Awesome Autumn Showjumping in Sydney! - from Christine Johnson

This weekend 17th & 18th March saw some awesome autumn showjumping in Sydney with Castle Hill Show and Sydney Showjumping Club both attracting good entries.

It is a reflection of the strong number of showjumping competitors in our region that these events can both attract such good entries. Castle Hill Show, which has long been the blue ribboned Agricultural Show leading up to the Sydney Royal, has fallen from favour in the estimation of some riders in recent years due to the heavy equipment and standard of courses.

But this year the enthusiasm of rookie course designer Mark Atkins - pictured right - of Oakville went a long way to restoring the reputation of the showjumping at Castle Hill. Mark worked fervently for the three days of the show and beforehand, modifying cups to make them shallower, borrowing some lighter rails and rebirthing some interesting jumps, such as the Dutch gate and some narrow stiles to produce interesting courses that rode well and required careful jumping.

George Sanna- pictured below - who rode in superb form to win the Grand Prix on "Paratus" said, "I think Mark is to be congratulated on doing an excellent job in what must be his most demanding course building assignment to date. Our sport needs to encourage and support young course designers like him."
"Thanks to Mark's outstanding effort this has been a totally new look Castle Hill Show and the best I have been to in years" George enthused.

A pleased and relieved Mark said at the conclusion of the show, "I'd really like to thank the riders for their positive feedback on my courses and to my mentor Bob Brook, who has given me so much help and guidance starting out in the challenging game of course building!"

Results from Castle Hill:
Friday 16th March (Judge Joyce Brook.)
D Grade
1 Stuart Tinney on Kinnordy Godehard
2 Colleen Brook on Umunga
3. Stuart Tinney on Panamera

1.05m height class
1.Clare Watkinson on The Love Bug
2.Monique Barrett on Ginger Meggs
3. Monique Barrett on Deo Juvante

C Grade
1. Jamie Winning from Yandoo Drought
2 Julia Hargreaves on Copabella Courcheval
3 Nick Taliana on Ambrose

1.20 height class
1.Jeremy Inglis on Junebug
2.Rod Brown on Corsica Z
3. Jenny Shepherd on Licara R
1.30 height class
1.Vicki Roycroft on Ricardo D
2. Vicki Roycroft on Eliza Jane
3. Colleen Brook on No Secrets

1.40 height class
1.Rod Brown on Mr Burns
2. Julia Hargreaves on Coppabella Courcheval
3. George Sanna on Paratus

Saturday 17th March

D Grade
1 Claudia Grahame on Sentry Vision
2 Andrew Inglis on Amira R
3. Andrew Inglis on Belarose R

C Grade
1 Jessica Brown on Last Drop
2 Jamie Winning from Yandoo Drought
3. Lauren Hartog on Why Me

Mini Prix
1.Colleen Brook on Poets Corner
2. Vicki Roycroft on Ricardo D
3. Julia Hargreaves on Coppabella Visage

Grand Prix
1. George Sanna on Paratus
2. Julia Hargreaves on Coppabella Haymen
3. Rod Brown on Mr Burns

Sunday 18th March

Junior 1.00m
1. Elizabeth Koob on Silver Hollywood Charge
2. Nicole Bromham on Artic Warrioor
3. Chloe de La Vega on Bourbon Jewel

Junior 1.05m
1. Monique Barrat on Ginger Meggs
2. Monique Barrat on Deo Juvante
3. Tyson king on Out of the Shadows

Junior 1.15m
1. Elizabeth Koob on SS Streamer
2. Monique Barrat on Ginger Meggs
3. Elizabeth Koob on Lighten Up

Junior 1.00m
1. Elizabeth Koob on Silver Hollywood Charge
2. Nicole Bromham on Artic Warrioor
3. Chloe de La Vega on Bourbon Jewel

Young Rider 1.10m
1. Greer Butcher Flowervale Concorde
2. Danielle Butcher on HP Landsong
3. Greer Butcher on Chain Reaction

Young Rider 1.15
1. Coco Miles on Tequila
2. Greer Butcher Flowervale Concorde
3. Greer Butcher on Chain Reaction

Sydney Showjumping Club Sunday 18th March

At SSJC a large contingent of eventers claimed the lion's share of the prizes as many of the local showjumping celebrities were away at the Castle Hill agricultural Show and some in New Zealand at the NZ Horse of the Year Show. Congratulations to SSJC members Paul Asthanasoff riding Wirragulla Nicolas & Chris Chugg riding Vivant, who finished 2nd & 3rd respectively in the rich NZ Horse of the Year final in Hastings.

Club President Paul Tridgell built the courses at Clarendon in all three rings and the consensus from competitors was that they rode very well. The recent rain having further promoted luxurious grass growth meant that the footing was at it's very best. Judge Lyn McLeod commented on the excellent standard of jumping.

Results from Sunday 18th March at Clarendon:

1 metre
1st Rachel Watts on Jubilee
2nd Sophie Anderson on KW Skyward Bound
3rd Kate Murphy on Meg
4th Shane Rose on Moritz
5th Sandy Lucas on Costalot

D Grade
1st Claudia Graham on Sentry Vision
2nd Neralie Coulston on Yippyio
3rd Hamish Cargill on Sandhills Tiger
4th Sharon Slater on Kolora Stud Windfall
5th Jessica Mitchell on Stormin Normin
6th Hamish Cargill on SS Sovereign

1.10metre
1st Shane Rose on Cedar Bobby Dazzler
2nd Lesley Brodbeck on Johnny Knoxville
3rd Christine Bates on Just Jealous
4th Rachel Watts on Jubilee
5th Kate Murphy on Meg
6th Sandy Lucas on Costalot

1.20
1st Cassandra Webb on Falcon Mandrake
2nd Claudia Graham on Sentry Vision
3rd Hamish Cargill on Powderhound
4th Hamish Cargill on Sandhills Tiger
5th Hamish Cargill on Wynella Remus
Darren Phillips and Peter Hoogland had a good day out at the jumping - pictured left - Darren and Peter own and operate Oakville Equestrian Centre.
Colleen Brook - pictured right on Poets Corner - took the win in the Mini Prix in fine style.
Pictured left - Julia Hargreaves and Copabella Cour Cheval. Julia, now riding for her parents Copaabella Stud has been doing a great job with a wonderful team of horses.
Pictured right - Nick Taliana and Ambrose looking good in the Sydney Autumn sunlight.
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