24 March 2007 

 

GRAND ARMEE'S NEW EVENTING CAREER A SUCCESS. Grand Armee having now had 3 eventing starts and being thoroughly professional every time looks like he will become the new star of my team. He has a terrific temperament, lovely paces, is easy to teach, is brave, is a very good jumper and certainly hasn't forgotten how to gallop. Thanks to his very supportive owners, Alan and Cheryle Bell, who follow his new career closely.

 

23 March 2007

 

MACARTHUR HORSE TRIALS HAS RUN THEIR LAST EVENT. Macarthur Horse Trials, organised by the very popular Debby and Phillip Courtney, regretfully announces that they have run their last event at the current venue. It has always been a terrific event attended by riders from all over NSW and beyond. The lease has expired on the property and Debby and Phillip have chosen to move closer to Canberra where they will be running a new event. Details of this event will be published here as soon as they are ready to go. Debby and Phillip will continue their work as tireless organisers of many events including Sydney CCI and Scone CCI. 

 

22 March 2007

 

ALBURY HORSE TRIALS HAS DRAWN TOGETHER A HIGH CLASS FIELD TO CONTEST THEIR ANNUAL CIC ***. Albury Horse Trials, will be hosting their annual CIC *** this weekend and has drawn together a very competitive field including Megan Jones, Wendy Schaeffer, Claudia Graham and Heath Ryan who would be riding the leading horses in Australia at the moment. On the Saturday night there is also a giant fundraiser to aid Heath Ryan and his horse Flame in his quest for glory at Kentucky CCI **** in late April. Heath has been such a generous mentor and supporter of Australia's teams and aspiring young riders that it is only fitting that the eventing community gets behind this event. 

 

10 March 2007

 

CAMDEN ODE RESULTS AND REPORT. Camden ODE has been run and won on the most perfect footing ever seen in NSW. With close to four inches of rain in the two weeks preceding the event and glorious sunshine in the two days before and during the event the turf cushion was a joy to ride on. The CNC *** drew together a very good field and Claudia Graham riding her dual Lakes and Craters CCI *** winner, Blazing Chief, was able to beat Heath Ryan and the Kentucky bound Flame in a terrifically close finish where the showjumping was especially influential. John Vallance has been building the courses at Camden for the last three runnings and combined with his state of the art equipment the showjumping has been a real feature rather than a formality as it is at most events with old heavy gear. It was a good first pre novice start for my favourite young horse, Military Road, who was second after the dressage, with 73% and went clear cross country and one unfortunate rail down ended in him being place fourth. This is very encouraging for such a young, green horse.

 

3 March 2007

 

SYDNEY ODE RESULTS AND REPORT. Sydney ODE has held their dual horse trials for summer with a midweek competition followed by a weekend repeat. These events were very well attended and very competitive over courses, designed by Sue Gunn, that were very appropriate for a first event of the season. The CNC ** was won by Shane Rose riding his Adelaide CCI ** winner, Cledau Bobby Dazzler. It was a good weekend for me as Phantom Pursuit was second in the CNC **, Military Road was first in a prelim and Coney Island was second in another prelim section. Grand Armee had his first start and was able to finish second which is a fantastic result, in an introductory section.