The 2025 Limitless Lodge Sydney International Three-Day Event wrapped up on Sunday with the final jumping phase, where combinations concluded three thrilling days of competition and winners were crowned.
Limitless Lodge CCI4*L
Twenty-one-year-old Oliver Barrett and nine-year-old gelding Sandhills Briar delivered a near-perfect performance to win the CCI4*L Sunday afternoon, ultimately adding just 1.2 show jumping time faults to their dressage score across three days of competition to finish at the top of the leaderboard on 32.2.
A Warmblood x Thoroughbred, Sandhills Briar was bred and is owned by the Barratt family. He is by Christian, who goes back to Carthago, and is out of the mare Sandhills Beetle, who is by Stirling Sprite (Salute) out of a Thoroughbred mare.
Second after the dressage and cross-country phases, the duo moved into first place after the overnight leaders, Shenae Lowings and her off-the-track Thoroughbred Bold Venture (Devaraja x Zamoff), unfortunately lowered three rails on Sunday. Adding the 12 jump faults plus 0.8 time faults to their score, they finished a credible third on 40.
Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango jumped clear with 0.4 time faults to finish second on 35.4. Tulara Baltango is by Tulara Balouch (Balou Du Rouet) out of Tulara Tanzee (Contango II).
Sam Jeffree and Wimborne Conjuror (Contenda) also jumped clear and had 0.4 time faults for fourth on 40.2, with Oliver Barrett finishing fifth on the mare Sandhills Gem, who had one rail down and 2.4 time faults for a total of 48.2.
Sandhills Gem is another homebred by Christian, out of Sandhills Glint, who is by Staccato out of a Thoroughbred mare.
While three combinations jumped clear, no one was able to make time on the John Vallance-designed CCI4*L course.
Agnes Banks Equine Clinic CCI4*S
In the CCI4*S, Sam Woods and SS Eight Count (Hamlet) jumped clear around the Aran Ghafouri-designed course to retain their overnight lead and win on a score of 38.
They finished ahead of Andrew Barnett and Oscar Park Deluge (Buckwell Park Destiny GS x Brilliant Invader xx), who lowered one rail to finish on 46, with dressage leaders Christine Bates and Bloomfield Findon (Fiderstern x Don Davidoff) third on 46.9 after accruing 0.4 time faults and two rails – a great results for the horse’s first international-level four-star.
Deon Stokes and the Thoroughbred Fantastik Mr Fox (Anacheeva x Invincible Spirit) were fourth on 47.7 with a rail down, while British rider Zachary Thorne and another Thoroughbred, Wu Gok (Sebring x Redoute’s Choice), jumped clear to continue their rise for fifth (54.9).
4CYTE CCI3*L
Despite a rail down, 22-year-old Hannah Deegan and her 12-year-old Thoroughbred HK Hawthorn (Toorak Toff x Volksraad) managed to lead from start to finish in the CCI3*L, producing a consistent performance throughout to win on 35.7.
Oliver Barrett added another podium finish to his Sydney success story, jumping clear around the John Vallance-designed CCI3*L course and placing second with mare Temprando (37.9).
Andrew Cooper and Ocean Eight were third on 39.8, followed by Ruby Gorton and Blazing Django, who rose from 15th after the dressage and added just one rail to finish on 46.7. Lamoza Velisha was fifth with Call Me Cooley, also on 46.7.
Rosehip Vital CCI3*S
There was no stopping 19-year-old Warrego Marco Polo in the CCI3*S, with he and long-time partner Emma Mason making short work of the Aran Ghafouri-designed course and finishing on their dressage score of 28.6.
Bred by Warrego Warmblood Stud in Woodford, Queensland, ‘Marcus’ is out of their mare Warrego Alisha – who is by Warrego Sandon out of what Emma believes was a Thoroughbred mare – and is by Australian-bred stallion Cildara Conquest (Contango II x Falkland). Marcus is therefore three-quarter Warmblood and one-quarter Thoroughbred.
Previously ridden and owned by Justine Streater, Marcus first caught Emma’s eye in a Facebook photo, and eventually fate saw her join forces with the bay gelding. Marcus has had a remarkable career, with this Sydney CCI3*S win yet another highlight.
Read more: THE JOURNEY GOES ON FOR EMMA & MARCUS – Equestrian Life, May 2025
Tahlia Pursell and Astro NZPH continued their rise up the leaderboard, jumping clear to place second on 35.4, ahead of Tara Rogers and Denison Park Smooth (40.1), and Katie Taliana on Revelwood Wynston Street (42.6). The top four all jumped clear on Sunday. Rounding out the top five was Lauren Browne and her 18-year-old Thoroughbred Sky’s Da Limit (43.7).
Bates Saddles CCI2*L
Lamoza Velisha and Ophelie Van Prinseveld (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Massimo) jumped clear around the John Vallance-designed CCI2*L course to remain on their dressage score of 28.4 and win the class.
Megan Jones and Cadello MPH (Tulara Cascadel x Nintendro M) were second on their dressage score of 28.9, while Cathryn Herbert and CH Collette were also clear throughout to finish on their dressage score of 31.4. Christine Bates and Statford Matilda were fourth (32.8) and Asha Warnock and Notting Hill Gate were fifth (34.3).
CCN1*
Hannah Deegan made it a double win, also claiming the CEVA CCN1* (A) with Thoroughbred Zipalon HK on their dressage score of 29.8. Deon Stokes held his top placing in the Bucas CCN1* (B) with Freycinet II, adding just one rail to win on 28.6.
