VICTORIAN CARRIAGE DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1999
A cooperative effort by the Benalla Pleasure Harness Club and the Euroa Silver Horseshoes Harness Club the event held at Longwood saw a field of 40 entries from four States contest 12 Championship classes and two additional FEI classes (non-championship).
Without doubt the most spectacular display of driver skill came from young Victorian driver, Andrew Pollock and his horse Matilda. Reading across the scorecard Pollock obtained best overall scores in the Marathon and Cone Driving, missing the Open Dressage by a mere 1.5 penalties. He also provided lots of entertainment with some fast and exciting action in the Marathon.
Event Director Graham Martin and his hard-working team headed by Tom Wood, with administrative support from Janet Gilmour and Jenny Martin, are to be congratulated on their preparation of the venue and the course.
Fairly warm conditions greeted competitors on day one of competition. Well-known show harness identity, John Kee, judged the Presentation. Kee proved a strict task-master with no driver receiving less than 45. South Australian Jackie Boyd with her smart horse pair Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers obtained the best score before 'dancing' through the dressage to victory in her class. Best of the Novice Presentation was awarded to Liz Carey driving Janlyn Jewel.
Novice Dressage was judged by Katrina Wattchow and Marion Dawson. A mixed bag of results for Novice drivers with best tests driven by Paula Rhodes and Tokanui Maestro on 38.5, Leanne Connor driving Pro Wrangler and 54.0 and Andrew Lyon with Toblerone on 55.0.
Ann Robertson and Maxine Fitzgerald judged Open Dressage where again, results were fairly mixed. Sue French was rewarded for her elegant display driving Barnon Yeoman with the best score of 41.0 closely followed by Andrew Pollock on 42.5 with Matilda and Dawn Walter and Blue Danube finished with 48.0.
After some dust-settling showers overnight competitors lined up for the start of the Marathon or Cross-country. Covering a total distance of 22kms the course took drivers through the backblocks of Longwood, and, at one point ran parallel to the Hume Freeway. Slightly undulating, with reasonable times for each of the five sections the horses had plenty in reserve at the business end of the competition — Section E — where eight interesting and well-built obstacles were to be negotiated at speed by each competitor. Careful planning of the course made it possible for spectators to view at least four marathon obstacles (MOs) from one central vantage point. This included the popular "Horseland Hollow" which incorporated water crossings, and "Furphy's Farmyard" complete with an old Furphy in the centre.
The obstacles were primarily designed and built by Graham Martin.
Specific details of each MO are only of interest to drivers so perhaps some highlights are more relevant to the general readership.
Andrew Pollock gave his most spectacular display in MO1 — The Shire Tyres. After coming to an abrupt halt when he misjudged a turn, his four-wheeled vehicle flipped backwards onto the rear wheels and he completed the gate in this unique fashion to the delight, and disbelief, of the crowd. Pollock still recorded the equal fastest time in the obstacle. His groom Marcus Armstrong worked overtime in each obstacle, bouncing the vehicle off posts and sliding around corners to gain maximum speed.
Belinda Drury drove Nike smoothly to what was a certain win until she missed a gate suffering the anguish of elimination. Although neither Madeleine Bentley with Quamby Park Tip Top or Vicki Stevenson and Eagle Tree Willie faced any opposition in their respective classes, they gave displays of control ably illustrating the benefits of ultra-responsive ponies.
The biggest class with 10 entries was the Novice Pony 12.2hh - 14hh class. Andrew Lyon and Toblerone eventually won the Marathon in this class, but not without stiff challenges from Mal Edwards and Geroa Wings and Paula Rhodes driving Tokanui Maestro. Carolyn Roberts with Navigator and Peter Hennel driving his elegant hackney Lucinda tied for fourth place in this large class.
Hamish driven by Frank Collins finished well ahead of Anne Perry (SA) and Coobydale Leyana in the Novice Horse class with Andrew Marshall and the 17hh Warmblood Jim consolidating third place.
Michelle Jones moved into top place in the Open Pony after her excellent Marathon result with Dunolly Badger only to relinquish her lead in the Cone Driving the following day. In the Pony Pairs only 0.6 separated Anne Robertson and Foster's Valley Owen & Foster's Valley Amos from Melissa Ray's Deldrac Caspar & Cheraton Marcus in this close-fought competition.
Wayne Armstrong drove his delightful buckskin Pony Tandem Bambra Brandy & Bambra Buccaneer calmly with groom, wife Rhonda ever on alert for potential problems, as tandem grooms must be!
In the FEI classes, which were non-championships, Diana Lawrence's new purple marathon vehicle attracted lots of attention as she cruised, with her pony Langtree Royal Doulton, to an unassailable lead in the pony class, while Cody Rawson-Harris driving Joanne found success in the Horse class.
On the final day of competition drivers faced their last hurdle, the Cone Competition generously sponsored by "Tait Carriages Australia". Suffice to say that at State Championship level no one got lost, and only two drivers received time faults. Approximately 50% of the field had knockdowns with the majority of these in the horse classes. Judged by Gerald Barnard-Brown the course included an 'L' shape and a serpentine but was otherwise flowing with room to move.
The event organisers are to be congratulated on a smoothly run and competitor friendly event.
By Angela Hennel
Australian Driving Society Victorian Branch Publicity Officer
4 Livingstone Road, Eltham, VIC 3095
Ph/Fax: (03) 9439 7843
E-mail: angela_hennel@hotmail.com