The AMMO SHOOTOUT jumpingaround.com Young Rider Challenge has now moved to New South Wales where Simon Kale from Foxground Training Stables took up the challenge of getting the series up and running.

Simon, perhaps better known as an eventer, has taken up the delicate "art of showjumping" over recent years and is enjoying himself immensely competing mainly on horses he and his wife Olwyn have bred themselves, which would have to be the ultimate buzz for a breeder I would have thought.

Simon is also heavily involved with the NCAS coaching scheme which seems to see him traveling all over the countryside so we were thrilled and appreciative when Simon offered to take on the Young Rider Series for New South Wales.

The series is being run in conjunction with the Shoalhaven Showjumping Club Inc and the decision was taken to run all three throughout January to take advantage of the school holidays which was an excellent idea. The series is being run on Wednesdays during the day with the twilight Jump Club jumping following in the evening and for those in New South Wales who wish to see some of the best Young Riders in the State then wander on over and watch them as the contest to possibly be "the one" who takes the trip to Ireland.

The next round will be held on Wednesday 12th January, 2005 with the last one for NSW being held on Australia Day, 26th January, 2005.

The following report comes from Simon Kale and the photos are courtesy of Grahame Sweeney of To Market We Go.

The Course builder was Warren Priestley and he had been given his brief for the course and built a track which was certainly "up to the job". The Judge for the day was Jenny Priestley.

The course consisted of 12 fences with a double a treble and a water fence.

Jump one was a square oxer at 1.20.unrelated distance to fence 2 a 1.20 oxer of planks then a curved line of 6 or 7 strides to fence 3 a 1.20 Vertical over a coloured picket. Left turn on to fence 4 a 1.20 Swedish oxer. Slight left to 5A 1.20 vertical one stride to 5B a 1.20 metre oxer . Both had wall painted fill underneath. 5 strides on a straight line to fence 6 a 1.20 metre vertical. Unrelated distance to fence 7 a square oxer left turn to fence 8 1.20 the Sydney Olympic wave planks over water. Unrelated distance to 9 a triple bar at 1.20. Right turn to Nature Vet wall, fence 10 at 1.20 five strides down to Berry First National Treble 11A vertical one stride to 11 B an oxer one stride to 11C a vertical all at 1.20. Right turn to fence 12 Corrina Dental Surgery Canberra Oxer at 1.20. A testing course but held on near perfect gong and with lots of fill dazzles and good equipment.

Thanks must go at this point to Berry First National and Corrina Dental Surgery, Canberra for their fabulous support of this Series - without them New South Wales would not be part of this Young Rider Challenge.

So to the riders themselves:
First out was Hilary Scott on Beaufort Bolero and she finished with four falts with just the one rail down at fence 6.

Second out was Gemma Coleman on the grey Emmavillle Agenda for a clear round after a difficult time thru the treble.

Third out was the experienced black horse Rivoli Panther and Julia Hargreaves and they were another four fault combination with a rail down at fence 4, the Swedish oxer.

Fourth out was Aaron Hadlow on the super, small, mare Step Sister. She was a little strong in to the treble and B rail is down to finish with four faults.

Fifth out was Jade Knight and Trinavante who finished with a total of 12 with 3, 4 and 5A down to put them out of this round's jump off.

Sixth out was Hilary Scott on her second ride, and not nominated horses, Jar Jar Binks for a very neat clear.

Seventh out was Gemma Coleman on her second horse, which was not her nominated horse(brown horse blue shirt) Rupert’s Little Brother for a rail down at fence 4 to be another combination to finish with four faults.

Eight out was Belinda Prestwidge and Mr. Chips 9bay/brown Yellow Shirt. They took fence 5A down when Belinda took out a stride to treble from wall but jumped thru the treble clean

Ninth out was Ellen Fursland an the grey9white shirt and jods) On Cloud Nine and unfortunately this wasn't teir ideal "day at the office" when they finshed with elimation at fence 2.

Tenth out was Aaron Hadlow on his second mount the bay Sugar Ray for a stop at fence 3 and time penalties.

Last out was Brooke Campbell on the chestnut Jive Talkin for a lovely clear.

And so it was a three horse jump off for this first round of the New South Wales, Shoalhaven Showjumping Club Inc. Ammo Shootout Young Rider Challenge event.

The jump off saw a very big track over 5A, 2 ,3, 4, 9, 10 and 11B and 11C.

Gemma and Emmaville Agenda took fence 2 down and finished with a time of 37.42secs.

Hilary and Jar Jar Binks were having a lovely round however a stop at the triple fence 9 after a very tight turn and then strong to 11B and that came down leaving them with 8 faults in 36.23secs.

Brook and Jive Talkin had four faults at fence 4 ,the Swedish but with their time of 36.23 they took the win for the class, with Gemma 2nd and Hilary 3rd.

Presentation is always the "fun bit" of the day for everyone as the rugs and sashes are handed out - left we see Simon Kale during presentation with the winner of round one, Brooke Campbell and Jive Talkin and above we see Brooke heading the lineup.