 4 penalties in the SJ to still take the class. Wilson Equestrian EA 95 C was won by Maddie Cottrill and Taurus .The Joseph Jones racing EA 80cm A was won by Victorian Sam Jeffree riding Wimborne Conjuror. Performance Farrier services 80cm B saw Sophie Adams and Colin take the class. Wallaroo Equestrian Junior EA 80cm was won by a thrilled Ruby Halloran riding Romani Windsor.
The fabulous spring weather contributed to a great weekend of sport, a huge thank you to Kate Mackenzie and family, Lauren Mcintosh and family, the Doak family, Ben Smith and family, McRoberts family, Wayne Humphreys, Melissa Benyon .To all the amazing event committee under hard working event director Corinne Henderson and the 100 plus volunteers that stepped up before during and after the event thank you for your time. Thank you to the officials, of which there are many at an FEI event, that kept the whole event on an even keel and the wonderful sponsors that supported the sport. Special thanks to the volunteers that fed everyone and to Canberra lakes pony club for running the canteen and to Richard and Kaye our amazing scoring duo kept the results flowing for an on time prize giving. The event also enjoyed strong media support from the Canberra Times running three stories and great coverage from WIN Tv both show casing our incredible sport . Congratulations NCHTA for delivering a wonderful FEI event despite a less than perfect run of wounded committee members in the previous months.
Full Results https://www.nominate.com.au/equest/nsw/results/
Report compiled by Fiona Gruen from Wallaroo Equestrian. WE promote and support equestrian sport
Article courtesy of Equestrian Australia
