By Rebecca Skilton
It was a packed Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre over the weekend with the Tonimbuk International Horse Trials attracting hundreds of riders from all over Australia.
Armed with new showjumping and cross country courses, the annual event once again produced promising results for the future of Australian eventing.
Taking place over Saturday and Sunday, the internationally recognised event saw hundreds of riders gather at the Tonimbuk Equestrian complex to compete in dressage, showjumping and cross country.
Tonimbuk Horse Trials Committee president Kate Wallis said that this year’s event proved to be a great success with a large number of riders and spectators visiting the equestrian centre.
“We had a fantastic year this year – probably the best we’ve had since taking it over (in 2013),” Kate said.
“We had 400 entries and about 350 people attended our Saturday night showjumping.
“We had a huge amount of spectators on the Sunday as well. (At an estimation), we probably had about 500 spectators over the course of the weekend.”
Within the international qualifying classes, South Australian Olympic rider Megan Jones rode Kirby Park Impress to take out the top level Lowe Farms Concours International Combine (CIC) three star competition.
Just below in the Harcourts Drouin CIC two star class, Upper Beaconsfield rider Katja Wiemann rode her horse BP Escapade to take out first place while Balnarring resident Andrew Cooper and his horse Doubled Vision won the Pakenham Produce CIC one star class.
With more than 70 riders competing in the CIC classes and an additional eight Eventing Australia (EvA) classes, the horse trials proved to be the perfect opportunity to showcase the event’s new showjumping and cross country courses, both proving to be an exciting addition to the event according to committee member and competitor Nina Clarke.
“The new cross country course was designed by Ewan Kellett and Mick Pineo,” Nina said.
“The new additions to the course were the Harcourts water complex, a ditch and brush jump for the two and three star classes, and new slot of land that had previously been closed off to the horse trials.
“The use of the terrain this year was better for the horses.
“It was less steep and didn’t go up into the back corner of the property, which in the past has been a really steep and short section of the course.”
However, preparing for such an event is no easy feat, the help of about 23 local businesses and a hard working committee ensuring the continuous operation of the Horse Trials.
“Pretty much everyone local got behind the event, there were about 23 different sponsors that were involved,” Kate said.
“Cardinia Shire have been a great supporter of the event. Graeme Moore was out on the weekend and the horse trials really appreciate that support from the shire.
“It’s a lot of work, we are a volunteer group. There are 22 people on the committee and we maintain the facilities ourselves.
“But we’ve got a really great bunch of people who just want to get behind it and make sure the event goes ahead.”
EvA Class winners:
EvA80 (Section A) Linda Williams and Burrowa Dewey
EvA80 (Section B) Catherine Davies and Graftango
EvA80 (Section C) Linda Williams and Linbil Orbit
EvA95 (Section A) Bridget Duncan DA Lyla
EvA95 (Section B) Jessica Walsh and Barrabadeen Captain
EvA95 (Section C) Georgina Birrell and Marlborough View
EvA105 (Section A) Charlotte Curwen and LP Janvier
EvA105 (Section B) Adele De Kretser and Grandjany
