After competing at the Victorian CD Championships over Easter I headed down to Hamilton on Wednesday April 3. I stayed overnight at John Morton and Diana Lawrence’s property at Carrington. Early Thursday morning we headed to Aldinga to pick up Elizabeth who was staying with Phillip and Patricia Mann. Her horse Robertson was delivered there from Darwin.

The next day, Friday, we headed to Owen home grounds for the Gawler Plains Carriage Driving Association. We stayed there until Monday morning before setting off for Port Pirie.

At last we were on our way to our destination – Western Australia!

Tuesday April 9 saw a short couple of hours drive Port Augusta for the vet testing for Liver Fluke in our horses. The three – Hilton, Token and Robertson passed the test and we were all travelling very well. But today was the start of our long days of 500 – 600k each day.

We arrived at the Ceduna Racecourse to be met by the caretaker who made us most welcome with power, showers and yards for our horses.

Our next stop was Mundrabilla Homestead – again power and showers but this time no yards. I tethered Token and John put up some yard for the other horses.

Another long day to Norseman Quarantine Station arriving about 5pm – thank goodness it was still daylight. We had to clean out the float and truck and be sure the horses were all clean of seed etc. as they had to be checked the next morning. Once again we passed the test.

We then headed to Northam, a long drive, to find our way to Lance and Barbara Thomas’ property at York arriving about 8pm in the dark. John and Diana did a marvellous job in finding our way.
Lance met us at the main gate and guided us into the property. We were so pleased to find ourselves on such a beautiful property and Lance and Barbara made us feel very welcome.

We spent the next two weeks gently getting our horses ready for the big event.

There were thousands of acres of bushland to work our horses in and the only trouble was that it was full of kangaroos which made Token very nervous. She tried to take off on me several times. I took her off hard feed as I thought she may have been a little too fit.

Saturday April 27 was the beginning of the event with Presentation and Dressage. The dressage arena was a beautiful gravel arena with flowers and small cypress trees around it. I must say it was the best arena I have ever competed on.

The Marathon was over three adjoining properties with eight obstacles, all very professionally made with special themes on each one. Little dingoes, horses, lambs, flags, a covered wagon and a water obstacle. The eighth obstacle was like a whole pine forest to negotiate. I must say I breathed a sigh of relief on getting through there without elimination…I hoped!

Monday was the Cones which once again I completed very successfully. So I had won the Australian Championships, but I was not happy with my performance as Token was very tired and she had never gone so slowly with me before. She is always willing to go forward. I do not know whether it was the long trip or taking her off her hard-feed that caused the problem.

Diana and Elizabeth had both won their classes. A great achievement for Elizabeth as it was her first event with Robertson who was proving rather difficult for her to train for this event.

Presentations gave me another surprise as I was presented with a trophy for having competed in five States.

I must say we enjoyed every minute of our stay. Congratulations to the organisers of the event – it was one of the best I have ever been to. A job well done, keep up the good work! Thanks to all the WA competitors who wished us well, especially Lance and Barbara for their wonderful hospitality. And an especially big THANK YOU to my excellent groom – Alison – for helping me get through the event.