IN THE SADDLE JENNY SHEPPARD 13/11/2006

JUMPING WITH THE STARS

Sydney 2000 Olympian and veteran jumping rider Gavin Chester of Sale is looking to set a new Australian and world record if he can win six Jumping World Cup qualifier’s in succession. Chester easily winning his fourth consecutive qualifier on Saturday at Werribee Park when he and his big grey stallion Warlord II jumped the only double clear round in the tenth Australian qualifier for 2006-2007. International Course Designer David Sheppard of Ballarat set a tough course with verticals up to 1.55m in height and spread fences up to 1.70m in width at the Dressage and Jumping with the Stars spectacular held over the weekend. The current Australian and World record is held by Vicki Roycroft of Mt White who won five consecutive competitions in 1998 riding Coalminer.

Runner up to Chester was another veteran of the trade Chris Chugg of Glossodia riding Diamond B Ego followed by South Australian Kristy Bruhn and Victoria’s Becky Allen of Arthurs Creek riding Koyuna Ted, then Tim Clarke of Mortlake riding Spielberg, Laurie Lever of Somerville riding Ashleigh Drossel Dan and Vicki Roycroft riding Infatuation. The ground conditions for the World Cup qualifier being quite hard in the dry conditions.

Roycroft taking first and second placing in Friday’s World Cup warm up class riding Infatuation and Eliza Jane.

Former World Jumping Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Franke Sloothaak of Germany was the guest judge for the 2006 Australian Young Showjumping Horse Championship. With the Werribee Indoor stadium packed to capacity on Saturday Saturday afternoon Sloothaak rode the 4, 5, 6 and 7 year old champions in turn and described his feelings and impressions of each horses future as he rode them. It took the world champion less than 10 minutes to sum up each horse’s ability and temperament, then he jumped each horse over jumps suitable for it’s level of experience. Sloothaak, a renowned coach and trainer, selected the 7 year old champion, La Laina ridden by Laurie Lever of Somerville as the 2006 champion of champions. The other three finalists were Belcam Catalyst, the 4 year old champion ridden by Tim Clarke of Mortlake; Florina, the 5 year old champion ridden by Queenslander Adam Mellers and Belcam Alibi, the 6 year old champions ridden by Ally Lamb of Denison.

Sloothaak commenting “It has been a difficult decision as all four horses were good types with plenty of potential. I missed not having the chance to ride and Australian thoroughbred” – the four winners having European bloodlines.

World Cup jumping heads to Wodonga this weekend for the Border City World Cup qualifier, held indoors on Saturday evening as part of the gala Saturday evening program including a full night’s entertainment and music, a fun family night out. Gavin Chester will be vying for his fifth World Cup qualifying win riding his talented grey stallion Warlord II. The Border and District Jump Club have been watering the outdoor arena to create the best jumping possible. For tickets and any further information please call Kelly Moyes on 0417 265 682.

VICTORIAN COUNTRY SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Becky Allen of Arthurs Creek won the 2006 Victorian Country Showjumping Championships at Whittlesea last weekend (4th and 5th November). Becky riding her lovely up and coming chestnut gelding Koyuna Ted jumped the only clear round against the clock to win the 2006 title from Phil Stephens of Lillico riding the experienced grey Lillico Calvin. Third placing going to Murray Sproull of Lang Lang riding Stolen Monarch. Sproull and Stolen Monarch winning Saturday’s A and B grade championship. Becky Allen also winning the Champion Jumping Horse title with her young horse RSB Nicobah after the pair won the 1.25m class and were runners up in the C and D championship. Stephens won the first C and D grade class riding Hot Knight and Mark Brennan of Healesville won Sunday’s D grade class riding Klassic Rapolla.

David Sheppard designing the courses for the largest Agricultural Show (outside of Melbourne Royal) in Victoria and setting a technical 1.40m track for the 2006 titles. The turf arena well watered making for a perfect jumping surface, a credit to show organizers.

Saturday’s junior class saw a win to local Brittony Salthouse riding Magpie and Sunday’s junior championship was won by Sarah Weir of St Andrews riding Coincidence. Melissa Froesch of Broadford won the first D grade riding Catterpillar and the C and D grade championship riding Rialsto II. The champion junior rider of the show was Jacinta James of Kangaroo Ground after she placed 2nd and 3rd in the two junior classes riding ESB Irish Denial.

BALLARAT SHOW

Showjumping at the 2006 Ballarat Show ( made a welcome move to the larger Victoria Park arena where the surface (11th and 12th November) was well prepared, the new grounds proving very popular amongst the riders.

Local star Damian Hanrahan of Ballarat won the Open championship riding the big bay gelding Magic Destroyer. Young rider Amanda Barclay of Lara enjoying a very successful show when she won the Under 21 years class riding Aint No Worries, then went on to place first and second in the Young Rider Championship riding Aint Misbehavin and Aint No Worries and then took out the C and D grade championship riding Aint Misbehavin. The restricted D grade went to Brooke Skinner of Castlemaine riding What A Day, local K. Barnett won the district class riding Snow Plough, Jessica Hill of Clunes won the D grade class riding Sargeant Barney and Ellie Kennett won the C and D grade jump off class and the open height class riding Buzarre. Laura Jenkins of Ararat won the D grade championship riding Karan Donis.

ACT STATE TITLES

The 2006 ACT State Showjumping Titles attracted 450 horses and an amazing 220 competing jumping riders to the two day’s of championships held at the well equipped Canberra National Showground (4th and 5th November). Jumping horses enjoyed perfect footing provided by the well watered turf that was made even better by the rain received during the week.

Chris Chugg of Glossodia took out the Senior State title riding the imported mare Alondra from George Sanna of Glossodia and local star Grant Hughes. Grant Judd of Junee won the Young Rider title riding Red Shot from Julia Hargreaves of Arcadia riding Copabella Courcheval and Jennifer Mitchell of Cudal riding Emmaville Spice. Tom McDermott of Wagga Wagga won the Junior title riding Zaydan from local Craig Mathews and Hugh Buchanan of Ardlethan. The most successful riders in the height class arena were locals Thomas Laurie riding On Boo and Jim Scobie riding Brad.

The C and D grade championship saw a win to the very careful Odyssey Park Orthodox ridden by Lachlan Manuel of Morpeth and Vicki Roycroft of Mt White won the Mini Prix riding Ricardo D.

ALEXANDER CONTINUES HER GOOD FORM

Australia’s leading jumping rider Edwina Alexander of Glenhaven placed 8th in Sunday’s (12th November) International World Cup Qualifier at Verona in Italy riding Isovlas Pialotta. Alexander jumping one of only 10 clear rounds to jump against the clock, she jumped the fastest time against the clock but three rails down put her into 8th position. The class being won by Holland’s Gerco Schroder from Leopold Van Asten also of Holland and in third position German champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. Italian Giovanni Bussu designed the course for Verona, the world cup track set at 1.60m in height and spread fences to 1.70m in width.

Edwina placed 7th in the 1.45m class riding Isovlas Socrates, 9th in the 1.50m World Cup qualifier riding Isovlas Pialotta and 8th in the 1.45m two phase event riding Cerena. Alexander is currently the highest ranked Australian jumping rider on the world rankings.