So it is Sunday and still the rain falls - but nobodies enthusiasm is dampened and there are plenty lined up for the C&D Grade Championships and fifteen combinations line up for the jump off round which gives the riders 8 jumping efforts over another jump off course which gives those brave enough to take the turns the chance to challenge the course designer!
We had to wait for combiantion number six, Amy Graham and SE Prada - pictured below left - (recently purchased from Coach Michelle Strapp) for our first clear round in 36.01secs which was a fast round but could be beaten so with plenty to follow there was no deciding where to put the blue ribbon just yet!
The second clear came from Amanda Barclay, who was until recently a local girl, and her home bred Ain't Misbehaving - pictured right - and they drew no breath as they flew around the jump off track in perfect rhythm to stop the clock at 35.42secs clearly capturing the lead from Amy but there were still four combinations to come to fill six placings in the class.
Second last to go, Nicole O'Shaugnessy and the big grey Nordic Fox gave us our third clear round in what was proving to be a tricky enough jump off with the final fence causing the most problems.
Nicole and Nordic Fox - pictured below powering over the final fence - came through the finish flags with everything in place and stopped the clock at 38.24secs after quite obviously riding for a careful clear round and this put her into provisional third place.
Pictured left - Scottie Taranto and Boris took out fourth with their four faults in 36.24secs
Pictured below - the ever stylish Bianca Gilchrist and Robbie Dee who also finished with four faults in 37.80secs and took 5th place.
1st - Amanda Barclay - Ain't Misbehaving
2nd - Amy Graham - SE Prada
3rd - Nicole O'Shaungnessy - Nordic Fox
4th - Scottie Taranto - Boris
5th - Bianca Gilchrist - Robbie Dee
Pictured above left - the future of showjumping seems to be in good hands when the young ones come along with their parents and insist on bringing their own mount for the weekend!
Pictured above right - David Sheppard gets well fed by the great canteen ladies from the Emu Creek Pony Club who provided everyone with great food and drinks keeping up with the weather changes so they never ran out of hot or cold drinks all weekend!
Pictured left - and the question was asked "so where is the baby?"
"Baby" we asked - "well with those three wise men here there must be a baby, isn't there?"
Pictured from left to right - Fabienne (from Marseilles, France), David (from Treehaven) and Steve (from Somerville)
