Dateline: 15th November, 2009 - Adelaide, Australia

In what has been described as unbearable heat, Adelaide was the host city to the well known 4* Horse Trials event and it would seem the heat took its toll - the cross country course was shortened due to the heat, and organisers had mist sprays brought in for the horses as they came through the finish flags.

Thirty one of the best in Australia fronted up for dressage but only 16 made it through to complete the event.

Stuart Tinney and Vettori took the win moving from 14th after dressage to 1st after completing the tough cross country course with 11.6 time penatlies. Tinney then put in a super showjumping round with no fences falling giving him the win, and probably cementing a ride in Kentucky for the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Megan Jones from South Australia had two rides in the 4* event, Kirby Park Allofasudden and Kirby Park Jester and was obviously happy with Jester's dressage as they were in the lead after this first phase. Allofasudden was sitting in 6th place.

Megan ended up with Allofasudden moving up to second place after a super cross country round and a showjumping round which saw just one fence down.

Jester collected 20 penalties cross country but with clear showjumping finished in 3rd place giving Megan Jones 2nd and 3rd placings behind Stuart Tinney.

The greatest jump in placings came from Luke Jones from South Australia who was 26th after dressage. He collected just six time penalties cross country with Soul to move into 3rd place but when this combination lowered two fences in showjumping they finished in 5th place.

The CCI2* was won by Emma Scott and Jenbern Monyana who were second after dressage and with their clear cross country and just one fence down in the showjumping took the winning prizes!

The CIC2* saw quite the upset when Andrew Helestine and Warrego Windchester moved from 24th after dressage to 3rd place after cross country where they collected 1.2 time faults - but when they completed a foot perfect showjumping round with no penalties they took first place honours over Shane Rose and Statford Novalis who held the lead right through until he lowered two fences in the showjumping.

Dateline: 15th November, 2009 - Shepparton, Victoria, Australia

Chris Chugg remains in form on the Australian World Cup Leaderboard after taking 1st and 3rd in the main class, again in high temperatures in Shepparton.

Vivant for Chugg, Dark Ages for Clem Smith and Conquistador for Chugg were the only three horses to jump double clear and with Vivant not being the nominated horse, Smith took the leaders points in this round.

Only 7 of the 12 entries complete the first round - Rebecca Allen and Koyuna Ted were eliminated along with Brett Warren and Winfield.

Emily Blinkworth and Romantic Dream retired, as did Brook Dobbin and Shine and Kristy Bruhn and Habarty.

Chris Chugg remains well in the lead after seven legs of the eleven listed with Michelle Lang-McMahon following. Third on the leader board is eventer Wendy Schaeffer, with Julia Hargreaves in fourth position at this stage.

Dateline: 15th November, 2009 - Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia

The tragic death of 28 year old Kylie Griffiths rocked the equestrian community of Exeter when the news of her fall during a bush walking expedition with her husband of just 12 months and their dog ended in tragedy.

Kylie slipped down a 12 metre embankment while walking with husband Stuart and dog Tess, who also fell but survived the fall with a few injuries.

Kylie began carriage driving just 18 months ago and last weekend won her class at the State Championships in Grenfell.

Kylie's always smiling face will be greatly missed by all her knew her and our thoughts are with husband Stuart and her family and friends.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, at St Judes, in Bowral NSW at 12 noon and we understand that donations to the RDA would be appreciated by the family in keeping with Kylie's great connection with the organisation.