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|  | | The Four Year old Championship saw 14 starters which was excellent out of the 15 entries listed. Sadly the track was too small to actually allow the horses to really "show themselves off" but the cream came to the top despite this. The class was won by a very handsome chestnut stallion listed as 17hh, Fairbanks Catargo who has royal breeding being by Indoctro out of a Grannus II mare and this is a stallion of quality. Fairbanks Catargo was bred by Fairbanks Warmblood Stud, | | |
| which is based in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland and Fairbanks Catargo was bred by Fairbanks Warmblood Stud and is owned by CEO of the stud, Russell Davidson and ridden by Shane Davidson. This stallion is definitely one to keep an eye on for the future - he also seems to have a delightful temperament. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| The judging was tight in this Four Year old class though with Fairbanks Catargo winning on a countback from Moonstone and very cute grey gelding bred, owned and ridden by Melissa Froesch who would have to be one of the most "switched on" showjumpers around as she recognised many years ago that breeding was the way to go and she is now reaping the rewards with her quality youngstock. Moonstone is by a very neat showjumping stallion Mr Sandman who was bred, owned and ridden by Melissa and the dam-sire is Old Sam. Right: Melissa and Moonstone. | | | | | |
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| | | Left: Vicki Roycroft and the little man who has | | | |
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| | quite obviously won her heart - Copabella Visage is Vicki's latest import, owned by Lesley Hargreaves and bred by Eddy Bols and Christel Ribe. This gorgeously marked coloured stallion stands at 16.2hh and is by Limbo out of a Latano mare and he would appear to have it all - temperament, looks, scope and technique - a well deserved winner of the 5 Year Old class. Second place went to Melissa Froesch again, this time aboard | | | |
| the imposing 17.1hh mare who was bred by Rawings Holdings P/L - Realto II is by Grand Isle out of a Moselfischer mare and to be honest when she first walks into the ring you have questions due to | | | |
| her very size, but any doubts immediately leave as soon as she moves! Realto II is co-ordinated, graceful and has plenty of talent - this mare also appears to very obliging and willing and what more could you ask from such a big powerful 5 year old. Below left:Melissa Froesch on Realto II. | |
|  | | | Third place in the Five Year old class was hotly contested with Belmark Balou, Jaybee Grafsky and Starwicki all being on equal numbers - so a countback was done to the technique and scope scores and this saw Belmark Balou and Kate Farrell take out the 3rd placing. Unfortunately this combination is not listed in the book and so I can only assume that they were a late entry so I cannot bring you details of this horse. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Left: Russell Johnstone and the serious 6 Year old stallion, Cruising Downunder who is by the great Irish Sport Horse, Cruising who achieved history book status when he won the | |
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| coveted Aachen Grand Prix. Cruising Downunder impressed me when I saw him as an ungainly foal as he had a presence even then - and he has improved each time I have seen him. He is not the flashy flamboyant horse over a fence but he has a lovely technique and he knows exactly where the rails are and gives enough space over them to make sure he doesn't touch them. Chatting with Russell he is delighted with the progress of this lovely young stallion and I have no doubt that he will be in the presentation lineups for Grand Prix's in the not too distant future. | |
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| | | | | Left:Russell's entry in the 7 year old class Belcam Carrington also showing talent - again Russell was a late entry and details on the horses for late entry are thin on the ground. | |
| | | |  | | Left: Melissa Froesch clearly won the 7 Year old class with her very talented and successful grey Hannoverian stallion Warlord II. Melissa and Warlord won the 6 Year old class in 2002 and also took out Champion of Champions with their consistent and class performance - and it is great to see the stallion back again and taking out the 7 Year old title this year. Warlord II is by Daley K out of a Balmoral Boy mare and he stands at 17hh. Melissa had a great show and well deserved as her horses are well produced and presented. | |
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| | | Left: Stephanie Djikstra, daughter of Dirk and Sicca from AEABurong came in second in the 6 Year Old class with the classy stallion AEA Aspen who was bred by Belcam Qld and represents a partnership between AEA Burong and Belcam as joint owners of this grey warmblood stallion by Aalto - there is no listing for the Dam-Sire but I am sure there is some Souvenir blood on the dam's side - but I stand to be corrected on this. Interesting that all age group classes were won by stallions with stallions and mares making up the numbers in all the classes - this augers well for the future of showjumping breeding in Australia and that can only improve the scene - now I guess all that remains is for the Course Designers to produce tracks for the youngsters which encourage correct jumping so that by the time these young and | |
| superbly bred horses are jumping at the top end of competition they will be confident and strong about their job and they will be able to take their riders to the International arenas without any hesitation. This show is the kindergarten of our future in showjumping - it is where we get to do a bit of "crystal ball gazing" and dream a little about tomorrow - I must say that I was disappointed that the numbers were again so low and of those entered many did not declare on the day - it is important for classes like Jumping With the Stars to build each year to encourage the breeders to keep breeding and the owners to bother buying and keeping quality horses - please riders support this show next year, if the Organisers see fit to run the event again - and a note to the Organisers - please be patient with the jumping fraternity and hopefully they will support this great show but it might take them a couple of years to "get the hang of it" - but I am confident it will happen. | |
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