Neil Clinton, is the generous landowner who allows his property to be used for the Grand Valley Showjumping Classic and has done for arund 3 years now. This beautiful property sits on the top of a hill as you come to Gruyere in the lush Yarra Valley and the sight as you come over the hill is spectacular, with the committee responsible for this show having done a great job with colourful umbrella's and marquee's adding to the colours of the trucks and trailers parked next to the two very well appointed jumping rings.

It is always great to hear the dulcet tones of Brian Brennan as you drive in to a show because it means you will know what is going on at all times as well as being entertained with humour and knowledge about the sport, the horses and the riders and that is exactly how things ran for the weekend.

Anne Garner was in charge of the Judges box and local man, David Sheppard was the Course Designer for the weekend. David designed nice tracks which allowed horses to come back into jumping after such a long layover which included the winter, the spring and much of summer through EI - the tracks flowed well without asking too many big questions at this stage of comeptition in Victoria.

The jumping gear itself was great with some tough questions asked by the fences themselves!

The first class of the show was the Lynn Lupton Memorial Young Rider classic which was sponsored by Lynn's great pal Pauline Charlton and her Oaks Winery. Lynn Lupton was well known and well loved in the sport of showjumping and was very active in all areas from her own Pony Club days at Dandenong Ranges through to teaching at Pony Clubs and Adult Riding Clubs combined with her work at Box Hill Tafe Horse Studies course. Lynn's death was well before her time and it is wonderful to see her memory kept alive through this memorial class so proudly sponsored by Pauline Charlton's boutique Oaks Winery.

Thirty four riders lined up for starters orders with just 7 going through to the jump off today over the 8 fence jump off track. The three Boulton sisters took 3 of the jump off places today with all three girls riding very well on three super horses. Many families look for a lifetime to find one good young rider horse but this family have three of them in captivity!

First out in the jump off was Lachlan Brennan and Standing Tall - pictured below left - and they dropped just one rail (second fence in the jump off) to finish for four faults in 45.18secs.

Annike Robertson and Tenterfield - pictured below right - suffered the same fate when tye also lowered the second fence in this jump off course finishing with four faults in 45.78secs.
Third to run against the clock was the first of the talented Boulton's, Brittany and the big pally Attila The King - pictured below - and they produced the first clear stopping the clock at 42.53secs setting the standard for the 4 riders to follow!
Boulton Number 2, Keira followed hot on her sisters heels, riding the handsome grey Special K - pictured below - and although they left all the furniture in place the time was not good enough to knock Brittany off the provision top spot, when the clocked stopped at 48.56secs
Sara Joyce and Irish Apollo - pictured left - didn't have the dream round when they decided to rearaange most of the furniture in this jump off - but they will return to form no doubt.
Second last to go, Sophie Tyler and Delgardo Park Mosey - pictured right - took on the challenge and this was obvious from the moment they came through the start flags and when they emerged through the finish flags the furniture was all in place and the clock stopped at 42.40secs.
Last to go and the only one who got take first placing from Sophie Tyler was the third Boulton, Dana riding There's Ya Trouble - pictured left - but today was not their day. They lowered 3 fences finishing with 12 faults in 51.56secs leaving the win to 15 year old Sophie and her Thoroughbred mare.

Final Placings: Young Rider Classic

1st - Sophie Tyler and Delgardo park Mosey
2nd - Brittany Boulton and Attila the King
3rd - Kiera Boulton and Special K
4th - Lachlan Brennan and Standing Tall
5th - Annike Robertson and Tenterfield
6th - Dana Boulton and There's ya Trouble
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