Go West! Team WA Claims First place at Melbourne International 3DE

Written by Ruth Ellis

Every June, the eventing community makes its pilgrimage east to Werribee Park for the Melbourne International 3 Day Event — and every year, Western Australia answers the call in force. This year, that long journey paid off in the best possible way.

Team Western Australia has claimed the 2026 State Teams Championship, finishing on a combined score of just 105.6 penalties. The winning side was made up of Riley Lyall and Order Is Restored, Ella McCrum and Hez All That Jazz, Kate Ingham and Asti Showstopper GPH, and Isabella Day and Sovereign's Marielle — and it was about as close as it gets, with South Australia finishing a mere one-tenth of a penalty behind on 105.7. It's the kind of result that makes every early morning float-loading, every interstate flight, and every long-distance training session feel entirely worth it.

But the real story of Melbourne 2026 isn't just the trophy — it's the depth and heart of the whole WA contingent who travelled east this year. Beyond the four combinations who scored for the winning team, riders across every class carried a piece of WA pride into the arena, and the support back home was felt every step of the way.

Leading the charge in the CCI4*L, Kenya Wilson and Sandros Salute MW galloped home in 3rd, with Charlee Morton-Sharp and SV Supermaxi right behind in 5th, and Sarah Dawson piloting Imposing to a strong 13th.

The CCI2*L field saw Riley Lyall and Order Is Restored post a smart 6th placing, Kate Ingham and Asti Showstopper GPH following in 12th, with Isabella Day (Sovereign's Marielle) and Joanne Madaffari (Blue Prints) rounding out the WA effort in 36th and 37th.

Young Rider Ella McCrum made her mark across two classes — a brilliant 3rd in the CCI2*L Young Rider division aboard Hez All That Jazz, then backing it up with 9th in the CCN1*L Off The Track class on Thunder God. Sarah Dawson (Nobel Laurence, 22nd) and Charlee Morton-Sharp (SV Pride Of Merisi, 31st) also flew the WA flag in the OTT ranks.

What stands out most isn't just the placings — it's the breadth of it. Across four-star veterans and young riders finding their feet at the top level, across seasoned campaigners and thoroughbreds proving their worth off the track, WA riders showed up, supported one another, and got the job done.

Behind every one of those rounds was another quiet contributor to the team's success: WA Team Vet Bec Caslick, whose trip east was made possible through the support of Combined Horse Transport. Having an internationally experienced vet on the ground — one the riders already knew and trusted — was a comfort to the whole team all week, from trot-ups and pre-competition checks through to any treatment needed along the way. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes support that rarely makes the results sheet, but makes all the difference to riders competing thousands of kilometres from home.

Crossing the Nullarbor with a horse in tow is no small undertaking. It takes months of preparation, a small army of support crew, and a fair bit of faith — and this year that faith was richly rewarded.

To every WA combination who competed at Melbourne this year: congratulations, and thank you for showing the rest of the country exactly what our state is made of. From all of us back home — we could not be prouder.