Stunning course and extra day of competition put Mildura on the map
MILDURA’s horse trials start a really busy run of events for keen riders after the long break.
There are events listed every month right up until May, and with everyone fit and keen to go after a long two-year break from Covid, fields fill online within minutes of appearing.
The event organiser, Bridget Camaniti, said the Mildura committee was “a bit rusty” after not having run an event for so long but they were blessed with perfect weather and great courses by Mick Pineo and David Johnson meant everything went perfectly.
“We were really pleased with how the event ran, especially since we hadn’t run since 2019,” Bridget said.
“Despite record entry numbers, we managed to have presentations at 2.30pm on the Sunday, allowing competitors to get on the road early.”
Mildura Horse Trials is unusual in that it offers an extra day of competition to traditional formats.
“We had great numbers at our Friday comp – it is a point of difference for our event, and probably what entices people to travel to us,” Bridget said.
“We hold a separate dressage comp, run a freshman’s showjumping ring and then hold a six-bar competition under lights, with pretty good prize money.”
Spectators love going to the event as the course winds through the bush on tracks with good sandy footing, out onto an open area with much of the course able to be seen from the main clubroom area.
Teegan Ashby had a great weekend placing first and second in the one-star class out of a field of 24, with Magic Margot Tae and Magic Mike Tae just two points apart. She also took home a fourth place in the 80cm class with Poppy and seventh with Ron.
Placings were close in the EA 95 class, with Elena Penney riding La Muso, Caitlyn Worthington riding Rockingham Second Guess and Ella Oszczypok on Kirby Park Impress finishing just a point apart.
All had finished high in the dressage phase and followed it up with clean jumping rounds.
The EA 80 cm class was divided into two sections with 23 and 31 riders starting. The first division went to Amelie Morelli riding Wez, leading right from the dressage phase. In division two, Abigail Hobbs’ Furst Realm finished one point ahead of Krystal Bishop’s Tintagel Rocker, despite having a slower cross-country time.
Fifty riders competed in the two 60cm classes won by Jo O'Connor on Four Winds Me Darcy and Ella-Rose Evans’ Little Black Suzi, both finishing on their dressage scores. The 26 riders in the EA 50cm class had a ball over the neat little courses, with Lily Collins’ Brooklee La Bella, Georgia Davies’ Kenton Hill Hot Gossip and Jeanine Miller’s SP Rebellious filling the placings. The off-the-track awards for Thoroughbreds in the CCN1* went to Hannah Schey and High Demands (raced as Snapjack); EvA95 winner was Elena Penney and La Muso; EvA80 Krystal Bishop and Tintagel Rocker, EV65 Lamoza Velisha and Masculino and EV50 Jeanine Miller and SP Rebellious (raced as Rose of Quincy). The event was supported the People on Ponies group that promotes ponies as elite equine athletes in all disciplines.
This was the first time POP has sponsored a Horse Trials event, with a rug and a cash prize going to the highest placed pony in the EvA80, EV65 and EV50 events.
There were more than 20 “POP” entries across those three classes, with the awards going to EvA80 Amelie Morelli and Wez in the EvA80, Ella-Rose Evans and Little Black Suzi in the EV65 and Lily Collins and Brooklee La Bella in the EV50.
Stories on The Regional’s website are free to read and always will be.
If you enjoyed this article you can show your support by joining our mailing list (either by filling out the form below or sending us a message).
We'd also get very excited if you put a "like" on our Facebook page.
Comentarios