Northern Horse Park Lakes & Craters International Horse Trials took place in Camperdown, Victoria 6-8 December, with classes ranging from EvA65 through to the FEI levels.
The headline CCI3*S class saw Edward Darby and nine-year-old Warmblood x Thoroughbred gelding Somerset Day claim victory on a score of 46.8 – leading all the way through from the dressage to the final jumping phase. Edward was also second with 14-year-old Warmblood mare Dawn of the Day on 65.1.
“This was my first year at Lakes & Craters HT and it did not disappoint as a final run for the year!” enthuses Edward. “People were not exaggerating when they describe ‘the hill’… I think both my horses were very glad to see the end of the cross country course!”
Edward and Somerset Day’s 14.4 time faults was the quickest run of the class.
“Not everything went our way across all three phases, but as eventing sometimes requires, getting it done is what is counted on the scoreboard. Being Dawn’s first run since Adelaide [in April] this year, it was great to have her out with a solid performance.
“Somerset Day is still green and needs to continue to see more courses and understand his job, but he is really starting to hit his stride across all three phases.
“The ponies will enjoy some time off over the break, with some show jumping shows early next year ahead of the 2025 autumn season, where hopefully we can pick up where we left off and continue to improve next year.”
The CCI2*L went to Yona Lloyd and Mischief Managed To Day on 44.7, with Yona also winning the CCN1*L riding Bellahowe Erised on their dressage score of 31.5.
The CCI2*S went to Georgia Spangaro and off the track Thoroughbred Lord Wimborne on 46.
In the EvA95 classes, Asha Lloyd and Incy Wincy Spider finished on 32.6 to win division A, while Lucy Kolomanski won division B with Phenomenal on 34.8.
Rebekah Italiano won the EvA80A on Caladium with a super dressage score of 19.1, and in the EvA80B it was Marita Petersen and Porsche Milkyway who won on their dressage score of 27.2.
Finally, the EvA65 saw a win to Lucy Gubbins and Feelings Mutual (27.8) in division A, while Will Enzinger and Siri won division B (35.7).
