ACC Equestrian News

ACC Distant Education students Ruby Rae from Katanning and Charlee Mortin-Sharp from Nannup recently made the four day trek across the Nullarbor with their horses to compete at this year’s Melbourne International 3 Day Event on the 6th-10th June.

This annual event is Melbourne’s premier eventing competition attracting riders from all over the country. Since its inception in 1957 riders have used this event as a qualifier and training competition for Olympic, World Equestrian Games and FEI World Cup Team selection. The M3DE Honour Board boasts some of the biggest equestrian names in the country including the Roycrofts, Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose, Heath Ryan, Stuart Tinney and our very own Olympic Silver medallist Sonja Johnson.

Held in the historic precinct of Werribee Park, the competition is held over three days starting with dressage, followed by cross country and finishing with showjumping. The cross country course is famous for its picturesque landscape as it winds through the State Rose Garden, the lush grounds of Werribee Mansion and open Polo Fields. Werribee Park Zoo is also nearby and if the winds are blowing in the right direction, you can hear the roar of the lions!

Both girls were entered in the CCI Young Rider/Junior 2*L which proved to be a huge field of 37 combinations. Charlee also brought her other horse to compete in the Off The Track CCN 1* - L class and her baby horse whom she entered in the IRT Young Event Horse Challenge; with 3 horses she had her hands full!  As well as riding as individuals the girls were also selected by Equestrian WA to be part of the WA Gold Team in the 2* Team Challenge against 9 other state teams.

The competition was tough and the vibrant atmosphere and large crowds required some very precise and steady riding and I’m proud to say that both girls rode exceptionally to place in all their classes, results are;

Ruby Rae riding WHF Frequency

• Winner of the YR/J CCI 2*L class

• Winner of the Gillian Rolton Best Performed Junior Rider

• Recipient of the BetaVet Best Dressage Score

Charlee Morton-Sharp

SV Supermaxi results

• 10th Place YR/J CCi 2* L Class

SV Oceans Fifteen results

• 5th Place CCN1*-L

SV Pride of Mersi (aka Vegemite)

• 7th Place Young Event Horse class.

As mentioned, both girls were also part of the WA Gold Team which won the 2* State Team Challenge by a respectable 7 points! Team Victoria came second closely followed by NSW.

Both girls and their horses are now safely home and looking forward to the rest of the competition season, we wish them both the very best with their future endeavours.

Kristy Rae

WA Team Manager