Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar. Photo courtesy of the Sydney 3DE.
The final day of the Limitless Lodge Sydney International Three-Day Event in Australia saw Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, the two-phase leaders, surrender their spot at the top of the leaderboard after a shock three rails, opening the door for 21-year-old Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar to move up from runner-up position into first place — the talented young rider’s first victory at this level.
Oliver and his nine-year-old homebred delivered one of just three clear rounds in this influential final phase, and even the 1.2 time penalties they picked up along the way kept them a healthy margin ahead of Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango, who also jumped clear to step up from third to second place. Sam Jeffree and Wimborne Conjuror delivered the only other clear of the day to take fourth place, ahead of Oliver and his other ride, Sandhills Gem, the best-placed mare of the competition.
Oliver’s successes didn’t just come in the feature CCI4*-L class: he also finished second in the 4CYTE CCI3*-L with Tempranado, truly marking him as a Southern Hemisphere star on the rise.
“I couldn’t be prouder of all three horses this weekend. Briar was super in all three phases, he’s such a cool horse to ride and a real thrill to be able to win,” says Oliver. “Gem was also super and it’s an honour to be awarded with the Holstein Park Leilani Trophy [for the best mare of the competition]. Thank you to Jean and Jade Findlay for their continued support of eventing and this award.”
Tempranado showed her potential for the future this weekend as well finishing on her dressage score. Bred by Alan Skinner, she has the pedigree to be a great horse with her Dam Tempranillo competing at 5 Star with Chris Burton and her Sire Diarado being one of the world’s leading eventing stallions. She hopefully is one to watch in the future.”
Just eight of the thirteen starters in the CCI4*-L completed the class, while over in the CCI3*-L, the Thoroughbred reigned supreme. The final top ten featured seven full Thoroughbreds, led by Hannah Deegan and HK Hawthorn, who held the lead from pillar to post and added just one rail to their first-phase score.
Ophelie van Prinseveld and Lamosa Velisha took the win in the Bates Saddles-sponsored CCI2*-L, while Olympian Megan Jones had a long drive from South Australia, but made it well worthwhile with a second place finish aboard Cadello MPH.
The CCI4*-S, sponsored by Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, went the way of Sam Woods and SS Eight Count, who added just 4.8 time penalties across the country to their first-phase score, and the CCI3*-S, sponsored by Rose-Hip Vital, was scooped by Emma Mason and Warrego Marco Polo, who were the only pair to finish on their dressage score.
The week’s trophy winners are as follows:
Robert Slade Memorial Trophy – Presented to the Winner of CCI4*-L Event
Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar
Holstein Park Leilani Trophy– Presented to Highest placed mare in CCI4*L
Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Gem
Rod Winchester Trophy – For Best and Fairest Young Rider
Charlie Richardson
Rachel Watts Award for Excellence
Geoff Spears
Best Dressed at Agnes Banks Equine Centre Trot-Up
Sam Jeffree
Maddie Cooper
Kohnke’s Own 2025 Young Event Horse Championship
95cm – VH Royale ridden by Blair Richardson
1* -5/6yo Bellhaven Chatterbox ridden by Kadi Eycamp
2*- 6/7yo Cracker Night ridden by Zachery Thorne
3*-7/8yo Oaks Quasimoto ridden by Judy Clarke
Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI4*-L
Bold Venture ridden by Shenae Lowings
Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CIC3*-L
HK Hawthorn ridden by Hannah Deegan
Equestrian NSW GRASSROOTS CHAMPION 65CM
Amelie Scott and Leonardo Ricciardo
Equestrian NSW GRASSROOTS CHAMPION 80CM
Shive Weidemann and Sandhills Shiver
Equestrian NSW GRASSROOTS CHAMPION 95CM
Sharna Dolbey and Hillwood Park Thorlindah Hyacinth
Equestrian NSW GRASSROOTS CHAMPION 1 STAR
Keira McNally and Yoicks Vegas
Equestrian NSW GRASSROOTS TEAM CHAMPIONS 2024
“Young and Eventful”
Tanisha Donnelly -Dom Perignon MVH
Annabelle Hwang – Squidward
Dane Schwartz – Chuppa Chup
Ruby Huggett – Fairfield Double Delight
Grooms Award presented by Horseland
Holly Brimblecombe (groom of Bloomfield Findon)
The full results can be viewed here,.
