There must be something about people named John and a passion for eventing coverage. Our good friend John Lechner was awake for nearly 20 hours yesterday traveling to Adelaide and writing about the dressage for us and he was still up before dawn in Australia preparing this preview of the Adelaide XC and videos for Eventing Nation. As always, you can find John at his website www.eventingsafety.wordpress.com or follow him @JohnVacy. Thanks for writing this John and thank you for reading.
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This is a new frangible wall, it uses the Mim NewEra clip and folds in half
From John Lechner:
It is early Saturday morning here in Adelaide and we all know that XC day is the day us Eventers all live for, the adrenalin, the nervousness, the plain downright frightened, it all plays a part in making our sport what it is.
Yesterday I had the privilege to interview three of Australia’s world class Riders, these guys – Heath Ryan, Stuart Tinney and Wendy Schaeffer. Have each been in the Eventing business for 20 plus years.
All of these top riders will tell you that they respect the course, from beginning to end, you must not let your guard down between the start flags and the finish flags.
But when you talk to some of the less experienced riders, they are just plain scared. Personally, I think this is good as fear will help you to respect this course, it is BIG!!, 11 minutes of unrelenting gallops, narrow lanes and today, about 20,000 spectators lining the course. Many of these horses and riders have never seen crowds at an event and today there will be crowds lining the lanes.
TD Andry Griffiths:
Back to the pros for a second, I think this course has a hidden trick up its sleeve. Last year the track was tight, little room for galloping and very tough to make time. This year, the course is definitely more open, more galloping, herein I think some may relax and think it is easier to make time. I don’t think so, with a full 11 minutes managing speed and horsepower to the last fence will be critical, those who let their guard down just a tiny bit, will get bitten.
I won’t be surprised to see very few, if any, make time. And I think a few surprise stops in the last third of the course may be the order of the day. I wish all horses and riders the very best of days and hope that everybody comes home safe and sound.
I promise to do and interview with Hamish and Dave who are here producing another extravaganza sometime soon.
On a final note, Young Rider Katie Redmond is sitting equal 16th overall and fourth in the Young Rider Class in the CCI2* after dressage on Boyd Martin’s former four star champion horse True Blue Toozac. A great start for Katie.
Catch you all later today.
–EventingSafety John
