A lifetime’s passion builds the Equestrian QLD CIC3* cross-country course
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With a lifetime passion for riding, training and competing in jumping and cross-country, FEI Candidate Course Designer, Sylvia Roberts, will bring the much anticipated Equestrian Queensland CIC3* event to life with a course which has all the hallmarks of a classic, competitive and exhilarating cross-country course.
Locating to Warwick with her parents in 1970, Sylvia pursued her competitive goals in gymkhanas and One Day Events and was a representative on the Qld Pony Club Eventing team at the State Championships. Of this landmark life event, Sylvia said, “Alas I did not do too well as my little horse was a great jumper but had a phobia of those dreaded ditches. Elimination on the cross-country phase was a huge disappointment but it was the last time I was ever to be eliminated on a cross-country course”.
Following a successful foray in the showjumping arena during her teenage years, Sylvia then took some time out of the saddle to focus on a Nursing career. With the advent of a young family, and unable to stay out of the saddle for too long, the next step in Sylvia’s riding career meant choosing a sport which fit with the schedule of having children. Next stop – Endurance, where Sylvia achieved recognition by placing in the top ten in the State and says, “Unfortunately I never got to ride in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup but did place 4th in the Warwick to Gold Coast 200k ride”.
In 1988, Sylvia re-entered the sport of Eventing with her super-bold “jumping machine”, Dymintina Symphony. With combined competitive spirit, Sylvia and Symphony went from Preliminary to CCI2* in a mere 18months and won the QLD Horse and Rider of the year in 1995.
It was during the 1995 Melbourne Three Day Event that Sylvia first developed her passion for course building and she recalls, “I was so blown away by the presentation of the course and the quality of the fences that I decided to develop a course in Warwick. This then became an obsession, which in turn began the Warwick Horse Trials. As I did not know how to design or build a cross country course, I sought the assistance of Felicity Cribb to give me some ideas on possible fences. I then started the hard way of building fences ...which very soon caved in or were not structurally sound”.
With the assistance of Queensland elite riders donating their time as instructors (which is now known as the hugely popular Warwick Summer School) and with the subsequent money raised, Sylvia and work colleague, Simon Goddard, lobbied the local Council and the QLD State Sports and Recreation body for funding. With their combined tenacity, they were fortunate to be granted funding and in 1997, with the experience of Bill Thompson and the passionate enthusiasm of Sylvia, her husband Roger, Simon Goddard and Mick Lawlor, the Warwick Cross Country course was born.
Over the next ten years, Sylvia continued with the Warwick course designing and was literally ‘hands-on’ in the fence construction. Having attended several EFA & FEI CD/TD seminars, it was International Course Designer, Brian Schrapel, who encouraged Sylvia to apply for an upgrade to FEI status as Course Designer. In 2009 Sylvia was promoted to an FEI Candidate Course Designer - one of only approximately seven women in the world on the FEI Course Designing list.
In early 2010, Sylvia applied for the FEI Global Training Program which gives applicants the possibility of attending a major international event in a mentoring role. On being accepted, Sylvia says, “As one of only six Australian Officials and the only CD accepted, I feel very humbled to be included in this program and am very excited to say that I will be travelling to Paris in May to attend a FEI workshop at Jardy CCI/CIC with seven other international Course Designers from around the world. I hope to gain lots more experience from the international scene to bring back to Australia”.
On her course design for the Easter Equestrian QLD CIC3* in Warwick, Sylvia’s passion for a thrilling, yet horse/rider-friendly course is evident when asked for her plans, saying, “For this event I have tried to keep the distances and efforts to a minimum as the event is very early in the season with horses possibly not being at their peak fitness. I have designed the course to encourage horse and rider combinations at each level but still given them some technical questions to keep their attention and focus throughout the course. After receiving lots of rain in the earlier part of the year the going should be excellent”.
On her goals for the event, Sylvia continues, “I hope all competitors here at the Eventing Qld first FEI event will enjoy the challenge of the cross country course and all have a very safe and enjoyable weekend. I would like to thank all those who assisted in the preparation and presentation of the cross country and a very special mention to Sue Hoffman from Warwick Gardens Galore who allows me to borrow all the wonderful plants and ornaments to beautify the course. I would also like to sincerely thank all of the women in the Warwick Work Camp as without their devoted assistance we would not be able to bring this event to you”.
With a full competition programme from Intro to 3* and a total prize pool of $10,000, nominations are closing soon. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in an event which will really get your 2010 competition year off to a great start!
Nominations via www.nominate.com.au
