The beautiful weather of the Goulburn Valley Autumn was an invitation not to be missed for this event. "Boy were we wrong". We had to apologise to some when the change came through on Saturday night with a wind off the ice, which unfortunately continued on Sunday.
We had 36 entries and started the competition with 31 after a number of unfortunate scratchings. A very pleasing entry.
We had wonderful support from the region to help make aware the wonderful products and produce which are grown and processed in the Goulburn Valley. We had a sample bag for each competitor and judge, which was so extensive you needed to carry it with "two hands". A great treat for the competitors and very much appreciated.
The grounds were looking great after the rain the week before which unfortunately had caused the cricket final to be postponed to "OUR" weekend. $#@!*?/+#. These "small hitches" are all sent to try us, but with the cooperation of the community, the cricket club and of course the competitors we coped with an alternative (not up to the standard of the oval but sufficient). The grader working at the cemetery had a "go" at doing the dressage much to the surprise of a competitor, judges and "on lookers ".
Presentation judged by Con Devlin saw some beautiful turnouts with the top score going to Yvonne Lyon and Jeannette Howie.
Dressage was up the road next to the cemetery where I believe there was only one horse "spooked" on the day. Yvonne Lyon completed the best Novice test and Paula Rhodes did a lovely test to score the best in Open. The Novice judges were Phillip Fyfe and Val Granger; the Open judges were Dot Willcoxson and Cynthia Doherty.
The cones course was flowing and relatively simple but it still caught out some with only 50% clear rounds. Was it the water trough they didn’t like? Charles Murphy did an excellent job with the judging of the cones.
Saturday evening after tea the wind came up and we all thought we were at the place where the weather starts (Kyneton) instead of Numurkah. Some "tent folks" had to tie down their accommodation but luckily were not seriously affected by the evening.
Sunday was windy but not raining thankgoodness. The lovely sand roads and treed tracks were a relaxing and enjoyable prelude to the7 obstacles that were all sited on the grounds. A couple of obstacles caused some concerns, especially the hessian roof to the tall house which was a "horse eater" to some equines. The "spooks" must have been out for a "walk" from the cemetery when the pony of one competitor, Rachelle, must have decided it was all too much and suggested the driver should depart. All was OK but they did not continue. Terry’s little man also had a rush of "confusion" and had an altercation with a post but he was not so con fused that he didn’t know which "lady horse" to run to. Terry had a few abrasions but nothing serious. I hope you are better and we look forward to seeing you at the next event Terry.
There were some very well driven obstacles with Allison Jackson, Rhonda Armstrong and Vicki Stevenson setting the pace for speed and of course accuracy.
The scoring done by Andrew Nankivell, using the David Armstrong system had the scores up very quickly after the last competitor and no complaints or appeals (just the odd correction). Well done.
We had some wonderful sponsorship with all winners getting equine produce to $50.00 and place getters second getting produce to $30.00 and third receiving produce to $15.00. The large classes were given a prize to fourth. Prizes were given to the slowest through an obstacle, best horse and pony presentation, junior driver (Liz Armstrong) and club team (Gippsland).
Zanelle Ruwolt donated a special effort to the grooms of the competitor winning the marathon in each class. This was a medallion with a pony in a gig on the front. It was lovely to see the grooms acknowledged for the work they do and the grooms appreciated it as well especially young Mister Armstrong who groomed for Jeannette Howie. This young man did a sterling job throwing that vehicle around the obstacles and if you didn’t see him his concentration was so intense I think some of those trees were a little intimidated by him.
Thankyou to all members of the Carriage Horse Driving Trials Club for the effort and commitment they gave to this event, it was appreciated by all.
Thankyou to all the competitors, who have contacted the committee since the event to thank us for the wonderful time they had, it is appreciated by those who work on the other-side of the event.