photos by Rod Manson Meanwhile an Esperence eventing family, the Vincents, picked up the horses in their truck and took them to stay overnight at the Swan’s property, another eventing family. The girls spent the night with the truck. Next morning.....Michaela and Irene borrowed a float in Esperence, hitched up behind their vehicle and started off with Kinnordy Gatow. That’s one down three to go. Meanwhile Fenella Sept (Jackie Sept’s Mum) was driving Jess’s car and float towards Esperence to meet Jess, who was getting a lift back towards Albany with friends of Bec Blyth. Fenella had already changed wheels on the float so they would withstand the gruelling crossing. Meeting on the road they traded places and directions, with Jess and the car and triple float heading back to Esperence and Fenella catching the ride back to Albany. The horses were quite comfortable but the humans were very glad to be back on the road after the 24 hour delay. The horses were not phased at all. The atmosphere at Adelaide always makes for an interesting dressage phase but Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Ben) owned by Nikki Brooks outshone himself. His dressage has been steadily improving and he showed some lovely work to put him comfortably into 6th after dressage. Belfast Mojito (Mojo) owned by vets Simon and Bec Bell, was a little tense in the arena but gave a wonderful performance to be sitting comfortably in 8th at his first 4* event. Cross country courses at this level can never be taken lightly, but both horses cantered around this course like it truly was just a hack out in the beatiful parklands. Ben was one of only two double clear rounds of the day, with Mojo only incurring a minor 1.2 time penalty in his first effort at 4*, putting them in 5th and 7th places respectively after this phase. Both horses pulled up so well after the cross country that the grooms were out to dinner - you know things are all good when that happens. Normally the grooms will be with the horses half the night, icing, walking, icing, walking. Showjumping day was certainly stressful for all the competitors - and the owners. Sonja and Mojo jumped early - out of order - because the two horses were so close in places. Owner Simon Bell failed to breathe through the entire double clear round. Because they jumped out of order the significance of this achievement was not realised until more and more rails fell as the class worked it’s way from last to first after cross country. Ben dropped two rails sending him down the placings, still with the leaders to go. As rails dropped Mojo moved up the placings to be sitting in 3rd behind TS Jamaimo when the last combination, Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio entered and left with two rails on the ground. This put Mojo in 2nd place in his first 4*. Second on Mojo and eighth on Ben in this event was an outstanding achievement for two little Stock horses. Now to get home! Sonja, Phoebe and Jess loaded up bright and early on the Monday after the event and headed west. In the meantime the truck in Esperence had been fixed and was being collected by Bart Jones (eventer Zoe Jones father) on his way home from Adelaide and driven to meet the girls at Kalgoorlie quarantine. From Merredin, Jess headed to Perth and Sonja and Phoebe went south to the farm at Albany. Whoever said that eventing is not a team sport, and especially so when a potential disaster like this is averted by this amazing team spirit shown here.