Flemington

26 EQUINE WELFARE “I went there (in 2016) just hoping to get around the cross country and prove myself as a rider capable at that level. Although I knew we had a good chance of going clear on cross country and I had a lot of faith of him, winning it was such a surprise and it all seemed to happen so quickly. It really was just ‘our day’ – everything seemed to just go our way throughout the event,” remembers Hazel. The quiet achiever, who slept in a swag the night of her first 5* victory as they travelled back to NSW from South Australia, returned to Adelaide to defend her title the following year but was one of several riders penalised as part of a new cross country rule regarding the technicality of the horse’s body passing through the fence flags – a rule that was subsequently changed. These penalties dropped her out of contention for another win but she and the newly renamed Willingapark Clifford still put in a clear show jumping round on the final day. Clifford acquired his prefix thanks to his new owners, Terry and Ginette Snow of Willinga Park in NSW. They stepped in to ensure that Hazel and Clifford could continue their partnership together when Clifford’s joint owner and long-time partner of Wendy Ward, Allen Jenkins, sadly passed away leaving Wendy devastated and Clifford up for sale. Showjumping for the second win in 2018 (Image credit: Libby Law Photography) “HE IS SUCH A FAST GALLOPER AND I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY TRIALLED HIM FOR RACING – HE MUST HAVE BEEN TRICKING EVERYBODY! I’M SO GLAD HE DID AND I’M VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS HORSE IN MY LIFE.”