Saturday's weather saw perfect conditions for showjumping with a light breeze and clear skies and the crowds came to watch the jumpers on the Mornington Peninsula.

Commentating at Easter and Course Building for this weekend shows just how versatile Paul Williams is! Paul - pictured below left - is the father of two showjumping sons, Matt (based in Europe) and Sam (based in Victoria).
It was great to have Brian Brennan commentating for weekend. Brian is one of the most experienced and exciting commentators in Victoria and is well known for showjumping with a flair which he also uses when commentating novelty events at shows such as the Melbourne Royal. Brian is another with connections in showjumping through his son and now also his grandson - so again the sport stays as a family affair!
The show saw many high level performers this weekend - with Showjumping Olympians Jenny Parliveit and Russell Johnson and World Championship Showjumper, Jamie Kermond (pictured above right with girlfriend Alex) and World Championship Eventer, Olivia Bunn.
Pictured left - Jenny Parliviet catches up with newly wed Melissa Froesch (with peaked cap) who brought a truck load of youngsters she has bred herself. Melissa was one of the few Aussie jumpers who has been jumping her mares to top level and then used the "good ones" as her foundation broodmare herd - and judging by the young ones she had with her this weekend the breeding program is definitely working for her.

Pictured above right - showjumper and equine dentist James Harvey finds time for lunch with fiance Bronwyn Little.

Pictured below left - Magenta Hornsey (in riding jacket) hung out with mates who came to watch her jumping this weekend.

Pictured right - Binnie Barclay says she gets more nervous watching daughter Amanda jumping than Amanda ever gets!
Pictured far left and left - grounded for the weekend due to illness, Dave Lever from Treehaven Equestrian Centre turned his hand to decorating Kermo's "handsomest whippet" Charlie - no doubt Charlie will be hoping Dave returns to jumping very quickly - as he doesn't look all that impressed with his new face markings!

The main class for Saturday was an A,B & C grade class and Paul Williams was taking no prisoners with his tall, wide and technical track which was more tuned to the A & B Grade horses than the C Grade ones - the first round sat at 1.35m with the jump off course sitting around 1.35/1.40m.

Of the 29 starters in the class, 9 horses went through to contest the jump off track which gave the brave plenty of opportunities to take risks and try for first place money.

First to go was Andrew Lamb and the handsome grey Belcam Armada - pictured below left - and they finished with four faults in 33.79secs when the 3rd fence on course fell.

Mark Nicholls and the ever surprising Hidden Agenda - pictured above right - had an unfortunate refusal in the middle of the course to finish with 4 faults in 52.73secs in what was an otherwise very neat round.

Timmy Clarke and Freedom Road - pictured below left - gave us the first clear round which stopped the clock at 38.72secs and looked super today.

Showing the same carefulness and technique as his world famous father, Cruising, the well named Cruising Downunder - pictured right - with breeder/owner/rider, Russell Johnson.

Cruising Down Under put in a very clear and clever jump off round to leave everything standing and stopping the clock at 35.62secs putting this combination in provisional first with five to come!

Next out was the ever popular Contagious and Morris Clarke - this combination - pictured below left - rarely drop a rail but today they did leave one on the floor to finish with four faults in 37.68secs.
GP Shine and Brook Dobbin - pictured below - had a very late rail mid way around the course to finish with four faults in 35.67secs.
Robbie Agnew and the evergreen performer, Hero Quest were another combination to finish with four faults in 37.24secs
Andrew Lamb was next to go with his second ride for this jump off - this time on board the very flash DP Silky - pictured below - and this trip gave them a very neat clear round with the clock stopping just shy of the winning time, provisionally putting them in second place with 35.80secs.
Last to go and the only one who could move the placings was Timmy Clarke on the 5 year old stallion, Belcam
Catalyst (by Cantango II) - pictured below - but this jump off might just have pushed this very young horse a little out of his comfort zone when two fences fell but they clocked up a very fast time of 34.65secs
Final Placings - A,B,C Grade AM5

1st - Russell Johnson - Cruising Down Under
2nd - Andrew Lamb - DP Silky
3rd - Tim Clarke - Freedom Road
4th - Andrew Lamb - Belcam Armada
5th - Brook Dobbin - GP Shine
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